e book on research methodology

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Research Methodology and Scientific Writing

• C. George Thomas 0

Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, India

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• Provides tips to improve the writing skills for research students
• Deals with most interdisciplinary fields in Research such as Problems, Writing Proposals, Funding, Selecting Designs, Literature and Review, Collection of Data and Analysis, and Preparation of Thesis
• Discusses the latest on the use of information technology in retrieving and managing information

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• Table of contents

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Table of contents (24 chapters)

Front matter, research: the search for knowledge.

C. George Thomas

Philosophy of Research

Approaches to research, major research methods, experimental research, collection and analysis of data, planning and writing a research proposal, publications and the library, academic databases, the literature review, preparation of research papers and other articles, the structure of a thesis, tables and illustrations, reasoning in research, references: how to cite and list correctly, improve your writing skills, use appropriate words and phrases, punctuation marks and abbreviations, units and numbers.

• Research Problems
• Writing Proposals
• Selecting Designs
• Literature and Review
• Collection of Data and Analysis
• Preparation of Thesis

Book Title : Research Methodology and Scientific Writing

Authors : C. George Thomas

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64865-7

Publisher : Springer Cham

eBook Packages : Education , Education (R0)

Copyright Information : The Author(s) 2021

Hardcover ISBN : 978-3-030-64864-0 Published: 25 February 2021

Softcover ISBN : 978-3-030-64867-1 Published: 25 February 2022

eBook ISBN : 978-3-030-64865-7 Published: 24 February 2021

Edition Number : 2

Number of Pages : XVII, 620

Number of Illustrations : 25 b/w illustrations

Topics : Engineering/Technology Education , Writing Skills , Thesis and Dissertation

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Introduction to Research Methods A Hands-on Approach

• Bora Pajo - Franklin University
• Description
• Digital Option / Courseware SAGE Vantage is an intuitive learning platform that integrates quality SAGE textbook content with assignable multimedia activities and auto-graded assessments to drive student engagement and ensure accountability. Unparalleled in its ease of use and built for dynamic teaching and learning, Vantage offers customizable LMS integration and best-in-class support. It’s a learning platform you, and your students, will actually love.  Learn more.
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“ Introduction to Research Methods is an excellent resource for students and instructors alike. With readable text in an approachable tone, it effectively covers the breadth of topics related to research methods. Its lucidity is stellar.”

“ Introduction to Research Methods: A Hands-on Approach is highly relevant to the work my undergraduate students do and is delivered at a level they can follow. It does a great job of presenting complex information in an easy-to-understand format. At the graduate level, I could see this text serving as a primary read but then supplementing with more complex articles/chapters. Accessibility of the content is a core strength of this text. It makes in-depth content easy to follow for the novice researcher, while at the same time is engaging enough to not be bland for those with research experience. Overall, this text reads as a road map for how to conduct ethical research and provides the necessary step-by-step instructions on how to be successful during the research process.”

“ Introduction to Research Methods: A Hands-on Approach is an excellent text that presents research methods in an easy-to-understand way with examples that foster critical thinking."

“The hands-on, practical approach to Pajo’s Introduction to Research Methods is a huge key strength.”

Very useful for research methods

• The new edition is available in SAGE Vantage , an intuitive learning platform that integrates quality SAGE textbook content with assignable multimedia activities and auto-graded assessments to drive student engagement and ensure accountability. Unparalleled in its ease of use and built for dynamic teaching and learning, Vantage offers customizable LMS integration and best-in-class support. Learn more.
• A new chapter on Big Data offers a window into the possibilities of what social scientists are accomplishing in the world of machine learning and the endless possibilities of data visualization. It familiarizes students with current and future opportunities in social and behavioral science.
• A completely revised chapter on qualitative designs and data collection illustrates how qualitative designs fit within scientific research methods by emphasizing similarities and identifying differences.
• Updated research examples and visuals reflect current studies in a variety of interdisciplinary fields.
• APA Style 7th Edition is used throughout the book so students see and practice the latest citation styles.
• A conversational and jargon-free writing style brings the relevance of research to life.
• Research in Action features illustrate real, annotated research examples, giving students the skills to read and interpret research they may encounter in their everyday lives.
• Research Workshop features offer step-by-step help on practical topics that extend beyond the chapter to provide hands-on tips for students conducting their own research.
• Ethical Considerations within each chapter address different aspects of research to emphasize ethics as an integral part of the research conversation.
• Chapter pedagogy includes summaries, key terms, photos, and “Taking It a Step Further” questions to extend understanding and application of text concepts.

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1: The Purpose of Research

Chapter 2: Formulating a Research Question

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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 2nd Edition, Kindle Edition

This comprehensive text designed for MBA, MCom, MA (Economics), MA (Sociology) and PhD (Management, Commerce, Economics, and Engineering) courses continues to give complete account of concepts and statistical tools of research methodology in its Second Edition. The textbook also serves as a reference for consultants to carryout projects/consultancies in industries or service organizations.

