1. Identify the Study Objective The first step is to clearly state the purpose of the study. For example, if the objective is to understand the prevalence of diabetes in adults over 50, the population will be adults aged 50 and above.
2. Specify Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria Inclusion criteria determine who can be part of the study, while exclusion criteria specify who cannot. This step ensures that the population is homogeneous enough to yield meaningful results.
3. Determine the Geographical Scope Decide whether the study will focus on a local, regional, national, or even global population. This scope can influence the generalizability of the study findings.
