Graduate School of Public Health San Diego State University Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences PH 607: Research Methods and Proposal Writing Spring 2013, 3 Units Class day/time: Wednesdays 10:00-11:50am Class location: SSW-2532 Schedule number: 22210 Contact information: hmadanat@mail.sdsu.edu Lab day/time Wednesday 12:00-2:40pm Instructor: Hala Madanat, PhD Instructor office hours: By appointment Office location: Hepner Hall 114-D San Diego State University is dedicated to a safe, supportive and nondiscriminatory environment. It is the responsibility of all students to familiarize themselves with University policies regarding nondiscrimination, misconduct and academic honesty. Nondiscrimination Policy San Diego State University complies with the requirements of Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as other applicable federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination. No person shall, on the basis of race, color, or national origin be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination in any program of the California State University SDSU does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its programs and activities. Students should direct inquiries concerning San Diego State University’s compliance with all relevant disability laws to the Director of Student Disability Services (SDS), Calpulli Center, Room 3101, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92128 or call 619-594-6473 (TDD: 619-594-2929). SDSU does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, or sexual orientation in the educational programs or activities it conducts. More detail on SDSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy can be found in the SDSU General Catalog, University Policies. Student Conduct and Grievances SDSU is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy living and learning environment for students, faculty and staff. Sections 41301, Standards for Student Conduct, and Sections 4130241304 of the University Policies regarding student conduct should be reviewed. If a student believes that a professor’s treatment is grossly unfair or that a professor’s behavior is clearly unprofessional, the student may bring the complaint to the proper university authorities and official reviewing bodies. See University policies on Student Grievances. 7/28/2016 1 Attention Students with Disabilities If you have any disability which may impair your ability to successfully complete this course, please let me know during the first two weeks of class. Accommodations are coordinated through the Student Disability Services and require documentation. The SDSU office is located at the Calpulli Center, Suite 3101, Phone: (619) 594-6473. I. Course Description: This course will provide students with an overview of a variety of research designs. It will also focus on designing, administering, and analyzing data collection instruments for both quantitative and qualitative research. II. Learning Objectives: At the end of the course, students will be able to: 1. identify theories, concepts, and models from a range of social and behavioral disciplines used in public health research and practice. 2. identify and measure health-related behaviors. 3. evaluate strengths and weaknesses of quasi-experimental and community trials research designs. 4. list, compare, and contrast a variety of research designs 5. set up new research questions and develop testable hypotheses 6. select appropriate research methods to test/answer research questions 7. conduct literature searches using health-related scientific databases 8. develop appropriate survey questions, design and administer a written survey 9. develop and moderate focus groups, and develop and conduct in-depth interviews 10. calculate basic statistics and determine the reliability and validity of measures 11. evaluate the results and conclusions of research designs 12. identify and address critical ethical issues in a research study 13. complete IRB tutorial III. Prerequisites: PH 601, 661, and consent of instructor. PH 602 is also recommended. IV. Text, Readings, Materials: 1. Hulley SB, Cummings SR, Browner WS, Grady D, Hearst, N & Newman TB. Designing Clinical Research, 3rdedition. Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins; Philadelphia, PA; 2006:348 pp. ISBN-13: 978-0781782104 2. Articles: These will be posted on blackboard or handed out in class one week before they will be discussed. V. Assignments: 1. Research Project Each student should select a research topic. The project will include the following: 1) a research problem and hypotheses; 2) a literature review including a theoretical framework; a 3) methods section, 4) an abstract, 5) a complete IRB tutorial. The research project will be due in three 7/28/2016 2 phases with each phase building on the previous one. Each phase should include a reference page and the references do not count towards the required minimum phase length. Phase 1 will include an introduction to the research problem to be addressed, an initial synthesis of the literature reviewed for the background and introduction, and an initial model of the important variables/concepts to be studied. The model should be presented in a graphic. This phase should be 3-4 pages not including the model. At least 7 peer-reviewed references should be included in the