• ISBN-10 9788120349469
• Edition 2nd
• Sticky notes On Kindle Scribe
• Publisher PHI Learning
• Publication date April 4, 2014
• Language English
• File size 52958 KB
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• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00LPGBUCA
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ PHI Learning; 2nd edition (April 4, 2014)
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 4, 2014
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 52958 KB
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Research Methodology Made Easy: A Handbook on Research Methodology

BY Dr. Parul Nagar

Ebook Price:₹00/$00

E-Book Edition Available On:

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• Reviews (0)

This book is an introduction to research methodology intended to be used by students of undergraduate and post graduate courses and those seeking clarity and an understanding of the key terminology used in research. The handbook will provide the reader with the basic framework and summary of basic research principles and techniques.

This book has been written in simple language with examples to elucidate the underlying concepts, terms, language of research, paradigms of research, types of research, research methods, sampling, data and measurement, data collection methods and report writing.

The author has used a practical approach to the principles of research to make it easier for the reader to understand, apply and select the paradigms of research, research methods and research methodology applicable to their research.

This book endeavours to make research easy to understand and apply to all readers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Parul Nagar is an educationist and a qualified professional, who has been in the education industry for over 2 decades. She has over 25 years of teaching experience in the field of Finance, Economics, Research Methodology, Statistics and has been a mentor for students in various programs including MBA, BBA, CFA, BA, Law, B.E. and B. Ed. at Fore School of Management, New Delhi, Asia Pacific Institute of Management, New Delhi, Skyline Business School Gurgaon, Institute of Business and Management Research, Gurgaon, Manav Rachna University, Faridabad and ICFAI, Gurgaon. She is currently working at the Indian School of Hospitality, Gurgaon as a Consultant. She has earned a Doctor of Philosophy, Business Management, was awarded three gold medals in the field of Economics and was the university topper in the courses of MA Economics and MBA Finance, Lucknow University. She was awarded National Scholarship Award, by Ministry of HRD, DOE, Government of India.

She has successfully completed the Data 274x: Data Science Research Methods: R Edition, Microsoft VALID CERTIFICATE ID2e74537155324c1ca6a222cdfe1becd7 Date: May 28, 2020 .

Her notable research papers have been published and recognized by international journals.

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The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Dissertation in Business Studies: A Step-by-Step Assistance (7th edition)

January 2024, john dudovskiy.

• Description
• Table of contents
• List of tables
• List of figures

“Of all the research books I have read, this is the easiest to understand. I now feel like I know exactly what I need to do” - Jonathan, Pittsburgh, USA

Why this e-book?

The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Dissertation contains step-by-step guidance derived from the experience of assisting hundreds of students who have successfully completed dissertations in business studies. Unlike many other books devoted to this topic, The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Dissertation explains the whole process starting from the selection of the research area to the completion of the final draft in simple words. The e-book can be used by students on both levels – Bachelors and Masters, as it explains the underlying principles and rules of writing dissertation in business studies, and these principles are equally effective for Bachelors and Masters Dissertations.

"A fantastic book and a big help" - Lewis Scollen, Leeds Beckett University, England

Writing a research project can prove to be one of the most challenging experiences in life. For the majority of students writing a dissertation as a final part of studies for a degree is their first engagement in a research that requires primary data collection. Collecting a primary data and analyzing the primary data, regardless of the method chosen, can prove to be a very challenging task for students to accomplish. This is mainly due to the lack or absence of the previous research experience. To put it simply, it may not be easy to find a gap in the research area of your interest or identify a practical problem to address in an organization of your choice. More importantly, selecting the most suitable method of primary data collection, collecting the primary data and analyzing the data to find answers to your research questions or to test hypotheses are not straightforward tasks for many business students.

Even for desk-based studies that do not require primary data collection, formulating research aims and objectives or developing hypotheses and critically analyzing a wide range of relevant literature appears can be difficult for inexperienced writers. However, no need to panic. Millions of dissertations have been written up to date and many millions of dissertations are going to be written in the future. You have a chance of turning the next several months of your life, during which you will be writing your dissertation into a rewarding and satisfying period and this e-book will be your assistant to achieve this. The e-book aims to assist students to deal with these challenges in an effective and enjoyable manner. The process of writing a dissertation is explained in this e-book in step-by-step. Moreover, challenges likely to be faced in each step and the ways of dealing with these challenges are explained in simple terms.

