Research Methodology Overview

Methodology

A well-developed research methodology facilitates an effective interrogation and evaluation of research findings with respect to the procedures that led to the achievement of the research objectives and the reliability of those procedures. Therefore, it is important to describe the techniques and instruments used in a study.

The main aim of this chapter is to describe the research design, approaches, tools and techniques used to execute this study. It identifies important elements of research procedure including sampling, data collection, data analysis and ethical consideration made during the entire project. More importantly, this chapter gives a comprehensive justification of the various methods and techniques used herein, backed by existing literature on research methods.

Research Approach

Based on the assertions by Clark (2011), research approach refers to the systematic strategies and techniques used to gather data, assess the data and transform them into information that can be used to answer the research questions or conclusively achieve the research objectives. The descriptive framework adopted by the researcher to achieve the aims and objectives of the study. It involves a process that consist of data collection, analysis and formulation of conclusions based on the evidence gathered from the data (Jacobsen, 2017).

Two dimensions are usually taken when describing the research approach namely data collection approaches and data analysis approaches (Sutton & Austin 2015). With respect to data collection, according to Cronin et al (2014), a study can either be quantitative, qualitative or mixed approaches. While quantitative approaches have gained much popularity in the recent past, mixed approaches have also been proven to be effective in achieving similar objectives (Jacobsen, 2017). In this regard, Cronin et al (2014) asserts that qualitative approaches involve an in-depth understanding of the problem form the perspective of people experiencing. On the other hand, quantitative approaches entail the understanding of interlinkages between variables by using empirical data to identify trends and generate hypotheses (Lapn et al, 2012). A significant advantage of quantitative approaches is that quantitatively collected data can easily be measured and validated (Sutton & Austin 2015) while it is disadvantageous in the sense that they sum up various aspects of the underlying variables into a single measurement, making it difficult to effectively evaluate their components (Katon et al, 2011). On the other hand, one advantage of qualitative approaches is that they enable researchers to understand aspects of the data that cannot be understood in figure, thereby facilitating a better understanding of observed results (Jacobsen, 2017).

Against this background, the current study used quantitative research approach, particularly to facilitate the understanding of costs associated with the cyclical dispensing at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust. Participants received Likert-scaled questionnaires that would statistically be analysed.

With regards to data analysis approaches, a study can either use an inductive or deductive research approach. Inductive approach is described as the development of new hypotheses or theory-based research findings while deductive approaches seek to establish the validity of existing theories or frameworks. However, both approaches involve the collection of either primary or secondary data that are further analysed to develop comprehensive conclusions over the research topic (Jacobsen, 2017). As earlier mentioned, the main aim of this study is to identify the safety and cost effectiveness of cyclical dispensing at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust. It aims to achieve this by collecting both secondary and primary data and analysing that data to establish whether the cyclical dispensing at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust is safe and cost effective. Thus, the study used deductive approaches.

Research design

Cronin et al (2014) describes research design as the general approach taken by a researcher to logically combine different aspects of a study to facilitate an effective answering of the research question. It integrates the various elements (e.g. data collection, analysis and measurement) of the study into a single framework that makes it easier for the researcher to develop and maintain the direction which the study would take (Mitchell, 2013).

Based on the research problem: to investigate the safety and effectiveness of cyclical dispensing at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust, the study adopted a descriptive research design. According to Cronin et al (2014), descriptive research design facilitates the answering of questions such as when, what, where, how and who is associated with the problem under investigation, although it may not conclusively give the answer to why. It is mostly used when the researcher aims to gather information the current i.e. what exists with respect to the problem under investigation (Jacobsen, 2017). Therefore, because the aim of the study was to investigate the safety and effectiveness of cyclical dispensing at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust, descriptive research design was deemed fit because it would help describe how safe and cheap the NHS Trust’s cyclical dispensing is now.

There are several other theoretical underpinnings as to why descriptive research design was selected for this study. First, according to Cronin et al (2014), descriptive research design is useful in situations where limitations are well understood because it helps to enhance the focus of the study. There are several limitations of cyclical dispensing that have been identified by literature. Therefore, buy using descriptive research design, the author was able to keep an eye on these limitations and understand how they impact on costs. Descriptive research design was also useful in collecting large amounts of data Lapn et al (2012), considering that there are many patients receiving drugs under cyclical dispensing at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust.

Sampling

The main aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and cost effectiveness of cyclical dispensing at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust. Therefore, the author needed a sample population to include in the study as opposed to including the entire population under cyclical dispensing at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust. The author therefore selected non-probability sampling method to recruit participants.

Particularly, non-probability sampling was selected for the study because it would facilitate the collection of rich data (Mitchell, 2013). Under non-probability sampling, the study used purposive sampling, whereby the author relied on their own judgment when selecting the participants. The first reason why purposive sampling was considered appropriate is that the researcher wanted to access a specific subset of population (i.e. those receiving cancer drugs from cyclical dispensing at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust) and the selected participants fitted that profile.

Data collection and analysis

In academic research, data collection is the process of gathering the necessary information for answering the research questions (Mitchell, 2013). According to Cronin et al (2014), it is an important component of the study because the reliability of study results depends on how reliable the data collection process was. In the current study, data collection involved both primary and secondary sources of data. Primary sources entailed online questionnaires administered through Survey Monkey (an online research platform) while qualitative data were derived from resources and documentation retrieved from Christie NHS foundation Trust archives.

The questionnaires will be designed to achieve all the research objectives. For instance, to quantify where medication supply has been either avoided or requested in order to ensure the safe and correct use of medication by the patient, explore the frequency of medication supply and determine whether costs and medication wastage have been reduced, and to explore the frequency of reporting adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and side effects by patients. Upon collecting data, the study used Windows 2010 excel data analytic tools to analyse and present the data. It is important to note that the data analysis procedure followed the trail of research objectives and thus the selection of excel as was used.