ASB 301 Module 5 Assignment 3 – You Design the Research

This assignment is about designing a research study of global health history based on previous research on infectious diseases. It is all about brainstorming new insights, inventing research questions, and designing a full study investigating one of those questions. In this ASB 301 guide, you will find step-by-step instructions on tackling each part of the assignment.

NOTE: Now we will have assignment template doing the ASB 301 Module 5 Assignment 3 – You Design the Research. For example, I am using the ASU template.

Part 1: Brainstorming

Reviewing Previous Work and Materials

• Step 1: You can watch the assignment introduction video to see what the goals and requirements are.
• Step 2: Read the provided material about the infectious disease you selected in Assignment 2.
• Step 3: Check your answer sheet for Assignment 2. You can use your original answers for this assignment even if this has not been graded yet.

Example

Information #1

By the early 1800s the smallpox vaccine was widely used (p. 206). I read Livingstone and Livingstone (1865) without knowing the smallpox vaccine was already in place during their expeditions to Africa where they documented the Makololo people reporting deaths just from the smallpox amongst them. By showing that vaccination efforts were earlier, and more widespread, than I realized, this information turned my previous thoughts on the disease upside down.

Information #2

The spread of the Black Death between 14th century is referred to as the role of the trade routes (p. 315). I first thought the disease spread mostly through local outbreaks. Yet this new information is important to stress the role of international trade in spreading the plague changed my thought on its global effects.

Information #3

Since the early 20th century, advances in genetic mutation understanding of the influenza virus have been substantial (p. 147). I had thought that the origin and evolution of influenza genes was less known than its historical impact. But the more we learn about the virus, the more it becomes clear that scientific advancements are enabling us to better understand the virus’s history, and to map out how the virus mutates.

Identifying New Insights

• Step 4: List three new things learned from the above reading that provide new information compared to your conclusions in Assignment 2.
• Step 5: Explain how each piece of information changes or is added to your previous understanding. The page number is included for reference.

Formulating New Questions

• Step 6: Design one question for each piece of new information about global health history.
• Step 7: Each question must, therefore, be clear and specific and relate to new insights (or learning) you found.

Example

Question #1

When was the smallpox vaccine created in Europe in the early 19th century first available in Africa?

Question #2

Did the international trade routes help the Black Death spread through the 14th century?

Question #3

Which early 20th century genetic mutations in the influenza virus were found, and what impact did these have later in modern virology?

Part 2: Study Design

Choosing a Research Question

• Step 8: Choose one of the three questions you came up with in Part 1 for your study.

Defining the Geographic Focus

• Step 9: Establish the geographic area (or areas) of your study. Tell us how this area interests you and how it relates to your research question.

Identifying Types of Evidence

• Step 10: Determine what kind of evidence you will need, such as paleopathological data, ancient DNA, or historical documents.
• Step 11: Explain why your evidence will help you answer your research question.

Collaborating with Experts

• Step 12: Name all the kinds of experts (for example, archaeologists, paleopathologists, and historians) with whom you will have to work to obtain the evidence.
• Step 13: Why these experts are required for your research?

Comparing Evidence

• Step 14: Explain how you can compare different types of evidence. This step stresses the importance of using a multidisciplinary approach.

Considering Social and Political Factors

• Step 15: Find out the important social and political factors important to your research area. How might these factors impact on your outcomes?

Considering Environmental Factors

• Step 16: Determine environmental factors that need to be taken into account in you study. Talk about what their potential impact on the health outcomes you are looking into.

Anticipating Results

• Step 17: Forecast the outcomes you believe you will uncover based upon your study layout. Why are these anticipated results important?

Example

Chosen Question

What was the effect of international trade routes upon the spread of Black Death in the 14th century?

Geographic Focus

The primary scope of this focus will be Europe and Asia and areas around the Silk Road and trade ports such as Constantinople and Venice. They are chosen because these are historically places of significant trade hubs in the 14th century.

Types of Evidence

Historical trade records, archaeological evidence of the plague victims, and genetic studies of Yersinia pestis (the bacteria that causes the plague) on ancient DNA samples, are the evidence that is necessary. This type of evidence will give it an all-encompassing perspective of how trade route promotional caused the spread of the disease.

Types of Experts

Working historians of medieval trade, archaeologists of 14th century Europe and Asia, and geneticists able to analyse ancient DNA will all be involved in the collaboration. It is essential that these experts be obtained and explain the multidisciplinary evidence required for this study.

Comparing Evidence

Synthesis of historical records, archaeological evidence and genetic information will allow one to compare different types of evidence. A comprehensive understanding of the spread of the Black Death will be achieved by this multidisciplinary approach.

Social and Political Factors

Population movements, urbanization, and the role of merchants and traders are social factors. Political factors include different empires and states policies whose trade route they controlled. These are the factors which I hold as essential, for they moved people and goods, which determined the spread of the plague.

Environmental Factors

Climate, geography, rodents and fleas (plague vectors) will be considered. The spread and persistence of the disease very much played out on these factors.

Anticipated Results

The study is expected to find deep connection between the major merchant trade routes and the epidemiology of the Black Death, pointing out the the merchants and trade network served as important vectors for the disease. It will reinforce the linked nature of medieval societies and the effect of global commerce upon public well being.

Closing

Following this How-To Owlisdom Guide, you will create a complete research study on global health history, enhancing the work you have already done with your research. The ASB 301 Module 5 Assignment 3 – You Design the Research allows you to learn more about existing historical health issues and helps you sharpen your research and analytical skills. To achieve a robust and credible study, be sure to critically evaluate all sources and evidence.