Research Methods in Public Health
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Modules
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9 ECTS Credits
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English
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General information
COURSES AND PROGRAMMES CAN BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
This core course component introduces research methods in public health and accommodates different research traditions and disciplines, including epidemiology and statistics, social sciences, implementation science, and research on complex issues. In addition to presenting methodological concepts and techniques, we also pay attention to the underlying principles and assumptions of these research traditions and disciplines.
Participants will learn to recognise, appraise, and apply a toolbox of methods in specific public health research and decision-making contexts, such as data analysis and interpretation, evidence synthesis, guideline development, participation in a research project, and research proposal development. The course component also covers essential research competencies including research ethics and integrity, and critical engagement with the scientific literature.
Attainment of the learning objectives of this introductory course component is a pre-requisite to follow advanced course components on research methods.
Learning objectives
At the end of the course component, students should be able to
- Appreciate the importance of sound information and evidence for decision-making
- Understand the role and scope of research in public health
- Understand the perspectives, principles, and assumptions of different research traditions and disciplines in public health
- Explain the difference between qualitative and quantitative approaches in research
- Recognise the research discipline and study design in a scientific article and interpret the findings
- Critically appraise the quality of the evidence in a scientific article
- Identify and appraise issues related to ethics and integrity throughout the research process
- Apply concepts and methods of epidemiology and statistics
- Conduct a basic analysis of quantitative research data (from data analysis plan to interpretation)
- Understand, recognise, and explain concepts and methods of qualitative research
- Apply concepts and methods in specific public health research and decision-making scenarios such as:
o critical appraisal of research findings and literature reviews (evidence synthesis)
o development and improvement of policies and guidelines
o participation as a co-investigator in a research project
Course Leader(s)
- Tine Verdonck
Course Coördinator(s)
- Kirsten Accoe
Course Administrator(s)
- Nadine Nuyts