Online Web-Based Assignment 1 Part B: Applications of Research Methods in Health and Social Contexts

Assignment: Online Web-based Assessment Part B 

Assignment 1 Part B

Worth: 30%

Course learning objectives: 1, 2, 3

This web-based assessment is designed to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of research design and data analysis. To complete the web-based assessment, you need to be familiar with the course content related to quantitative and qualitative research methodology, methods, and analysis.  It addresses the following course learning objectives:

Establish a range of research approaches suitable for exploring a particular question or topic
Evaluate analytic approaches for a variety of data types and select the most appropriate for the research question
Develop a feasible research project suitable for a particular question or topic, addressing the key stages of research

In Assignment 1 Part B, you will be required to complete three sections of short-answer questions about a series of research topics and datasets. 

You must not use any AI tool or technology in Assignment 1 Part B

• Need separate 3-word documents for each questions

Notes on Question One:

• The word limit is a strict 500 words; fewer words are fine, but the maximum is 500 (excluding references).
• The hanging indent for APA 7th referencing style can be created using the “increase indent” button on the ribbon above the response field.
• You do not have to include references, and only one or two will be sufficient if you do.

Question 1

Context

Aotearoa New Zealand, like many other countries, is experiencing significant pressure on its health system as a consequence of the worldwide healthcare workforce shortage and chronic under-funding. One group of people who are particularly affected are people who require non-urgent surgery. Many people are waiting months. The media reports that this wait not only affects people personally but also impacts workplaces.

Assessment Task 

Please write a 500-word abstract for a mixed method design research proposal that you would use to answer the following research question:

What is the impact on workplaces from people having surgery delayed by six months due to the healthcare workforce crisis? 

The research abstract should use the following headings:

• Title
• Background and significance of the research
• Type of mixed methods design
• Setting
• Sample
• Methods
• Analysis

Please use the APA 7th Referencing system.

Maximum Word limit: 500 words- excluding reference list.

You must not use any AI tool or technology in Assignment 1 Part B.

Marking Rubric -Q1

Highlight the part given more marks

Please use the APA 7th referencing system if you refer to other people's published work in question -1 (references are not included in the word count) use 2 or 3 references for this part.

Question 2

(Word count 500 words)

Notes on Question Two:

• You can create a table in the response field, or you can paste a table from a different application (e.g. Word or Excel).
• You do not actually need to perform any statistical tests.
• You will need to calculate proportions, means/medians, etc.

Factors associated with health service use amongst young adults aged 20-30 working in the building industry

Sample: A convenience sample of young people attending the Cuba Street Festival who worked in the building industry.

Data collection: Questionnaire (paper format); 3 sections – sociodemographic data, health service use data, quality of life data. All data were self-reported. The SF-36 quality of life tool contains 36 items that assess patients’ health status and its impact on their lives. The tool is made up of eight subscales (physical functioning, role limitations due to physical problems, bodily pain, general health perceptions, vitality, social functioning, role limitations due to emotional problems, and mental health), which can be aggregated to two summary scores (Physical Component and Mental Component). There is also a single SF-36 question item that asks about recent health status (Excellent/ Very Good/ Good/ Fair/ Poor).

Assessment Task

Analysis plan

You are to complete the following tasks using the data provided in the attached Excel spreadsheet. Only the two summary scores for the SF-36 Physical and Mental Health and Health Status have been provided.

Please note: this is a fictitious dataset created for the educational purposes of this assignment; the data are not real.

2025___Ass1_Part_B_data.xlsx

• Create a table using descriptive statistics to describe the sample. Hint: How might you see a table in a journal article describing the participants in this fictitious study?
• Name two variables that you would recode for analysis purposes. Hint: You are not expected to create any new variables in the Excel file. Briefly suggest which variables you would recode and why.
• Outline your analysis plan to examine three aspects of the relationship between socio-economic/demographic factors and health service use or quality of life. The plan should state which variables you will use and the specific statistical test you will use, and why. One test should use categorical data, and one test should use numerical data.

