Division of Health Promotion
Graduate School of Public Health
College of Health and Human Services
San Diego State University
SEMINAR IN HEALTH PROMOTION RESEARCH: THESIS PRODUCTION
PH 668
FALL 2010
DR. PAULA M. USITA
Email: usita@mail.sdsu.edu
Office phone: 619-594-5868
Office hours: Wed 3:30-5 p.m.
Office : Hepner Hall 114F
COURSE INFORMATION: CLASS MEETS TUESDAY 1-3:40 P.M. IN HH RM 122
PREREQUISITES : PH 607 (may be taking it concurrently)
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Philosophical, ethical and methodological issues in current health promotion research and
services. This course will review basic principles of research design/methods/ethics that pertain to thesis research. The
course will cover basics of research design, scientific writing and oral presentation skills. Students will identify and
choose an appropriate thesis topic, committee, and develop methodologically sound, feasible, thesis project. They will be
required to prepare a draft of their thesis literature review, methods and IRB proposal. Each student will develop a
personal timeline for thesis production and graduation that is feasible and realistic.
Students will get experience in application of critical research design skills in different areas of health promotion by
participating in class discussions related to theses of class members. They will participate with constructive feedback for
peers as the class problem solves barriers to progress. Students will also participate in a mock oral defense to understand
the oral exam process. They will learn components needed for scientific presentation and for responding to questions at
defense.
Attendance/Participation
Attendance at all classes is mandatory, unless you are specifically excused by me. Class attendance and participation is
part of the course grade. Students are expected to answer questions, ask questions, make helpful suggestions to other
students, and share experiences, which is the basis of the participation grade.
If you cannot attend a class, please email me in advance to let me know when and why. Please also make sure to get the
class notes and assignments from another class member who was in attendance. If you miss class, you must take the
responsibility to find out the plan for the following class – new assignments and due dates, for example. Check with me if
you have questions so you do not miss any important information.
As a graduate seminar, the course will be flexible according to the needs of the students, which vary. Therefore this
syllabus may be subject to change.
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Course Objective
Identify which databases to
use and how to access them
in order to conduct a
thorough search of the
public health literature
pertinent to thesis topic
Develop a concise literature
review using scientific
writing skills, summary
tables and conceptual model
as appropriate
Understand basic ethical
principles of research,
become certified by IRB.
Apply these principles by
creating an IRB proposal.
Understand components of
thesis methods and research
conduct necessary to gather
data
Instructional Activity
Attendance at class library
instructional training (Sep
21)
Evaluation
Class attendance
Grade Points
2 pts
Class lecture, class
discussion, sample outlines
of literature reviews in class
Literature review graded on 40 pts
content, writing quality and
clarity of organization (Due
Nov 9)
Read epi guidelines and
relevant readings re lit Summary
table
or
review
preparation
on conceptual model diagram –
GSPH website
extra credit
Create an outline of your
literature review. Use that Attach outline to lit review
outline in the writing
process
Class lecture, class
Successful submission of 12 pts
discussion, individual
IRB proposal
progress reports
Draft Methods – graded on
completeness, writing
quality and clarity of
organization (Due Nov 30)
Class lecture, class
discussion, individual
progress reports
Understand oral exam
process, format and conduct
Participate in mock defense
Overall, understand thesis
process, deadlines,
requirements and develop
successful strategies to
fulfill them
Class lecture, class
discussion, individual
progress reports – 4 checkins
Variable table – extra credit
Prepare sample questions as
mock faculty or do a mock
presentation
Class Attendance and
participation
20 pts
Extra credit for presenter
28 pts (including 2 pts for
library class attendance)
Evaluation Methods
Submission to IRB. Successful IRB Proposal Submission-complete IRB format, signed off by advisor and submitted to
IRB. Bring copy of email receipt to class (do not email this to me).
Class attendance. Mandatory (see above)
Class participation. Answer questions, ask questions, make helpful suggestions and comments to others, participate in
mock defense.
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Literature Review Outline. Outline of all components for lit review. To be shared with your advisor/project mentor prior
to submitting lit review.
Literature Review. To include, as reviewed in class: Intro (setting the stage), Main Content, and Rationale for the study.
Extra credit-use of summary table and/or conceptual model.
Draft Methods. To include, as reviewed in class: Design, Sample, Recruitment and Informed Consent Procedures,
Intervention/Assessment Procedures, Measures and Data Analysis Plan. Extra credit for use of variable table.
