6002HLS Assignment 1

Choose this study scenarios:

Human milk, or breastmilk, has been an appreciated source of nutrition as it serves human infants uniquely in natural way. Breast-feeding is the preferred method of infant nutrition compared to feeding substitutes such as infant formula for multiple reasons. Nevertheless, its role in reducing the risk of chronic disease in child- or adult-hood (i.e. obesity, ischaemic heart disease, atherosclerosis and diabetes) remains unconfirmed and requires further evidence-based research.

However, the existing evidence suggests much more to lose by not recommending breast-feeding (Allen & Hector, 2005). Several meta-analyses and quantitative reviews indicate a protective role of breastfeeding, even for a short duration, against childhood obesity (Arenz et al., 2004; Dewey, 2003). As obesity in childhood can lead to obesity later in life, this suggests a possible role for breastfeeding in the long-term prevention of obesity (Gill, Story, & Webb, 2003). 

Based on the summary of Friedman and Zeiger (2006)’s recent review, exclusive breastfeeding should be encouraged for at least 4 to 6 months. However, longitudinal research, using appropriate measures of breastfeeding practices, is proposed for confirming these associations.

This study aimed to assess the relationships between the duration of breastfeeding and the risk of obesity later in life in children.

Please follow the assignment structure below

Introduction section

• Brief introduction of the area of research relevant to your topic of research interests

(Less than 200 words, 1-10 references, please provide reasons why you think the study is important in the field, what has been done and where are the gaps in the chosen study topic, what is the significance of the study)

• Provide research questions, study aim and objectives 

(You need to provide research questions, study aim, and specific research objectives to specify the study aim)

• Provide research hypothesis for the study based on the given study aim 

(You need to provide both alternative and null hypothesis, and you may have more than one pair of hypotheses depending on the number of objectives you may have for the study)

(4). Provide research framework for the study based on the given study aims and objectives 

(You need to describe the rationale of the relationship between dependent and independent variables. Why do you think they are related or correlated; your framework should consist of a figure).

Methods section

• Which design is appropriate in investigating the question in your study;

 provide a rationale as to why you have made this choice? (Note –there may be 

 more than one suitable choice) 

(Please just give a name of the study design, for example, randomise control trial or experimental study, or cohort study design, etc. Then explain the reason why you choose this type of study design.

You need to describe your study design plan: e.g., if it is a randomised control trial, how would you do randomisation, blinding (double bling is preferred), control group type (placebo or control). If it is not randomised control trial, how would you control the confounding effect from variables other than dependent and independent variables; how you would ensure the generalisation of the study through the study design?).

• Who will be your study sample? What is your target population? Do you have sampling frame? What are your comparison groups? Are they groups and/or time points? .

(You need to describe the target population, and your study sample in relation to sampling issue. If you have a sampling frame, please indicate this. If there are two groups, what are your comparison or control group? How many groups and how many time-points you would choose for your data collection?).

• What are the names of variables, are there more than two variables in this study? 

(You need to describe the names of the variables: for example, dependent variables, independent variables, and demographic variables; In addition, please explain the type of each variable: e.g., ratio, interval, ordinal, nominal or dichotomous variable).

• What is your data collection methods and how would you measure the variables designed in the study? 

(You need to describe the data collection methods, measures in details and data collection procedure, such as survey method or physiological or laboratory tests or mixed data collection methods or others, what variables are measured, how you will collect data [e.g., access to medical record, get access to patients at hospital, community intervention projects managed by City Council], when and where you will get your data?).

• Once you have determined the best and most feasible sampling method, you must decide on the size of sample you will need to be able to best reflect what is true of the population. Conduct an appropriate sample size calculation for this study .

(You need to select the right sample size formula for your study; first select your precision, remember most researchers permit a 5% type I error, assuming a two-tailed hypothesis, and 10 per cent type II error. Are you comparing repeated measurements as in a pretest/post-test study? Comparing measurements when there are two comparison groups, e.g. mean or proportion?)

Limitations of the study

(6) Are there potential sources of bias or error related research design?

What might they be? 

(Please describe any errors or bias you would make in the study design, sampling,

data collection process).