📖 Course Overview
In this research methods course, students will explore the foundational concepts, designs, and analytical approaches that underpin high-quality public health research. The course emphasizes how to formulate research questions, select appropriate study designs, and apply both quantitative and qualitative methods to address complex health challenges in diverse contexts.
Through a mix of theoretical sessions and applied exercises, participants will gain hands-on experience in designing epidemiological studies, developing data collection tools, and ensuring validity, reliability, and ethical integrity in research. By the end of the course, students will be able to design rigorous, context-appropriate research protocols, critically evaluate published studies, and translate findings into actionable evidence for public health decision-making.
🔑 Key Topics Covered
Definition and purpose of research, overview of the research process, quantitative vs. qualitative paradigms, identifying a public health problem
Framing research questions, formulating hypotheses, transforming a topic into a testable question
Overview of cross-sectional, case-control, cohort, experimental, and mixed designs; strengths and limitations
Sampling methods, sample size determination, questionnaire design, pilot testing, and data quality control
Data entry, descriptive statistics, interpretation of results
Designing qualitative studies, interviews and focus groups, coding, and thematic analysis
Ethical principles, informed consent, IRB process, confidentiality, and data protection
Structuring reports, writing abstracts and policy briefs, effective communication of results
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