"Comprehensive is the right word for this guidance." - Rajendra, New Dehli, India

• 1. Getting Started
• 1.1 Selecting Research Area
• 1.2 Formulating Research Aims and Objectives
• 1.3 Writing Dissertation Proposal
• 2. Introduction Chapter
• 2.1 Writing Research Background
• 2.2 Explaining Rationale for the Study
• 2.3 Providing the Research Structure
• 3. Literature Review Chapter 
• 3.1 Structure for Literature Review Chapter
• 3.1.1 Introduction.
• 3.1.2 Types of Literature Review
• 3.1.3 Explanation of Literature Search Strategy
• 3.1.4 Definitions
• 3.1.5 Classifications
• 3.1.6 Presentation and discussion of major theoretical frameworks
• 3.1.7 Discussion of contradictions in the research area
• 3.1.8 Conclusions
• 3.2 Sources for literature review
• 3.3 Referencing
• 4. Methodology 
• 4.1 Research Process
• 4.2 Research Philosophy
• 4.2.1 The Essence of Research Philosophy
• 4.2.1.1 Axiology
• 4.2.1.2 Epistemology
• 4.2.1.3 Ontology
• 4.2.1.4 Phenomenology
• 4.2.2 The Choice of Research Philosophy
• 4.2.2.1 Pragmatism
• 4.2.2.2 Positivism
• 4.2.2.3 Realism
• 4.2.2.4 Interpretivism
• 4.2.2.5 Constructivism
• 4.3 Types of Research Methods
• 4.3.1 Applied Research
• 4.3.2 Fundamental Research
• 4.4 Research Approach
• 4.4.1 Deductive Approach
• 4.4.2 Inductive Approach
• 4.4.3 Abductive Approach
• 4.5 Research Design
• 4.5.1 Exploratory Research
• 4.5.2 Conclusive Research
• 4.6 Data Collection Methods
• 4.6.1 Secondary Data Collection Methods
• 4.6.2 Primary Data Collection Methods
• 4.6.2.1 Survey Method
• 4.6.2.2 Futures Research
• 4.6.2.3 Action Research
• 4.6.3 Quantitative Data Collection Methods
• 4.6.3.1 Questionnaires with Closed-Ended Questions
• 4.6.3.2 Experiments Research
• 4.6.4 Qualitative Data Collection Methods
• 4.6.4.1 Interviews
• 4.6.4.2 Questionnaires with open-ended questions
• 4.6.4.3 Focus Group
• 4.6.4.4 Observation Data Collection Method
• 4.6.4.5 Case Studies
• 4.6.4.6 Grounded Theory
• 4.7 Sampling
• 4.7.1 Probability Sampling
• 4.7.1.1 Simple Random Sampling
• 4.7.1.2 Systematic Sampling
• 4.7.1.3 Stratified Sampling
• 4.7.1.4 Cluster Sampling
• 4.7.2 Non-Probability Sampling
• 4.7.2.1 Convenience Sampling
• 4.7.2.2 Multistage Sampling
• 4.7.2.3 Purposive Sampling
• 4.7.2.4 Quota Sampling
• 4.7.2.5 Snowball Sampling
• 4.8 Methods of Data Analysis
• 4.9 Reliability and Validity
• 4.10 Ethical Considerations
• 5. Presentation of Findings 
• 5.1 Presentation of Quantitative Data
• 5.1.1 Tabulation
• 5.1.2 Pie-Charts
• 5.1.3 Bar Charts
• 5.1.4 Histograms
• 5.1.5 Line Graphs
• 5.1.6 Scatterplots
• 5.2 Presentation of Qualitative Data
• 6. Data Analysis 
• 6.1 Quantitative Data Analysis
• 6.1.1 Correlation Analysis
• 6.1.2 Regression Analysis
• 6.1.3 Mean, Mode and Median
• 6.2 Qualitative Data Analysis
• 7. Conclusions 
• 7.1 Achievement of Research Aim and Objectives
• 7.2 Research Limitations
• 7.3 Suggestions for Future Research
• 7.4 Personal Reflection
• 8. Time Management 
• 8.1 Fighting procrastination
• 8.2 Breaking Down Tasks into Smaller Components
• 8.3 Prioritizing
• 8.4 Dealing with Distractions/Distracters
• 8.5 Getting Adequate Amounts of Sleep
• 8.6 Pursuing Hobbies and Socializing
• 9. Interactions with Supervisor 
• Appendices 
• Appendix A: Referencing Systems
• Harvard Referencing System
• APA Referencing System
• Vancouver Referencing System
• Appendix B: Resources
• Recommended Texbooks
• Online Resources
• List of Tables
• Table 1 Examples of SMART research objectives
• Table 2 A sample Gantt chart for the completion of a dissertation
• Table 3 Main differences between research background and literature review
• Table 4 Components of each chapter in research structure
• Table 5 Sources for literature review and examples
• Table 6 Axiology of research philosophies and relevant data collection techniques
• Table 7 Epistemology of popular research philosophies in business research
• Table 8 Key philosophical concepts and questions
• Table 10 Advantages and disadvantages of positivism and phenomenology
• Table 11 Research philosophies and data collection methods
• Table 12 Positivism, interpretivism and epistemologies
• Table 13 Ontology, epistemology, axiology and typical research methods associated
• Table 14 Differences between positivism and social constructionism
• Table 15 Positivist and phenomenology paradigms
• Table 16 Ontology, epistemology, axiology and research methods associated with
• Table 17 Assumptions and research philosophies
• Table 18 Constructivism and other philosophical approaches
• Table 20 Differences between applied and fundamental research
• Table 21 Main differences between exploratory and conclusive research
• Table 22 Differences between fundamental and applied research
• Table 23 Differences between deductive, inductive and abductive approaches
• Table 24 Choice between deductive and inductive approaches
• Table 25 Research approach and research methods
• Table 26 Research approach and patterns of data analysis
• Table 27 Research approach and research attributes
• Table 28 Major differences between exploratory and conclusive research design
• Table 29 Examples for descriptive research design
• Table 30 Examples for studies with causal design
• Table 31 Main differences between conclusive and exploratory research design
• Table 32 Main characteristics of research designs
• Table 33 Major survey methods and their descriptions
• Table 34 Advantages and disadvantages of popular survey methods
• Table 36 Main differences between quantitative and qualitative methods
• Table 37 Main differences between laboratory experiments and field experiments
• Table 38 Sources and procedures associated with qualitative data collection
• Table 39 Strengths and weaknesses associated with qualitative data collection
• Table 40 Advantages and disadvantages of popular sampling techniques
• Table 41 Main differences between probability and non-probability sampling
• Table 43 Sizes of non-probability sampling
• Table 44 Non-probability sampling methods
• Table 45 Tabulation data presentation
• Table 46 Qualitative data coding
• Table 47 Dissertation timetable Gantt-Chart
• Table 48 Time Management Matrix
• List of Figures
• Figure 1 Formulation of research question, aim and objectives
• Figure 2 Research philosophy in the ‘research onion’
• Figure 3 Impact of research philosophy on the choice of research method
• Figure 4 Illustration of direct realism and critical realism
• Figure 5 Deductive process in research approach
• Figure 6 Inductive process in research approach
• Figure 7 Difference between abductive reasoning and alternative approaches
• Figure 8 Basic Model of Action Research
• Figure 9 Kemmis and McTaggart’s (2000) Action Research Spiral
• Figure 10 Survey Monkey as a popular platform for primary data collection
• Figure 11 Population, sample and individual cases
• Figure 12 Categorisation of sampling techniques
• Figure 13 Simple random sampling
• Figure 14 Random number table
• Figure 15 Systematic sampling
• Figure 16 Stratified sampling
• Figure 17 Cluster sampling
• Figure 18 Convenience sampling
• Figure 19 Multistage sampling
• Figure 20 Purposive sampling
• Figure 21 Theoretical sampling and generation of grounded theory
• Figure 22 Linear snowball sampling
• Figure 23 Exponential non-discriminative snowball sampling
• Figure 24 Exponential discriminative snowball sampling
• Figure 25 Pie-chart data presentation
• Figure 26 Bar Chart data presentation
• Figure 27 Histograms data presentation
• Figure 28 Line Graphs data presentation
• Figure 29 Scatter Plot data presentation

