Graduate School of Public Health
San Diego State University
Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences
PH 607: Research Methods and Proposal Writing
Spring 2011, 3 Units
Class day/time: Wednesdays 10:00-11:50am
Class location: SS-2532
Schedule number: 22288
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.
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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. list, compare, and contrast a variety of research designs
2. set up new research questions and develop testable hypotheses
3. select appropriate research methods to test/answer research questions
4. conduct literature searches using health-related scientific databases
5. develop appropriate survey questions, design and administer a written survey
6. develop and moderate focus groups, and develop and conduct in-depth interviews
7. calculate basic statistics and determine the reliability and validity of measures
8. evaluate the results and conclusions of research designs
9. identify and address critical ethical issues in a research study
10. 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
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
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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
[15% 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)
 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).
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

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. Semi-structured Interview- (Group Assignment 3) [15% of grade].
 The purpose of the semi-structured interview is to conduct formative research or audience
analysis about the selected research topic.
 Each student must conduct at least one interview.
 The length for each interview should be about 30 minutes.
 Each interview 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) interview guide including a place to take notes, 3) transcription
of the interviews, and 4) 1.5-2 page summary of the results of the analysis. In addition, the
interview recording must be submitted.
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
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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.
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
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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 January 26th or they
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.
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Course Calendar
Date
Week 1
Jan 19
Week 2
January 26
Week 3
Feb 2
Week 4
Feb 9
Week 5
Feb 16
Week 6
Feb 23
Week 7
March 2
Week 8
March 9
Week 9
March 16
Week 10
March 23
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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 LA76- Marilyn Hall
Measurement
Chapter 4
Rettig & McCarthy-Rettig. (2006)
Page. (1997)
Survey Workshop and SPSS coding
Chapter 15
Valencia & Johnson. (2006)
Lab Location TBD
Research Designs
Chapters 7,8,9
Segal (2005)
Charnetski &Riggers. (2004)
Lab Location TBD
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
March 30
Spring Break
Week 16
May 4
Ethics and IRB applications
Guest Speaker: Choya Washington
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 18
Final exam at 10am
Week 12
April 6
Week 13
April 13
Week 14
April 20
Week 15
April 27
Phase 3
Focus group
In-depth
Interviews
As a reminder, the student research symposium is scheduled for March 4-5 with the
deadline for abstract submission on February 1.
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