Using Survey and Qualitative Methods to Make Public Health Decisions

Catalog description

The objective of the three-course sequence is for students to develop knowledge, skills and perspectives necessary to use data to make public health decisions. These three data courses complement each other, but do not have to be taken in a specific order. Students learn and apply the theory of sampling and survey methods and their application to case studies from the first two methods courses. Topics include: survey design and planning; principles of sampling and survey terminology; questionnaire construction; protection of human subjects; data collection (including interviewing and data coding procedures); and application, presentation, and evaluation of results. The students will also be introduced to qualitative approaches to data collection and analysis. Methods covered include: participant observation, key-informant interviews, focus groups, innovative data collection strategies, and non-obtrusive measures. Students will learn and develop skills in: qualitative data collection and management, interviewing, transcript analysis using computerized software, triangulation between qualitative and quantitative data, and report preparation for qualitative studies.