"How to match research designs to organisational issues in health and social care"

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the key considerations we need to take into account when deciding on a suitable research design for addressing particular service issues in health and social care, with emphasis on the task of identifying research questions at each stage of the applied research process. I present a model for determining research rigour in health services research and a model for defining research questions for each stage of the applied research cycle, from problem specification through to outcome assessment. The paper concludes with a check-list of the key issues we need to consider when designing a health services research project.