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Research Methodology - Topic 1
Levels of evidence or the hierarchy of evidence are defined as a level entitled to the study based on the methodological quality of the overall study design, validity, and applicability in the research (Hall & Roussel, 2016). These levels determine the strength or the quality of research and establish its nature for application. This classification helps in the determination of evidence that is most reliable or least reliable based on their technicality and validity. It is important to classify and weigh the studies on the hierarchy of evidence as it helps as stronger evidence in research implies that the study is more likely to be true and applied with generalization than a lower level of evidence (Ingham-Broomfield, 2016). The studies or researches are classified into six levels. With level one being the highest quality of evidence in research. The classification of different research methodologies is as follows (Hall & Roussel, 2016):
|
Level of evidence |
Study Description |
|
Level I |
Evidence from systematic reviews, meta-analysis of RCTs , evidence based guidelines |
|
Level II |
Cohort studies, analysis of one or more RCTs |
|
Level III |
Case control studies or controlled trials |
|
Level IV |
Case report or case analysis |
|
Level V |
Systematic reviews of single descriptive studies or qualitative analysis |
|
Level VI |
Narrative review and expert opinion. |
Research Methodology - Topic 2
Analysis of quantitative studies must be done with consideration of all the three factors, reliability, validity, as well as the applicability of the study (Bruce et al., 2017). The validity of a study helps in the determination of the strength of the conclusions derived from the analysis and therefore helps in the assessment of the accuracy of the study. Reliability of quantitative analysis focuses on the consistency of the measurements and results obtained in the analysis. It highlights the importance of data instruments used, methodological approach, and any parallax that could have affected the data collected and analysed (Apuke, 2017). Applicability as a factor is focused on the derivation of the outcomes and their implications on the other forms of studies and measures the ability of a study to be applied in a given setting and generalized to others. Other essential factors that must be considered in the quantitative analysis include falsifiability and accuracy that testifies the correctness of the methods and approach of the research (Apuke, 2017). In my opinion, all the factors are closely integrated and serve to be of immense importance in quantitative study analysis. Since quantitative studies are focused on numerical values, reliability of the data, accuracy of the methods, and validity of the results play an essential role.
References for Research Methodology
Apuke, O. D. (2017). Quantitative research methods: A synopsis approach. Kuwait Chapter of Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review, 33(5471), 1-8.
Bruce, N., Pope, D., & Stanistreet, D. (2017). Quantitative methods for health research. United Kingdom: Wiley and Sons.
Hall, H. R., & Roussel, L. A. (Eds.). (2016). Evidence-based practice. USA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
Ingham-Broomfield, J. R. (2016). A nurses' guide to the hierarchy of research designs and evidence. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 33(3), 38
Remember, at the center of any academic work, lies clarity and evidence. Should you need further assistance, do look up to our Nursing Assignment Help