Seminar in Health Services and Organizational Research.

Catalog description

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Health services researchers and health services organizational researchers produce and consume research; these activities inform one another. This course focuses predominantly on the latter role, developing students’ abilities to be effective, critical consumers of health services research and health services organizational research, and cultivating an appreciation for this important role. An effective consumer is a critical thinker who can clearly explain and support why they concur or disagree with study rationale, design, analysis, interpretation and importance; can situate a study in the literature; assess its relevance and added value; and articulate its theoretical and practical implications for research, practice and policy. Being a sound, thoughtful consumer of research and information is important for successfully building knowledge and translating this knowledge to improve health and well-being and health organization effectiveness. This course also lays the foundation for how to begin to critically think, as well as to design and produce health services and health services organizational research. This class uses a combination of didactic and experiential learning, including lecture, reading, discussion, group work and written and oral exercises. Course readings and exercises use both classic and contemporary research.