PH 112 - Research Methods

This course provides an introduction to research in the public health, health services research, and healthcare evaluation. The course will include both qualitative and quantitative research methods, using examples of research across a range of areas in health. Specifically, we will discuss the assumptions underlying research methods, the basic tools for hypothesis generation and conducting qualitative research, how to measure health outcomes and constructing questionnaires, and quantitative data collection methods. We will also focus on clinical trials construction and design, and the role of both clinical and observational trials in Public Health. The last part of the course focuses upon evaluation of health initiatives, including formative, process, and outcome evaluations of health care initiatives and community level interventions.