You must not use any AI tool or technology in Assignment 1 Part B.

(Word count 500 words)

• Create a table using descriptive statistics to describe the sample. Hint: How might you see a table in a journal article describing the participants in this fictitious study?
• Name two variables that you would recode for analysis purposes. Hint: You are not expected to create any new variables in the Excel file. Briefly suggest which variables you would recode and why.
• Outline your analysis plan to examine three aspects of the relationship between socio-economic/demographic factors and health service use or quality of life. The plan should state which variables you will use and the specific statistical test you will use and why. One test should use categorical data, and one test should use numerical data.

You must not use any AI tool or technology in Assignment 1 Part B.

(Word count 500 words)

Marking rubric Q2

Question 3

(Word count 500 words)

Context: 

One pressing workplace leadership issue in Aotearoa New Zealand is the lack of equitable representation of gender and ethnicity in senior leadership roles. The New Zealand Workplace Diversity Survey 2024 reported that only 34% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that their organisation’s leadership is representative of the workforce (diversityworksnz.org.nz).

What are the views and experiences of people in senior leadership roles in health organisations regarding equity in leadership?

Study design: Descriptive exploratory design

Participants: Senior leaders in health organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand

Data collection: Semi-structured interviews

Assessment Task 

2025 Assignment 1B qualitative analysis.docx

Analyse the two interview excerpts attached to identify a minimum of 10 codes with accompanying text.

Using these codes, generate two themes.

Describe each theme and provide 1-2 quotes as evidence for the credibility of the theme.

(Hint: You may want to follow the Braun & Clarke thematic analysis steps 1-3, which can be found in Module 2 and your reading list.)

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2021). Can I use TA? Should I use TA? Should I not use TA? Comparing reflexive thematic analysis and other pattern‐based qualitative analytic approaches. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 21(1), 37–47. 

Can I use TA? Should I use TA? Should I not use TA? Comparing reflexive thematic analysis and other pattern-based qualitative analytic approaches

Virginia Braun, Victoria Clarke

First published: 18 October 2020

Please note: these are AI-generated transcripts for the learning purposes of HLTH521. These are not real opinions of real people. Human beings are extremely diverse, but for this assessment, two well-documented populations within society who have been typically marginalised have been selected.

You must not use any AI tool or technology in Assignment 1 Part B.

(Word count 500 words)

Marking Rubric -Q3

Style considerations

• Fonts: Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri or Verdana only.
• Font size: 12.
• 1.5 or double line spacing
• 2.5 cm margin all round.

Extra Information for This Assignment

Assessment 1 : Research Design and Data Analysis

An online assessment designed to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of research design and data analysis. Worth 50% of your final grade.

Congratulations, you have completed Part A!

Part B

Worth 30% of your final grade

Research design and data analysis – 3 questions/sections (500 words per question)

• analyse two supplied interview transcripts provided (Module 2)
• complete tasks using data supplied in an Excel spreadsheet (Module 3)
• write an abstract for a mixed method design research proposal (Module 4)

Assessment 1: Part B

You will be presented with a series of research topics and datasets. Complete a series of short-answer questions.

Question 1: What is the impact on workplaces from people having surgery delayed by six months due to the healthcare workforce crisis? Create a research proposal abstract for a mixed-method study.

Question 2: Factors associated with health service use amongst young adults aged 20–30 working in the building industry. Create an analysis plan using the supplied survey dataset.

Question 3: What are the views and experiences of people in senior leadership roles in health organisations regarding equity in leadership? Conduct thematic analysis and present the findings of the themes for the supplied interview excerpts.

Assessment 1 : Part B

Please use APA 7th Referencing system if you refer to other people’s published work in Question 1 (references are not included in the word count).

You must not use any AI tool or technology in Assignment 1 Part B.

Please include this declaration at the start of your answer (not included in the word count):
I have not used any AI in Assignment 1 Part B.

• You will not refer to your own research in this assignment, all topics and data are provided.
• You will not actually perform any statistical tests.
• You will need to calculate proportions, means/medians etc.