IDE7102: Advanced Public Health Research Methods

This course will advance understanding, skills and competences on fundamentals of research methods and statistical analysis of public health data. It covers in detail the principles of research investigation, research design, sampling, measurements, and the use of descriptive and inferential statistics for data analysis and hypothesis testing. Focuses on health survey design, sampling methodologies, questionnaire construction and administration, interviewing, and coding procedures. 
 
Aim  

To build public health research competences in the students so that they can confidently develop research, undertake data collection, analyse, and disseminate data. 
 
Course objectives  
By the end of this course, the students will be able to: 

• Practically design sound and complex public health research projects. 
• Develop, pre-test and deploy data collection tools. 
• Apply quantitative, qualitative, mixed method and participatory approaches to research. 
• Conducting research and evaluation programmes. 
• Conduct monitoring and evaluation of health research. 
• Understand the role of Public Health Research Economics. 

Expected course outcome 
Application of core aspects of public health research methods, especially to: 

• Identify the types of research questions and designs appropriate for studies in public health. 
• Demonstrate knowledge of key concepts with sample selection and measurement. 
• Demonstrate competence in constructing and thinking through basic data analyses given the nature and structure of the research tools. 
• Demonstrate competence in conducting qualitative and quantitative studies. 
• Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of methods used in various research studies. 
• Describe methods for designing simple and complex research projects to address disease outbreaks of public health importance.