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Research Methodology A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

• Ranjit Kumar - University of Western Australia, Australia
• Description

Designed with students, for students and now shortlisted for the British Book Design and Production Awards 2019!

Eight steps, two pathways, one book.  The Fifth Edition of the bestseller  Research Methodology  has reimagined, redesigned, and fully renovated how a textbook can help students achieve success in their methods course or research project.

Eight steps:  Foolproof for any beginner researcher, the book breaks the process of designing and doing a research project into achievable stages. It delivers students from research problem to their written research report at the pace they need, with clear explanations, DIY tasks and study skills support.  In a new  landscape format  it presents figures, models and visualizations elegantly, so they don't break over a page, making even complex concepts easier to understand.

Two pathways:  With an innovative, beautiful design, regular progress checkpoints have been built into the book and its online resources. As students proceed through the 8 steps, each chapter provides regular opportunities for students to check understanding or give themselves a challenge. Each pathway then gives them the resources they need.

• Confused? Stop, practise with quizzes and flashcards, or use a video to look at a concept a different way.
• Up for a challenge? Access a wealth of additional material including research articles, readings, case studies, activities, bibliography tools and inspiration to pursue your curiosity, impress your lecturer, and nail your assignments.

With this one book,  every student gets what they need to succeed. It is the perfect essential text for students and beginner researchers across the social sciences.

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Good book for beginner

This is an excellent resource on research methodology and very accessible for the students I teach.

This is an excellent book BUT this edition is HIDEOUS.

It is a weird shape and won't fit well on our library shelves. One of my students mentioned she keeps her's on the floor.

The text is at times pink on pink or blue on blue and the contrast is terrible - that's an accessibility issue.

On a more subjective note, the fonts and the neons look like someone was trying to be cool and trendy and it smacks of 'hello fellow kids'. Fire the graphic designer.

