INTR2008 Research Design and Methods for Public Health

2020

4.5

1 x 2-hour lecture fortnightly
1 x 2-hour tutorial fortnightly
1 x 7-hour independent study weekly

Assignments

This topic should provide a theoretical and practical framework for both qualitative and quantitative research. In essence, this topic is about an introduction to research methods but with a focus or bent towards a particular branch or field of research known as Social Epidemiology. Social epidemiology is a comparatively new field of inquiry that seeks to describe and explain the social and geographic distribution of health and of the determinants of health. Social epidemiology is the study of how social interactions-social norms, laws, institutions, social conditions and behaviour-affect the health of populations. If Epidemiology is a field or branch of research that investigates the prevalence, distribution and determinants of disease (morbidity, mortality or disability); then Social Epidemiology, which has a focus of social determinants, may said to be the prevalence, distribution and social determinants of disease. Social Epidemiology can be thought of as being based on social theory, where interactions between individuals are a fundamental principle.

The aim of this topic is to provide students with opportunities to enhance their ability to understand research methods for social epidemiology, to undertake research, and to apply research findings to health practice with an evidence-based care approach. For students to have an appreciation of how to systematically search literatures, and for students to better understand the similarities and differences between quantitative and qualitative methodological approaches. Encouraging students to demonstrate their ability to present an argument, and support that argument, with evidence from the relevant literature and/or from work experience, is a main aim.

To satisfy requirements of this topic, students must demonstrate a capacity to:

• Describe the elements of the research process and approaches to rigour

• Describe quantitative and qualitative methodological approaches and their methods

• Synthesise research literature

• Understand the principles of social epidemiology regarding design, and causation

• Describe appropriate data collection methods for answering health research questions.