Global Health Sciences

GHS 202C

Research Methods II; qualitative research and analysis (Thursdays 8:15 – noon)

Course director: Nancy Burke, Ph.D., Wayne Steward, M.P.H., Ph.D.

Teaching format: lectures and skill building seminars

Course credits:

2 units over one quarter

This course is a continuation of GHS 201C, emphasizing qualitative research methods and analysis. It will address the following questions: what methods can health professionals use to attain competence in the socio-political-cultural environments where they work? How can researchers apply ethnographic methods, surveys, needs assessment, and key informant interviews to gather relevant health data? How can qualitative researchers prepare for field research, moving from data to problem (rather than problem to data)? What are the best methods for data coding and analysis? What are the theories of human behavior and how do they inform methods of behavior modification? How can effective health messages and health promotion be implemented in different populations and cultures?

Competencies:

The specific qualitative research skills that students will acquire will be:

• Become familiar with anthropological fieldwork methods such as participant observation, expert and key informant interviews; oral histories; focus groups; ethnographic methods
• Learn the principles of qualitative data collection and management
• Understand the ethical constraints for ethnographic field work and consent
• Learn how to code, analyze and present qualitative data
• Practice the use of standard software for qualitative analysis
• Learn how to develop and pilot test a survey questionnaire
• Understand the principles and theories of human behavior
• Learn behavioral science research methods and analysis
• Describe the theory and practice of behavior modification
• Understand the principles of health promotion and framing of health messages

Course Content

The aim of this course is to develop mastery in qualitative methods and analysis. Using a combination of lectures and class exercises, we will employ a mixed methods approach to qualitative research in social and behavioral sciences. Each class will develop a research approach, specific method, and analytic technique to address a topic in the social or behavioral area. Instructors will emphasize cross-disciplinary applications of social and behavioral science at the levels of individual, community and society. Class exercises will apply the learned theory and methodology delivered in lectures. A final team project will be assigned to demonstrate mastery of the main points of the course.