I have suggested that my students buy 4th eds used if possible as it looks like a grow-up book for adults, and will fit on a bookshelf, and is actually LEGIBLE especially if they have any eye issues, colour blindness or specific learning difficulties

Standard classic text - appropriate for any level of study. Excellent overview of concepts and terminology.

A colourful and easy to use text book which I think the students will enjoy.

Fantastic research book. Very easy to read, well laid out and informative

An extremely detailed yet accessible introduction to conducting and evaluating research in a variety of subjects. This is a really helpful resource for students and is presented in an engaging manner.

I am no longer the course leader for this module but this is the best book on the market It is so well structured and very informative in an easier to read format than many other books on this topic

Great overview of research in a user friendly presentation, love the bright colours and unusual landscape layout.

Love this book. Very useful to dip in an out of and is bright and engaging. Clearly defined chapters with a good range of practical activities and exercises to reinforce learning. Student friendly and the bonus of online resources.

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Majority of U.S. Catholics Express Favorable View of Pope Francis

Methodology, table of contents.

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• Acknowledgments
• The American Trends Panel survey methodology

The American Trends Panel (ATP), created by Pew Research Center, is a nationally representative panel of randomly selected U.S. adults. Panelists participate via self-administered web surveys. Panelists who do not have internet access at home are provided with a tablet and wireless internet connection. Interviews are conducted in both English and Spanish. The panel is being managed by Ipsos.

Data in this report is drawn from ATP Wave 143, conducted from Feb. 13 to 25, 2024. A total of 12,693 panelists (including 2,019 Catholics) responded out of 14,762 who were sampled, for a response rate of 89% (AAPOR RR3). The survey includes an oversample of 2,051 Jewish and Muslim Americans from Ipsos’ KnowledgePanel, SSRS’s Opinion Panel, and NORC at the University of Chicago’s AmeriSpeak Panel. These oversampled groups are weighted to reflect their correct proportions in the population. The cumulative response rate accounting for nonresponse to the recruitment surveys and attrition is 4%. The break-off rate among panelists who logged on to the survey and completed at least one item is less than 1%. The margin of sampling error for the full sample of 12,693 respondents is plus or minus 1.5 percentage points.

ATP Panel recruitment

The ATP was created in 2014, with the first cohort of panelists invited to join the panel at the end of a large, national, landline and cellphone random-digit-dial survey that was conducted in both English and Spanish. Two additional recruitments were conducted using the same method in 2015 and 2017, respectively. Across these three surveys, a total of 19,718 adults were invited to join the ATP, of whom 9,942 (50%) agreed to participate.

In August 2018, the ATP switched from telephone to address-based sampling (ABS) recruitment. A study cover letter and a pre-incentive are mailed to a stratified, random sample of households selected from the U.S. Postal Service’s Delivery Sequence File. This Postal Service file has been estimated to cover as much as 98% of the population, although some studies suggest that the coverage could be in the low 90% range. 3 Within each sampled household, the adult with the next birthday is asked to participate. Other details of the ABS recruitment protocol have changed over time but are available upon request. 4

We have recruited a national sample of U.S. adults to the ATP approximately once per year since 2014. In some years, the recruitment has included additional efforts (known as an “oversample”) to boost sample size with underrepresented groups. For example, Hispanic, Black and Asian adults were oversampled in 2019, 2022 and 2023, respectively.

Across the six address-based recruitments, a total of 23,862 adults were invited to join the ATP, of whom 20,917 agreed to join the panel and completed an initial profile survey. Of the 30,859 individuals who have ever joined the ATP, 11,920 remained active panelists and continued to receive survey invitations at the time this survey was conducted.

The American Trends Panel never uses breakout routers or chains that direct respondents to additional surveys.

Sample design

The overall target population for this survey was noninstitutionalized persons ages 18 and older living in the U.S., including Alaska and Hawaii. All active panel members who completed the ATP wave which fielded from July 31 to Aug. 6, 2023 (ATP W132), or panelists who previously identified as Jewish or Muslim, were invited to participate in this wave.

The ATP was supplemented with an oversample of self-identified Jewish and Muslim American panelists from three other probability panels: Ipsos’ KnowledgePanel, SSRS’s Opinion Panel, and NORC at the University of Chicago’s AmeriSpeak Panel. All panelists who met the selection criteria were selected with certainty.

Questionnaire development and testing

The questionnaire was developed by Pew Research Center in consultation with Ipsos, SSRS and NORC. The survey for ATP and KP panelists was programmed by Ipsos, while the survey for SSRS and NORC panelists was programmed by SSRS. A small number of SSRS panelists took their survey over the phone with an interviewer. Both web programs were rigorously tested on both PC and mobile devices by the Ipsos, SSRS and NORC project management teams and Pew Research Center researchers. The Ipsos project management team also populated test data that was analyzed in SPSS to ensure the logic and randomizations were working as intended before launching the survey.

