In health research, the study design refers to the overall strategy or blueprint that researchers use to investigate a research question. It determines how the study will be conducted, the type of data that will be collected, and how that data will be analysed. The choice of study design is crucial for ensuring that the results are valid, reliable, and relevant to the research question.
Overview of health research study designs
This guide includes information on:
The Evidence-Based Pyramid is divided into levels to indicate:
As we ascend the pyramid, the quality of evidence increases. However, study design always has an impact. A well designed cohort study for example, is likely to provide better evidence than a poorly designed randomised controlled trial (RCT). The quality of each individual study still needs to be critically appraised.
Study designs can be categorised into two broad categories - descriptive and analytic. The key difference between descriptive and analytic study designs lies in their purpose:
Descriptive studies aim to describe the characteristics, distribution, and patterns of health conditions in a population. Analytic studies go further by investigating associations and causal relationships between exposures and outcomes.
Analytic studies can then be further categorised into observational and experimental. In an experimental study, researchers actively intervene by manipulating one or more independent variables and then measure the effect on a dependent variable. In an observational study, researchers do not intervene.
Descriptive study designs
These studies focus on answering the “what, where, when, and who” of a health issue but do not explore causation. They can be quick and inexpensive, however, they cannot determine causality.
Descriptive study designs include:
Analytic study designs
These studies seek to identify risk factors, causes, or associations between an exposure and an outcome. They answer “why” and “how” a health event occurs.
Analytic study designs include:
Monash Health Library supports employees with their research through education and training and personalised research support. Attend training or request support below.
If you have any questions about the right support for your research project, contact the Library team via our live online chat, phone (03) 9594 2600, or email to library@monashhealth.org.