background/introduction section. The references should be primary literature (peer-reviewed journal articles, data and technical reports, or reference books) [10% of grade]. Phase 2 will include an introduction, a polished review of the literature for the background and introduction, a theoretical model, and presentation of the model to be as studied drawn from the literature review. At least 10 peer-reviewed references should be included in this phase. This phase will include hypotheses or research questions to be examined and should be at least 7 pages [10% of grade]. Phase 3 will include an introduction, review of the literature, model, and data and methods description and should be about 10 -15 pages. This phase should also include a 150-word abstract which contains background and methods sections only and a completed IRB tutorial [20% of grade]. 2. Survey Instrument (Group Assignment 1)- [15% of grade]. The purpose of the survey is to answer a research question or evaluate a public health program. The assignment will include pre-testing this instrument. 20 participants from the target audience should complete it The survey should include the following: o A title and a purpose statement. o A statement about how answers will be kept confidential o Instructions for how participants should fill out the survey and how to submit it (e.g., return in enclosed envelope). o At least 20 questions in addition to the following demographics questions: age, gender, race/ethnicity, household income, and education level. The survey should have an appropriate layout with questions coded and designed for easy data entry. Skip patterns should be clearly indicated. You will then have to create an SPSS file and enter the survey data, analyze, and report the results. The following items should be included in ONE document: 1) cover page with a title and the names of the group members 2) survey instrument, 3) 1.5-2 page summary of the results of the data analysis, and 4) a one-page summary of the face validity and your suggested changes to the instrument. In addition, your SPSS data file should be submitted. 3. Focus Group (Group Assignment 2)- [15% of grade]. The purpose of the focus group (FG) is to conduct formative research about a research topic. The FG should be about 1 hour long with 6-8 participants in the group. (make sure you account for non-shows in your recruitment efforts) 7/28/2016 3 The purpose of the FG moderator’s guide is to provide direction for questions to ask during the focus group. The FG moderator’s guide should include the following: o An introduction and welcome to participants. o An overview of the rules for the focus group (e.g., speaking only one at a time so your ideas can be recorded). o Information on how the participants will introduce themselves. The number of questions should be adequate enough to answer the research questions. The FG should be audio recorded and transcribed verbatim The following items should be included in ONE document: 1) cover page with a title and the names of the group members 2) FG moderator’s guide, 3) transcription of the focus group, and 4) 1.5-2 page summary of the results of the analysis. 4. Attending a thesis defense and in a one-page summary reporting on what you have learned. [10% of grade]. 5. Quizzes: Six unannounced quizzes will be given during the semester to assess students’ understanding of course materials. These will cover material from the previous lecture and the current week’s assigned readings. No make up quizzes will be given to students who are late or miss the class on the day a quiz is given [10% of grade]. 6. Final Examination [10% of grade]. For the final exam students will have to critique one article. Grading Scale: Total Points 96-100 90-95 87-89 84-86 80-83 77-79 74-76 70-73 F Assigned Grade A AB+ B BC+ C C<70 VI. Course policies: 1. Attendance Attendance is not mandatory. However, successful completion of the course requires that student attend class. Professional behavior will be expected including arriving to class on time and not leaving early. Perfect attendance may be used to award a higher grade when students are borderline. If you have an emergency, please contact me as soon as possible. If a student is absent, it is the student’s responsibility to get notes from another class member. 7/28/2016 4 2. Religious holidays According to the University Policy File, students should notify the instructors of affected courses of planned absences for religious observances by the end of the second week of classes. 3. Academic misconduct Academic Integrity Academic dishonesty is an affront to the integrity of scholarship at SDSU and a threat to the quality of learning. Violations of academic integrity are noted in the SDSU Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities: 2.1 Cheating shall be defined as the act of obtaining or attempting to obtain credit for academic work by the use of dishonest, deceptive, or fraudulent means. Examples of cheating include, but are not limited to (a) copying, in part or in whole, from another’s test or other examination; (b) discussing answers or ideas relating to the answers on a test or other examination without the permission of the instructor; (c) obtaining copies of a test, an examination, or other course material without the permission of the instructor; (d) using notes, cheat sheets, or other devices considered inappropriate under the prescribed testing condition; (e) collaborating with another or others in work to be presented without the permission of the instructor; (f) falsifying records, laboratory work, or other course data; (g) submitting work previously presented in another course, if contrary to the rules of the course; (h) altering or interfering with the grading procedures; (i) plagiarizing, as defined; and (j) knowingly and intentionally assisting another student in any of the above. 