All ATP respondents were offered a post-paid incentive for their participation. Respondents could choose to receive the post-paid incentive in the form of a check or a gift code to Amazon.com or could choose to decline the incentive. Incentive amounts ranged from $5 to $20 depending on whether the respondent belongs to a part of the population that is harder or easier to reach. Differential incentive amounts were designed to increase panel survey participation among groups that traditionally have low survey response propensities.

Respondents from Ipsos’ KnowledgePanel, SSRS’s Opinion Panel, and the NORC AmeriSpeak Panel were offered the cash equivalent of $10 for completing this survey.

Data collection protocol

The data collection field period for this survey was Feb. 13-25, 2024. Postcard notifications were mailed to a subset of ATP panelists with a known residential address on Feb. 12. 5

Invitations were sent out in separate launches. Sixty ATP panelists and 300 KP panelists were included in the soft launch, which began with an initial invitation sent on Feb. 13. The ATP and KP panelists chosen for the soft launch were known responders who had completed previous surveys within one day of receiving their invitation. All remaining ATP and KP sampled panelists were included in the full launch and were sent an invitation on Feb. 14.

Overall, 129 SSRS panelists were included in the SSRS soft launch, which began with an initial invitation on Feb. 14. And 110 NORC panelists were included in the NORC soft launch, which began with an initial invitation on Feb. 15. All remaining SSRS and NORC sampled panelists were included together in the full launch and were sent an invitation on Feb. 15. 

All panelists with an email address received an email invitation and up to four email reminders if they did not respond to the survey. All ATP panelists who consented to SMS messages received an SMS invitation and up to four SMS reminders.

Data quality checks

To ensure high-quality data, the Center’s researchers performed data quality checks to identify any respondents showing clear patterns of satisficing. This includes checking for whether respondents left questions blank at very high rates or always selected the first or last answer presented. As a result of this checking, six ATP respondents were removed from the survey dataset prior to weighting and analysis.

The data was weighted in a multistep process that accounts for multiple stages of sampling and nonresponse that occur at different points in the survey process. First, each panelist begins with a base weight that reflects their probability of inclusion in the panel to which they belong. Separately for each of the four panels (ATP, KP, SSRS and NORC), the base weights for Muslim and Jewish respondents were scaled to be proportional to the group’s effective sample size. These weights were then combined and calibrated so that the overall proportions of Jewish and Muslim respondents respectively match the National Public Opinion Reference Survey (NPORS) benchmark.

This weight is then calibrated again to align with the full set of population benchmarks identified in the accompanying table (which also includes the NPORS benchmarks for the shares of Jewish and Muslim adults). In order to reduce the loss in precision stemming from variance in the weights, the weights were trimmed separately among Jewish, Muslim, Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, and non-Hispanic Asian respondents at the 98th percentile, and among all other respondents at the 99.5th percentile. Sampling errors and tests of statistical significance take into account the effect of weighting.

The following table shows the unweighted sample sizes and the error attributable to sampling that would be expected at the 95% level of confidence for different groups in the survey.

Sample sizes and sampling errors for other subgroups are available upon request. In addition to sampling error, one should bear in mind that question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of opinion polls.

Dispositions and response rates

• AAPOR Task Force on Address-based Sampling. 2016. “AAPOR Report: Address-based Sampling.” ↩
• Email [email protected] . ↩
• Postcard notifications are sent to 1) panelists who have been provided with a tablet to take ATP surveys, 2) panelists who were recruited within the last two years, and 3) panelists recruited prior to the last two years who opt to continue receiving postcard notifications. ↩

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A New Use for Wegovy Opens the Door to Medicare Coverage for Millions of People with Obesity

Juliette Cubanski , Tricia Neuman , Nolan Sroczynski , and Anthony Damico Published: Apr 24, 2024

The FDA recently approved a new use for Wegovy (semaglutide), the blockbuster anti-obesity drug, to reduce the risk of heart attacks and stroke in people with cardiovascular disease who are overweight or obese. Wegovy belongs to a class of medications called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) agonists that were initially approved to treat type 2 diabetes but are also highly effective anti-obesity drugs. The new FDA-approved indication for Wegovy paves the way for Medicare coverage of this drug and broader coverage by other insurers. Medicare is currently prohibited by law from covering Wegovy and other medications when used specifically for obesity. However, semaglutide is covered by Medicare as a treatment for diabetes, branded as Ozempic.

What does the FDA’s decision mean for Medicare coverage of Wegovy?

The FDA’s decision opens the door to Medicare coverage of Wegovy, which was first approved by the FDA as an anti-obesity medication. Soon after the FDA’s approval of the new use for Wegovy, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a memo indicating that Medicare Part D plans can add Wegovy to their formularies now that it has a medically-accepted indication that is not specifically excluded from Medicare coverage . Because Wegovy is a self-administered injectable drug, coverage will be provided under Part D , Medicare’s outpatient drug benefit offered by private stand-alone drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans, not Part B, which covers physician-administered drugs.

How many Medicare beneficiaries could be eligible for coverage of Wegovy for its new use?

