Professional Documents
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RESEARCH
It explains how the study is conducted, the applied methods and techniques in data
collection and reasons why they were used according to the research aims and main
objectives of the study. The ethical statement and limitations of the study are also
integrate the different components of the study in a coherent and logical way, thereby,
ensuring you will effectively address the research problem; it constitutes the blueprint for
Upon careful examination of the topic of the study, cross sectional survey was considered
suitable for the research. A cross-sectional study design is used based on these two
conditions,
When the purpose of the study is descriptive, often in the form of a survey.
subgroup within the population with respect to an outcome and a set of risk
factors.
When the purpose of the study is to find the prevalence of the outcome of interest,
for the population or subgroups within the population at a given point in time.
Cross-sectional studies are carried out at one point or over a short period. They are
usually conducted to estimate the prevalence of the outcome of interest for a given
population, commonly for the purposes of public health planning. Data can also be
information about the outcome. In this way cross-sectional studies provide a 'snapshot' of
the outcome and the characteristics associated with it, at a specific point in time. Cross-
sectional studies are sometimes carried out to investigate associations between risk
factors and the outcome of interest. They are limited, however, by the fact that they are
carried out at one time point and give no indication of the sequence of events whether
exposure occurred before, after or during the onset of the disease outcome.
coastal community therefore, the primary occupation is fishing and fish selling, but also
includes small farmers and artisans. The community has three health centers and a
District Hospital located in Dodowa, the district capital. For the purposes of this research,
nurses, pregnant women, guardians and women of child bearing age (preferably with the
ages of 18-35years) who report to the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) at the Prampram
Exclusion Criteria
The sampling method proposed for this study would be Convenience sampling.
selected because of their convenient accessibility and proximity to the researcher. The
sampling technique was employed because of their schedules of the women hence the
research adopted the use of convenience sampling where the samples selected were based
people respond to directly on the questionnaire form itself, with or without the aid of an
interviewer (Monette, 2002). The reason for using questionnaire in this study is that data
collected by means of questionnaire are easy to analyse. It also enables large amounts of
data to be collected in a short period of time and in a relatively cost effective way. In
addition to this, it allows the collection relevant information for the purpose of research
created using suitable questions modified from related research and individual questions
formed based on the objectives of the study. The survey was comprised of 13 questions,
breastfeeding within Prampram. In the questionnaire, most of the questions were multiple
choice questions which allows the respondents to choose from a list of items. After the
questionnaires was validated, they were distributed to the women present at one of the
ANC in Prampram. Sometimes the questionnaires were interpreted to the participants and
the responses entered by the research assistants due to the fact that some of the
Validity can be defined as the degree to which a test measures what it is supposed to
measure (Mason and Bramble 1989). On the other hand, reliability of a research
instrument concerns the extent to which the instrument yields the same results on
stated in this document from the beginning of this research till the end. The research was
carried out under strict supervision of a learned supervisor and adequately trained
researchers.
-Pretesting of tool
A pilot test was conducted among a select group of about 10 to 15 women who met the
research criterion. This primary set up was to ensure that the selected research method
was effective and non-problematic. The pilot test allowed the researchers identify
problem areas and make the necessary corrections and modifications and also gave some
insight into the reaction of the candidates and what to expect with subsequent groups.
Institutional approval has been received from Central University College Department of
This research project will be systematically planned with all data sources cited so as to
prevent misleading information as well as plagiarism. The purpose of the study will be
explained to the respondents prior to the interviews and focus group discussions. Steps
would be taken to protect and ensure the dignity, confidentiality and anonymity of all as
1. Sending a letter of permission to the participating body to allow for the study to
realisation of the set objectives and purpose of research, few of which are enumerated
below:
1. The language barrier between the respondents and researchers has served as a
period of time which could have helped in coming out with a more solid
evidence-based data