Methodology and Statistics I
Volledige vakbeschrijving
MGH4002 aims to re-activate and expand the basic methodological and statistical knowledge (M&S) to boost students’ abilities to actively apply M&S knowledge to research problems.
During this module students will become acquainted with various research paradigms within the fields of public and global health (covering qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods). They will become familiarized with the mentality of working with problems, of developing a framework for thinking patterns, strategies for problem solving. On the whole, the module is structured in a way as to hone students’ critical mindset and to sharpen their academic writing skills. Focus is given to the development of a solid understanding of the whole research process and its basic components: literature review, formulation of research questions, selection of an appropriate design (and awareness of its limitations), data collection, analysis and translational synthesis (interpreting numerical findings and reporting them concisely and intelligibly).
MGH4002 is divided into qualitative and quantitative sub-modules.
The qualitative consists of 3 lectures, 1 tutorial group meeting, individual meetings with the tutor and a training on qualitative data analysis, all associated with individual assignments. Students will learn about applications of qualitative research in Global Health and practice with the design of a qualitative study and the analysis of qualitative data. They will learn how to make their own methodological choices in small research-focused assignments.
The quantitative consists of 8 lectures and accompanying SPSS training sessions. The quantitative part will be introduced by a critical reflection on counting, categorisations and classifications. In the quantitative part we adopt a ‘down-to earth’ approach for analysis of quantitative data, applied to global health problems and research questions. This means:
- Datasets stem from real case scenarios;
- Students are required go through the analytic and synthetic data processing in cycles: to get an overview of the research question (thesis), to familiarize themselves with the methodological details, to analyze the data and summarize the findings (analysis), both in statistical jargon (results) and in the conclusion (accessible language - synthesis)
Doelstellingen van dit vak
Upon successful completion of this course students will
- be able to actively apply their knowledge of M&S on research problems of their own
- be familiar with qualitative/quantitative/mixed research methods
- have knowledge of major issues involved in cross-national and cross-cultural (comparative) studies
- become acquainted with problems encountered in analyzing data collected at various levels and aggregated data
- are able to critically reflect on the nature of data and practices of data collection and their political impact
Specific objectives (qualitative):
- demonstrate understanding of the selection and application of appropriate qualitative methods and critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a specified methodology in relation to a research question
- know how to collect and prepare qualitative data
- critically analyze data collection approaches relevant for specified research questions and approaches
- critically appraise the credibility and dependability of qualitative methods within a research project
- demonstrate an understanding of data interpretation and presentation, and justify the conclusions and recommendations arising from the data
- recognize the nature of the complementarity between quantitative and qualitative methods.
Specific objectives (quantitative):
- Methodology
- understand basic quantitative research designs used in public health, their advantages and shortcomings
- understand sampling issues (data collection)
- recognize the units of observation and analysis in a research study – Health status at the individual and aggregate levels
- develop an enhanced awareness of major limitations of research designs
- are aware of historical and political dimensions of quantitative research practice
Analysis/statistics
- formulate questions that can be addressed by statistical methods
- understand the composite measures of global Health outcomes and their usefulness
- explore data visually, look for patterns and deviations, understand variability, choose proper numerical summary statistics, appropriate tests and apply/interpret them correctly
- understand the simple and advanced statistical models currently used in Health Sciences research settings
- communicate numerical findings in statistical as well as non-statistical language
- read, understand and critically assess research papers, their presentation and data analyses
Aanbevolen literatuur
- A.B.A. Klabbers