Of these 3.6 million beneficiaries, 1.9 million also had diabetes (other than Type 1) and may already have been eligible for Medicare coverage of GLP-1s as diabetes treatments prior to the FDA’s approval of the new use of Wegovy.

Not all people who are eligible based on the new indication are likely to take Wegovy, however. Some might be dissuaded by the potential side effects and adverse reactions . Out-of-pocket costs could also be a barrier. Based on the list price of $1,300 per month (not including rebates or other discounts negotiated by pharmacy benefit managers), Wegovy could be covered as a specialty tier drug, where Part D plans are allowed to charge coinsurance of 25% to 33%. Because coinsurance amounts are pegged to the list price, Medicare beneficiaries required to pay coinsurance could face monthly costs of $325 to $430 before they reach the new cap on annual out-of-pocket drug spending established by the Inflation Reduction Act – around $3,300 in 2024, based on brand drugs only, and $2,000 in 2025. But even paying $2,000 out of pocket would still be beyond the reach of many people with Medicare who live on modest incomes . Ultimately, how much beneficiaries pay out of pocket will depend on Part D plan coverage and formulary tier placement of Wegovy.

Further, some people may have difficulty accessing Wegovy if Part D plans apply prior authorization and step therapy tools to manage costs and ensure appropriate use. These factors could have a dampening effect on use by Medicare beneficiaries, even among the target population.

When will Medicare Part D plans begin covering Wegovy?

Some Part D plans have already announced that they will begin covering Wegovy this year, although it is not yet clear how widespread coverage will be in 2024. While Medicare drug plans can add new drugs to their formularies during the year to reflect new approvals and expanded indications, plans are not required to cover every new drug that comes to market. Part D plans are required to cover at least two drugs in each category or class and all or substantially all drugs in six protected classes . However, facing a relatively high price and potentially large patient population for Wegovy, many Part D plans might be reluctant to expand coverage now, since they can’t adjust their premiums mid-year to account for higher costs associated with use of this drug. So, broader coverage in 2025 could be more likely.

How might expanded coverage of Wegovy affect Medicare spending?

The impact on Medicare spending associated with expanded coverage of Wegovy will depend in part on how many Part D plans add coverage for it and the extent to which plans apply restrictions on use like prior authorization; how many people who qualify to take the drug use it; and negotiated prices paid by plans. For example, if plans receive a 50% rebate on the list price of $1,300 per month (or $15,600 per year), that could mean annual net costs per person around $7,800. If 10% of the target population (an estimated 360,000 people) uses Wegovy for a full year, that would amount to additional net Medicare Part D spending of $2.8 billion for one year for this one drug alone.

It’s possible that Medicare could select semaglutide for drug price negotiation as early as 2025, based on the earliest FDA approval of Ozempic in late 2017 . For small-molecule drugs like semaglutide, at least seven years must have passed from its FDA approval date to be eligible for selection, and for drugs with multiple FDA approvals, CMS will use the earliest approval date to make this determination. If semaglutide is selected for negotiation next year, a negotiated price would be available beginning in 2027. This could help to lower Medicare and out-of-pocket spending on semaglutide products, including Wegovy as well as Ozempic and Rybelsus, the oral formulation approved for type 2 diabetes. As of 2022, gross Medicare spending on Ozempic alone placed it sixth among the 10 top-selling drugs in Medicare Part D, with annual gross spending of $4.6 billion, based on KFF analysis . This estimate does not include rebates, which Medicare’s actuaries estimated to be  31.5% overall in 2022  but could be as high as  69%  for Ozempic, according to one estimate.

What does this mean for Medicare coverage of anti-obesity drugs?

For now, use of GLP-1s specifically for obesity continues to be excluded from Medicare coverage by law. But the FDA’s decision signals a turning point for broader Medicare coverage of GLP-1s since Wegovy can now be used to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke by people with cardiovascular disease and obesity or overweight, and not only as an anti-obesity drug. And more pathways to Medicare coverage could open up if these drugs gain FDA approval for other uses . For example, Eli Lilly has just reported clinical trial results showing the benefits of its GLP-1, Zepbound (tirzepatide), in reducing the occurrence of sleep apnea events among people with obesity or overweight. Lilly reportedly plans to seek FDA approval for this use and if approved, the drug would be the first pharmaceutical treatment on the market for sleep apnea.

If more Medicare beneficiaries with obesity or overweight gain access to GLP-1s based on other approved uses for these medications, that could reduce the cost of proposed legislation to lift the statutory prohibition on Medicare coverage of anti-obesity drugs. This is because the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Congress’s official scorekeeper for proposed legislation, would incorporate the cost of coverage for these other uses into its baseline estimates for Medicare spending, which means that the incremental cost of changing the law to allow Medicare coverage for anti-obesity drugs would be lower than it would be without FDA’s approval of these drugs for other uses. Ultimately how widely Medicare Part D coverage of GLP-1s expands could have far-reaching effects on people with obesity and on Medicare spending.

