Gestational/diabetes in pregnancy

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: PROSPECTIVE EVALUATION OF THE MANAGEMENT OF GESTATIONAL DIABETES AND MATERNAL AND NEONATAL OUTCOMES IN A TERTIARY HEALTH FACILITY IN SOUTH AFRICA

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Research methodology
Research methodology is perceived as an approach by which a study problem is solved systematicallyCITATION CRK041 p 1 l 1033 (Kothari, 2004, p. 1). It relies on well-defined data collection and data analysis sections. The data collection and analysis sections are perceived as the most crucial phases of any research since the data collected provides an insight into the decisions made by the researcher. They also present the researcher with a platform to present the methods used in the gathering of data, in a bid to provide a framework for the comparison of the researcher’s findings and the perceived knowledge. Having a properly-structured methodology enables the comprehensive coverage of the objectives of a study.
The researcher can make use of descriptive, correlational, or explanatory studies, depending on their general perspective of the world and their philosophical beliefs (Rajasekar et al., 2013). Descriptive studies seek to explain existing phenomena and to define the researcher’s attitude towards various issuesCITATION CRK041 p 2 l 1033 (Kothari, 2004, p. 2). These studies generally address the outlook issues from the phenomena under study. Correlational studies seek to establish the existing relationship between the present variablesCITATION CRK041 p 3 l 1033 (Kothari, 2004, p.

3). Two or more aspects are considered and compared, hence the name correlational studies. Explanatory studies, on the other hand, seek to clarify the nature of a relationship that exists between two variablesCITATION CRK041 p 3 l 1033 (Kothari, 2004, p. 3). This study will rely on correlational and explanatory studies for the completion of the set objectives. A number of variables will be involved in this study, in which case there will be a need to establish the relationship that exists between them and to provide the explanation to why there is the relationship.
The researcher can adopt a quantitative or qualitative approach to any given type of study. Quantitative research is deeply founded on the utilization of methods that seek to measure the amount or quantityCITATION Sue08 p 35 l 1033 (Greener, 2008, p. 35). In this study, the researcher is tasked with the evaluation of the neonatal and maternal management outcomes of gestational diabetes. This study will, therefore, call for the researcher to conduct quantitative studies to establish what outcomes there are to be expected with the management of gestational diabetes. Qualitative research deals with the investigation of the quality of the behavior amongst certain phenomenaCITATION Sue08 p 35 l 1033 (Greener, 2008, p. 35). With this type of research, the researcher does not rely on statistical methods for the analysis of the collected data. Quantitative research is suitable for use in this study since the researcher will be presented with the opportunity to prove how different variables worked differently in each phase of the management of diabetes. Quantitative research is concerned with the collection of primary data which the researcher then proceeds to analyze and provide a comparison with existing fields of knowledge. The researcher is tasked with coming up with the most appropriate framework to enable them to collect their data as well as the accompanying statistical approaches that facilitate the analysis of the data collected. Qualitative research will also serve the purpose of providing the literary background to the study. It is essential to have a look into what other researchers have come up with in their studies since most knowledge in a given area of study is usually constant and can be used to formulate a new hypothesis. A combination of both the qualitative and the quantitative approaches will work to ensure that the content delivered is valid and can be used for future studies by other scholarsCITATION Ana16 p 810 l 1033 (Malliari & Togia, 2016, p. 810).
This study will further entail the collection of the most appropriate types of data for use with the statistical analysis methods to be employed. First, the researcher is expected to collect data that will be used to fulfill the objectives of the research. The two main types of data involved are primary data and secondary data (Rajasekar et al., 2013, p. 18). Primary data refers to the information collected afresh by the researcher and that which is original. Secondary data refers to information that has been already analyzed and compiled by another researcher. The completion of this study will entail the collection of primary data, in the establishment of the outcomes of the management of gestational diabetes. Secondary data will also be provided to facilitate a comparison of the researcher’s findings and the existing data in the underlying field of knowledge.
Interval variables and ordinal variables are the two data variable types that will be collected for this studyCITATION Sue08 p 61 l 1033 (Greener, 2008, p. 61). Interval variables relate to the data that exists in ranges, such as in the case of weight where the figures collected from the population sample can be in intervals such as 50kg to 70kg, and 71kg to 90 kgCITATION Sue08 p 61 l 1033 (Greener, 2008, p. 61). Ordinal variables, on the other hand, do not exist in rangesCITATION Sue08 p 61 l 1033 (Greener, 2008, p. 61). In the similar approach to measuring weight, the data collected can be for instance 50Kg, 60kg, and 80Kg. Since the study will deal with the collection of a number of different types of data, the use of ordinal and interval variables will be best suited in this case.
Sample, Data collection and Analysis
The researcher will rely on quantitative and qualitative methods when collecting and analyzing data. The use of questionnaires will be essential in the collection of the primary data for analysis. The sample will be obtained from the maternal health workers and patients in the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, Mthatha, South Africa. The mean age of the delivering mothers to assist in filling in the questionnaires will be 25.3 years. The data collected through questionnaires will be analyzed using statistical tools such as Excel graphs and charts. A qualitative approach, on the other hand, will be useful in the collection of secondary data. The researcher will rely on library resources such as books and journals to collect relevant information. The secondary data collected will take the structure of case studies in the findings section.
Ethical considerations
Ethics are viewed as principles that govern the conduct of people in a given profession. In the field of research, researchers are expected to stick to international and institutional codes of ethicsCITATION Kum11 p 60 l 1033 (Kumar, 2011, p. 60). A researcher’s work can only be considered valid and successful if they have upheld all the necessary ethical principles. In this study, the researcher will see to it that those who partake in the research to fill in the questionnaires do so by consent. The information obtained from them will be kept securely in a safe throughout the research process. All details and responses of the researcher will only be availed to any third party with their consent. The researcher plans to store the collected responses in a password-protected external storage medium in a scanned format, until the completion of the research where the hard copies will be completely shredded.
The researcher will also ensure that the data collected from the literary sources are appropriately cited. Further to that, all the copyrights to the books used will be upheld. The researcher also plans to acknowledge any help that shall be provided by colleagues during the study.
Reference List
Greener, S., 2008. Business research methods. S .l.: Ventus Publishing ApS, pp. 35-61
Kothari, C.R., 2004. Research methodology: Methods and techniques. New Age International., pp. 1-3Kumar, R., 2011. Research Methodology. Third ed. New Delhi: Sage., p. 60
Malliari, A. and Togia, A., 2016. An analysis of research strategies of articles published in Library Science journals: the example of Library and Information Science Research. Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries, 5(4), pp.805-818.
Rajasekar, S., Philominathan, P. & Chinnathambi, V., 2013. Research Methodology. physics.gen-ph, pp. 1-53.