Publisher's Synopsis
High Quality and Efficiency-You Can Have Both!
Are you a health care researcher or student who is long on objectives but short on time? Do you think that you have to choose between "doing it fast" and "doing it right"? Or do you use health care research information but feel unsure about whether it is accurate? This book was designed with your needs in mind. Written in an entertaining style by an experienced journal editor and methodologist, the book is a wealth of practical tips that one reviewer has called "a unique and welcome breath of fresh air." Learn how to:
- Plan your research well at the start to avoid problems later in the process
- Organize data files to improve accuracy and save time
- Avoid common mathematical mistakes
- Use health care claims databases effectively by understanding their strengths and limitations
- Conduct a survey that yields valuable information
- Write a publishable article
- Respond appropriately to peer reviewer comments even when they are incorrect
- Assess the quality of research evidence ... and more! Kathleen A. Fairman is a journal editor, principal investigator, and author with 25 years of experience in evaluating public and private-sector health care programs. With a passion for encouraging researchers to pursue excellence, she shares vital insights about why research methods-those seemingly mundane study details that are sometimes overlooked-matter deeply to the welfare of patients served by the health care system. Readers will benefit greatly from her wisdom, grace, and humor-and find that good research methodology can be both practical and fun.