• Medicare Part D
• Chronic Diseases
• Heart Disease
• Medicare Advantage

news release

• An Estimated 1 in 4 Medicare Beneficiaries With Obesity or Overweight Could Be Eligible for Medicare Coverage of Wegovy, an Anti-Obesity Drug, to Reduce Heart Risk

When it comes to sustainability and environmental impact, this Northeastern Ph.D. grad is at the ‘forefront of innovation’

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Looking at doctorate programs, Abhijeet Parvatker found a perfect match in Northeastern and Matthew Eckelman, a professor of civil, environmental and chemical engineering.

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Before arriving at Northeastern University to pursue a doctoral degree, Abhijeet Parvatker worked as a research engineer at one of the world’s largest petrochemicals manufacturers. 

He was a part of a team that measured sustainability of the company’s products, primarily produced from natural gas.

“There is generally a lot of pressure from stakeholders to understand the environmental impacts that the products have,” Parvatker says. 

He used one of the most common methodologies — life-cycle assessment — that evaluates how a product or service impacts the environment over the course of its life cycle, from the moment raw materials are extracted to manufacture the product, to when it is discarded.

Although the life-cycle assessment methodology was standardized, Parvatker says, it was challenging to find the data needed to determine consumed energy, carbon dioxide emissions or toxicity. 

“I soon realized that there are a lot of gaps in this,” he says. “The methods to get to the data are not as evolved, and I wanted to do a Ph.D. with that focus.”

Looking at doctorate programs, Parvatker found Northeastern and Matthew Eckelman , a professor of civil, environmental and chemical engineering, who was doing research in the exact area he was interested in. 

From then on, his life’s work started to take on a larger meaning.

“It was a really good fit for a research project that I had just gotten funded from the National Science Foundation,” Eckelman says. “I felt like he had the experience to carry out this project.”

Parvatker’s research looks at developing new methods and models for generating data for life-cycle assessments and evaluating the sustainability of different chemicals and chemical manufacturing processes.

“There’s something like tens of thousands of chemicals in commerce,” Eckelman says. “We have inventory information on maybe a couple thousands.”  

It was a big and ambitious project, he says, but Parvatker has made a lot of progress. And it’s been extremely useful, Eckelman says, to the global community.

“I am always getting questions about papers that Abhijeet and I wrote together,” Eckelman says. “People wanting to use the data, wanting to adapt the techniques that we use to generate the data.”

Another project Parvatker worked on was analyzing the environmental impact of intravenous anesthetic drugs used by medical institutions.The health care sector makes a considerable contribution to America’s GDP, Eckelman says, which means that to reduce the country’s carbon dioxide output into the atmosphere, health care must become more sustainable. 

However, pharmaceutical companies don’t share much data about the inputs of chemicals they use in a drug, Parvatker says, for proprietary or other reasons.

He used chemical engineering principles, process design and physics and chemistry knowledge about these products to calculate inputs and outputs. He looked at 20 intravenous anesthetic drugs and about 140 different chemicals, building life-cycle inventory data for them.

“It’s still the largest study in the pharmaceutical sector for those chemicals,” he says.

Together, Parvatker and Eckelman wrote some of the first papers about the contribution of the health care industry to national and global emissions.

“These numbers are quoted all the time,” Eckelman says. “And then the National Academy of Medicine opened up this big effort called the Action Collaborative on Decarbonizing the U.S. Health Sector. And now we’re invited to be a part of that because of his work.”

Parvatker earned his undergraduate degree in chemical engineering back home in India and his master’s degree in advanced process integration and design from the University of Manchester before being accepted into Northeastern’s Ph.D. program.

Parvatker says the university takes experiential learning to the next level by encouraging students to apply their research in the real world through programs such as LEADERs .

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Short for Leadership Education Advancing Discovery through Embedded Research, LEADERs is a customized internship program for Northeastern doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers.

Parvatker credits the program — and his internship at Wayfair that resulted from it — for introducing him to the world of sustainability consulting. At Wayfair, he was tasked with creating guidelines for vendors on the use of chemicals based on the U.S. and the EU regulations. He also gained experience in chemical safety and supply chain management.

After completing his doctoral degree program, Parvatker was offered a full-time job at Sphera Solutions, a provider of consulting services, data and software solutions for risk management and monitoring of environmental, social and governance performance. 

He currently manages a team of five sustainability consultants who help companies with large product portfolios address their sustainability challenges, automate calculations and reports on ESG with Sphera’s software. 

“Imagine companies that have tens of thousands and millions of products,” Parvatker says. “With some initial effort of six months to one year, you can scale the life-cycle assessment methodology to the entire product portfolio and calculate all the life-cycle assessment results for tens of thousands of products in hours.”

Parvatker loves working with different companies, different processes and different people.

“In this space of the implementation of this methodology, we are always at the forefront of innovation,” he says.

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