CoCoPoP Framework

The Condition-Context-Population (CoCoPoP) framework is helpful in conducting research in health and social sciences. 

  1. Condition: This refers to the health or social issue being studied. The condition can be a disease, a health behaviour, a social issue, or any other phenomenon that affects individuals or populations. Researchers need to define the condition clearly, including its definition, symptoms, and causes. 
  1. Context: This refers to the setting or environment in which the condition occurs. The context can include factors such as cultural, social, economic, and political influences, as well as physical and environmental conditions. Understanding the context is crucial for understanding how the condition manifests and affects individuals and populations. 
  1. Population: This refers to the group of individuals or entities that are being studied. The population can be a specific group of people, such as patients with a particular disease or individuals from a particular cultural background. Researchers need to define the population clearly, including its size, demographic characteristics, and any other relevant factors. 
cocopop

The CoCoPoP framework helps researchers organize their research questions, hypotheses, and methods around these three key elements, which are essential for understanding the complex interplay between health conditions, contexts, and populations. By considering these factors, researchers can develop a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the health and social issues they are studying and develop more effective interventions and policies to address them. 

CoCoPop is used to frame questions on the prevalence of a condition, disease, problem or symptom. 

Condition   Which condition, disease, problem or symptom are you looking at? 
Context   When is this happening? Where is this happening? (Geographical location, e.g. Australia / Service location, e.g. hospital) 
Population   How is your population defined? (e.g. age, gender, ethnic group …) 

References 

Munn Z, Stern C, Aromataris E, Lockwood, C., & Jordan, Z. (2018). What kind of systematic review should I conduct? A proposed typology and guidance for systematic reviewers in the medical and health sciences. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 18, 5. doi: 10.1186/s12874-017-0468-4 opens in a new window