Understanding Public Health Research: A Primer for Youth Workers

Abstract:
This issue brief is an excellent resource for youth-serving professionals seeking to advance their understanding and knowledge of some of the basic terms and tools of public health research. The goals of the issue brief are to define terms and measures commonly used in public health research and practice, and to introduce youth-serving professionals to some of the fundamental principles and methods of public health research. It introduces the concepts of hypotheses, variables, and measurement, using familiar, nonintimidating examples to differentiate between concepts such as validity and reliability. A discussion of epidemiology clearly defines and describes morbidity and mortality rates as well as incidence and prevalence rates. Similarly, different epidemiological study designs are examined, and such terms as "sampling error" (as opposed to "sample bias") are demystified. A discussion of biostatistics begins with calculating a mean and progresses to standard deviations and statistical significance. Youth-service professionals might use these concepts to explain the implications and limitations of available research, to identify potential study designs to evaluate new programs, or to describe the experiences of the youth served by their agencies. This brief publication is highly recommended as a refresher course or as a desktop reference for youth-service professionals.

Author(s): MORREALE, Madlyn

Publication: National Network for Youth Issue Brief 4


Date Published: 1/1/1997

Pages: 16

Location Code: 8230