2.2 Plagiarism shall be defined as the act of incorporating ideas, words, or specific substance of another, whether purchased, borrowed, or otherwise obtained, and submitting same to the University as one’s own work to fulfill academic requirements without giving credit to the appropriate source. Plagiarism shall include but not be limited to (a) submitting work, either in part or in whole, completed by another; (b) omitting footnotes for ideas, statements, facts, or conclusions that belong to another; (c) omitting quotation marks when quoting directly from another, whether it be a paragraph, sentence, or part thereof; (d) close and lengthy paraphrasing of the writings of another; (e) submitting another person’s artistic works, such as musical compositions, photographs, paintings, drawings, or sculptures; and (f) submitting as one’s own work papers purchased from research companies. 3.0 Academic and Punitive Sanctions: Cheating and plagiarism in connection with the academic program at The University may warrant two separate and distinct courses of disciplinary action that may be applied concurrently in response to a violation of this policy: (a) academic sanctions, such as grade modifications; and (b) punitive sanctions, such as probation, suspension, or expulsion. All students in this class are required to complete the online information literacy tutorial, "Plagiarism: The Crime of Intellectual Kidnapping," a 30-minute tutorial that teaches students about plagiarism, paraphrasing, and citing sources. Students are to take this tutorial outside of class time and take the quiz that follows it. They will receive a score on screen that they can print and this printed score must be submitted as proof of completion by February 6h or they 7/28/2016 5 will be dropped from the course automatically. The tutorial is at http://infotutor.sdsu.edu/plagiarism/ 4. Writing Style for Assignments All assignments are to be typed and double-spaced. Use APA style for title page, headings, margins, spelling, grammar, references, figures, tables, and appendices. 5. Group projects Students will be expected to work in teams to develop some of the course assignments. Your grade for this assignment will take into account evidence of active and equal participation by each member of the team in addition to teamwork and cooperation. There will be an overall group grade. I will then take into account student assessments of your contribution to the project and adjust your grade up or down according to the overall assessments made by your group members. 6. Blackboard Students are required to check blackboard at least twice a week for announcements and additional required readings. Furthermore, all assignments must be turned in using the digital dropbox on blackboard. No assignments will be accepted as a hard copy or by email. DISCLAIMER: Every effort will be made to follow the syllabus content and schedule; however, if circumstances dictate there may be modifications necessary during the semester. If such is the case the professor will make every effort to notify students in a timely manner. 7/28/2016 6 Course Calendar Date Week 1 Jan 23 Week 2 January 30 Week 3 Feb 6 Week 4 Feb 13 Week 5 Feb 20 Week 6 Feb 27 Week 7 March 6 Week 8 March 13 Week 9 March 20 Week 10 March 27 7/28/2016 Topics/ Readings Introduction to course syllabus Chapter 1 Thesis session Research Problem and Hypothesis Chapters 2-3 Reading Research Reports: A Brief Introduction Lab in LA76- Marilyn Hall Literature Review Utilizing Existing Databases Chapter 13 Lab in LA78- Marilyn Hall Measurement Chapter 4 Rettig & McCarthy-Rettig. (2006) Page. (1997) HT 189 Survey Workshop and SPSS coding Chapter 15 Valencia & Johnson. (2006) HT 189 Research Designs Chapters 7,8,9 Segal (2005) Charnetski &Riggers. (2004) Research Designs-continued Chapters 10, 11, 12 Anda. (2006) Naylor et al. (2001) Health Behavior Measurement Qualitative Methods Chapter 15 Rock. (2005) Focus Groups Developing Interviews Chapter 15 Umaña-Taylor and Yazedjian. (2006) Lindsey et al. (2006) Lab: Data Analysis for Qualitative Data Assignments Plagiarism Tutorial Due Phase 1 Survey assignment Phase 2 7 Week 11 April 3 Spring Break- No class Week 16 May 8 Ethics and IRB applications Guest Speaker: Amy McDaniel Lab: Ethics Scenarios Validity and Reliability Gump et al. (2000) Validity and Reliability Continued McGukin. (2005) Flowers et al. (2000) Implementation and Evaluation Community and International Chapters 17-18 Pollio et al. (2006) Steese et al. (2006) Using data with Decision Makers and Stakeholders West and O’neal. (2004) May 15 Final exam at 10am Week 12 April 10 Week 13 April 17 Week 14 April 24 Week 15 May 1 Focus group Phase 3 Thesis assignment As a reminder, the student research symposium is scheduled for March 8-9 with the deadline for abstract submission on February 1. 7/28/2016 8