Epidemiologic studies: Researchers attempt to identify risk factors for particular conditions, behaviors, or risks that result from particular causes. Usually involves record reviews to identify potential subjects, followed by surveys, interviews, or mailed questionnaires.
Longitudinal studies: Studies in which one or more subject cohorts are followed over an extended period of time for observation or identification of conditions, behaviors, or risks.
Intervention studies: Research in which an intervention is developed to change knowledge, attitudes and/or behavior and tested in one or more groups. Results of which are compared to a non-intervention group. Both individuals and communities can be the target audiences for the intervention.
Classroom exercise: Classroom exercises, involving interactions with human participants which are part of an educational program within the classroom, and are not designed to advance generalizable knowledge, are not covered by this regulation. See Research Manual for more information regarding classroom exercises.
Ethnography: Ethnography refers to a type of social science research where the researcher studies human behavior in a natural setting, rather than in a laboratory, for purposes of understanding the culture of that particular population. Research may involve observations and/or interviews with people in that setting. Since human participants are involved, the research is covered by the Common Rule.
Research methods are often referred to as either qualitative or quantitative research.
Qualitative research: "Qualitative research can be characterized as the attempt to obtain an in-depth understanding of the meanings and 'definitions of the situation' presented by informants, rather than the production of a quantitative 'measurement' of their characteristics or behavior." (David Wainwright, 1997, Can Sociological Research Be Qualitative, Critical and Valid? The Qualitative Report, Volume 3, Number 2, July, 1997 (http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR3-2/wain.html)
Quantitative research: The aim of quantitative research is to determine the relationship between one thing (an independent variable) and another (a dependent or outcome variable). Studies aimed at quantifying relationships are of two types: descriptive - no attempt is made to change behavior or conditions--you measure things as they are; experimental - take measurements, try some sort of intervention, then take measurements again to see what happened. (Quantitative Research Design, Will G Hopkins, 2000). (http://www.sportsci.org/jour/0001/wghdesign.html)