Course grades will be assigned as follows based on total points accumulated for the semester: (check)
A
96-100
A90-95
B+
87-89
B
84-86
B80-83
C+
77-79
C
74-76
C70-73
F
<70
Class Calendar
Aug 31. Introductions, Course Overview. Topic choice (kinds of studies), Timeline (stages of the thesis, filing
deadlines), Care and feeding of your advisor/committee, Scientific Writing basics, Managing anxiety, Setting up support,
Structure.
Homework : Buy notebook, APA style book if needed, Strunk and White The Elements of Style. Download Dissertation
and Thesis Manual (DTM) from SDSU Montezuma Publishing, Obtain a copy of the most recent Master’s Thesis and
Project Manual for SDSU available from the SDSU bookstore. Do online IRB tutorial to certification for IRB if you have
not already done so. Obtain needed IRB forms from website, look over and bring to class. Begin lit review outline. Look
over model thesis. Begin lit search.
Homework: Complete IRB tutorial
See Graduate Research Affairs website for information about dissertation and thesis review:
http://gra.sdsu.edu/grad/ThesisMain.html
Sep 7. Getting Started – Create a Timetable of Activities, Setting up the Literature Review Outline. How to
structure your introduction and arrange your subtopics.
Homework: Start work on your lit review outline. Set up filing system for articles, work space and reference manager
system. Start IRB, if possible using model from project . Answer the IRB questions online – see what other info you will
need to complete necessary info. Review with advisor, project mentor. Continue lit search.
Sept 14. In Class Practice - Setting Up Literature Review Outlines.
Homework: Begin work on your lit review section. Continue to refine your lit review outline. Meet with research librarian
if needed to refine lit search. Complete lit search.
Sep 21. Class Library Instructional Training – Love Library 430.
Sep 28. Lit Review writing. Sign in and out. Email writing product.
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Oct 5. In Class Practice - Setting Up Literature Review Outlines. Use of summary tables and conceptual model
diagrams. Refresher and further practice.
Homework: Refine outline of lit review and bring to class. Make a draft outline of your lit review table/model.
Oct 12. The Nitty Gritty – Methods Section. Sample Description, Recruitment, Informed Consent, Procedures,
Measures, and Data Analysis.
Homework: Begin parallel work on methods. Outline sections. Use IRB draft to help. Continue working on lit review –
multi-task!
Oct 19. Lit Review or Methods Writing. Sign in and out. Email writing product
Oct 26. In Class Practice - Enhancing the Literature Review. Use of summary tables and conceptual model
diagrams. Refresher and further practice. Troubleshoot problems with lit review.
.
Nov 2. Results – Well, What Did You Find Out? Sample description, retention, independent variables, dependent
variables and hypothesis testing, handling null outcomes
Homework: Make shell tables for results section. Outline results.
Nov 9. Writing the Discussion Section. Major findings, secondary findings, methodological issues, limitations
**Lit Review due
Homework: Outline Discussion section, bring to class for discussion
Nov 16. Results or Discussion Writing. Sign in and out. Email writing product.
Nov 23. Wrapping it Up – Framing the Discussion. Future directions, implications, conclusions.
Homework: Write Discussion section chunks.
Nov 30. Preparing for the Oral Defense. Oral Exam Process. Preparing the presentation and responding to questions.
**Draft of Methods Due
Dec 7. Mock Defense. Final class wrap-up. Advice for the future.
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of all students to familiarize themselves with University policies regarding nondiscrimination, misconduct and academic
honesty.
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San Diego State University complies with the requirements of Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as
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More detail on SDSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy can be found in the SDSU General Catalog, University Policies.
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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 41302-41304 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.
Statement on Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty includes cheating, plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty that are intended to gain unfair
academic advantage. See section 41301 of the University policies. Plagiarism is an important element of this policy.
Plagiarism is defined as ‘formal work publicly misrepresented as original; it is any activity wherein one person
knowingly, directly and for lucre, status, recognition, or any public gain resorts to the published or unpublished work of
another in order to represent it as one’s own’. Any work, in whole or in part, taken from the Internet or other computerbased source without referencing the source is considered plagiarism.
Turnitin.com
Students agree that by taking this course all required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to
Turnitin.com for the detection of plagiarism. All submitted papers will be included as source documents in the
Turnitin.com reference database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers. You may submit
your papers in such a way that no identifying information about you is included. Another option is that you may request,
in writing, that your papers not be submitted to Turnitin.com. However, if you choose this option you will be required to
provide documentation to substantiate that the papers are your original work and do not include any plagiarized material.
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