HHS460 Research Methods in Health and Human Services

Week 3 –
Discussion 1 – Canadian National Health Plan

Research can vary from highly
sophisticated experimental studies to less rigorous short term investigations.
Each research approach has advantages and disadvantages.  Among the
different paradigms you could use, two of the more common are the “positivist
approach” and the “interpretive approach” (consult pages 39-40 in the text). If
you were interested in determining if the Canadian National Health Plan was
“better” (better in terms of care, coverage, and choice of doctors) then the
current United States Health Coverage Plan (Obama sponsored), which approach
would you choose to make this determination?  Provide a justification to
your answer. Remember, your decision is about the research paradigm, and the
subject focus (health care plans) provides the context.  Select the
responses of two classmates, comparing the position you take and the
justification. If you agree in terms of the position, discuss any differences
of opinion in terms of the justification.