Includes glossary, bibliographical references and index.

Contents: SECTION I Investigating health services and health: the scope of research - Evaluating health services: multidisciplinary collaboration -- Social research on health: sociological and psychological concepts and approaches – Quality of life: concepts, measurements and patient perception -- Health needs and their assessment: demography and epidemiology -- Costing health services: health economics SECTION II The philosophy, theory and practice of research The philosophical framework of measurement -- The principle of research SECTION III Quantitative research: sampling and research methods: sampling and research methods Sample size and sampling for quantitative and qualitative research – Quantitative research: surveys -- Quantitative research: Experiments and other analytic methods of investigation -- Sample selection and group assignment methods in experiments and other analytic methods SECTION IV The tools of quantitative research Data collection methods in quantitative research: questionnaire, interviews and their response rates -- Questionnaire design -- Techniques of survey interviewing -- Preparation of quantitative data for coding and analysis SECTION V Qualitative and mixed research methods Unstructured and structured observational studies -- Unstructured interviewing -- Focus groups -- Mixed research approaches