This chapter presents the research methodology used to examine cancer awareness, risk perception, stigma, and health-related behaviors among university students in Punjab, India. The study focuses on understanding how students perceive cancer risks, how stigma affects their behaviors, and how cancer awareness shapes their engagement with preventive health practices. The aim is to identify the patterns and relationships between these factors and provide recommendations for improving cancer education and health promotion within university settings. A cross-sectional design was chosen for this study. This approach allows for the collection of data at a single point in time, making it ideal for examining associations between cancer awareness, risk perceptions, stigma, and health behaviors. The cross-sectional design also enables the study to gather comprehensive data on these factors, providing a clear snapshot of students' attitudes, knowledge, and practices related to cancer prevention. This methodology was selected to address the research questions and objectives outlined earlier in the thesis. The study specifically aims to assess the level of cancer awareness, evaluate perceived cancer risk, investigate the influence of cancer-related stigma, and explore how these factors interact with health-promoting behaviors. By focusing on these aspects, the study seeks to provide insights that can inform the development of targeted health initiatives within university campuses in Punjab. The chapter outlines the philosophical underpinnings of the study, the research design, and the methods used to collect and analyze data. These elements were carefully chosen to ensure that the study’s findings are both scientifically rigorous and culturally relevant

This chapter describes the research approach used to investigate cancer awareness, risk perception, stigma, and health behaviors among university students in Punjab, India. The research examines how students view cancer risks, the ways stigma influences their actions, and how cancer knowledge affects their participation in preventive health measures. The goal is to uncover patterns and connections between these elements while offering suggestions for better cancer education and health promotion programs in university environments. The researchers selected a cross-sectional study design for this investigation. This method involves gathering data at one specific time point, which works well for exploring connections between cancer awareness, risk perceptions, stigma, and health behaviors. The cross-sectional approach also allows researchers to collect thorough information about these variables, creating a complete picture of students' attitudes, understanding, and practices regarding cancer prevention. The research team chose this methodology to tackle the research questions and goals established in earlier sections of the thesis. The study particularly seeks to measure cancer awareness levels, assess how students perceive cancer risk, examine the impact of cancer-related stigma, and investigate how these elements relate to health-promoting behaviors. Through this focus, the research aims to generate insights that can guide the creation of specific health programs for university campuses throughout Punjab. The chapter details the theoretical foundations of the study, the research framework, and the techniques employed for data collection and analysis. Researchers selected these components carefully to guarantee that the study's results would be both scientifically sound and culturally appropriate.