Plan your Research Design
Research design is a plan to answer your research question. Research methodology is the specific procedures or techniques used to identify/collect, select, process, and analyze information about a topic. Research methods are strategies used to implement the research design.
This section provides an overview of the several different types of research designs categorized into three main types-quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods.
Choosing the appropriate research design
Research design is the plan for how you will conduct your entire research project. The research design gives attention to the research topic, purpose and scope, and specifies the type of study best suited to answer your research question. It also incorporates the relevant data collection and analysis procedures.
- Journal Article: Patricia McInerney, Anushka Ajith and Deidre Pretorius et al. Considerations for choosing a research design. WJCM. 2024. Vol. 6(3):171-174.
Define your research question
Determine the nature of the data
Consider time and resources
Consider ethical and practical feasibility
Types of Research Designs
In primary care research, several research designs are commonly used to address diverse clinical and community health questions. These designs can be broadly categorized into quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches.
- Summary: From Creswell, J. W. (2003). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, Mixed Methods Approaches (2nd Ed.). Chapter one: A Framework for Design, pp. 3-26.
- Short Summary
- To borrow a copy of this book, contact Neha Arora
- Journal article: Fetters, M. D. (2019). Getting started in primary care research: choosing among six practical research approaches. Family Medicine and Community Health, 7(2), e000042.
- Journal article: Frieden, T. R. (2017). Evidence for health decision making—beyond randomized, controlled trials. New England Journal of Medicine, 377(5), 465-475.
Research Design Overview
Click on the links below to explore each topic
Quantitative Research focuses on measuring variables and analyzing numerical data to identify patterns, relationships or causal effects
Qualtitative research explores experiences and prespectives through non-numerical data
Mixed Methods research combines both quantitative and qualitative approaches to provide a more comprehensive understanding of a research problem
Designing Relevant Research
Research is most relevant when it focuses on real-world problems by generating evidence that informs practice, policy or interventions. IDrawing on qualitative, quantitative, and mixed‑method approaches, it is designed to meet practical research objectives within specific contexts. This goal‑oriented form of inquiry prioritizes actionable insights, enabling researchers to translate theory into practice. By doing so, relevant research supports informed decision‑making, policy development, and meaningful improvements in professional and organizational practice. Often in primary care, our research impacts and serves a specific community/group of people and there are other considerations that we need to adhere to. Click on the links below for information.
Other types of scholarship
These research designs can be used for other scholarly activities beyond research. Check out this document to determine what kind of scholarship your work is and determine whether your work requires ethics approval.
- Guide: Guiding Questions to Determine Whether Your Research Requires Ethics Approval, Toronto Metropolitan University
Quality Improvement
- Presentation: QI in Primary Care — When, how, and how is it different from research? by Drs. Dale Guenter and Kathryn Cottrell [Video | Slides]
Implementation Science
Implementation science in primary care focuses on promoting the effective use and adoption of evidence‑based practices in everyday primary care settings by addressing barriers to adoption, implementation, and sustainability, to improve care quality and outcomes.
- Presentation: Implementation Science & its Applications in Primary Care by Dr. Jennifer Salerno, Ms. Jessica Gaber and VIP Research Lab. [Slides | Video]
- Presentation: Implementation Science in Family Medicine by Drs. Henry Siu and Dee Mangin [Video]
Evaluation
- Presentation: Exploring Evaluation by Ms. Rachel Harris [Slides]
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Connect with Us
For support, feedback, or to suggest a resource, email dfmresearch@mcmaster.ca