Fieldwork Information Session
March 20, 2013
Fieldwork Information
Session Overview
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Faculty
Major players
What is fieldwork
Time line and tasks
Possible fieldwork strategies
IRB needs
Forms and Handbook
Questions
PH 737 Faculty
Summer 2013, Fall 2013
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COMHE –M. Crum
EOHS – F. Mirer
EPI/BIOS – L. Thorpe
HPM – L. McDowell
NUTR – C. Platkin/ A. Spark
Major Players & Responsibilities
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Student
Preceptor (aka fieldwork supervisor)
Academic advisor
Fieldwork faculty member
Why Fieldwork
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The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
requires that all MPH students in its accredited
programs demonstrate the application of basic public
health concepts through a practice experience that is
relevant to the students’ areas of specialization.
In the SPH, fieldwork experience provides MPH and
MS students with the opportunity to demonstrate
their ability to use the knowledge gained during their
graduate coursework.
Fieldwork and Capstone
“The Relationship”
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Fieldwork is a prerequisite for Capstone. Students may start Capstone
course only when they have completed their fieldwork.
There are now didactic sessions that complement the Field experience. In
the Summer, there will be two (2) one day sessions (one at the beginning
of the summer and one at the end). In the fall, there will be seven required
class sessions (Wednesdays from 8Pm to 10PM).
During the fieldwork semester, students submit:
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a rapid literature review and formal literature review,
a project plan,
compose a short essay summarizing reflections on their fieldwork experience (which will be
incorporated in the student final portfolio submitted during Capstone) ,
apply for IRB approval (if applicable)and
submit a Capstone proposal.
Fieldwork and Capstone
“The Relationship”
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The Capstone paper may or may not be developed based on
the fieldwork experience.
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Practice/project papers must be based on fieldwork.
Research papers may or may not be based on fieldwork.
Master’s essays and theses may or may not be based on fieldwork
Possible Fieldwork Strategies
For those with 9-5 jobs with limited flexibility:
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Explore feasibility of a public health project in your workplace that enhances
institution’s goals but would not be done otherwise
Identify field data collection opportunities that can occur nights and weekends
Seek out faculty with interests in your area and devise an academic-based
fieldwork project on non-traditional time
For those who are completely undecided on what to do:
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Fill out ‘prospective fieldwork student’ form (see website) and discuss with
your fieldwork faculty member
Look at the listserv for your track for potential sites/positions
Consider formal training opportunities with the NYC Health Dept (HRTP)
Look for fieldwork opportunities in East Harlem to help the school contribute
to neighborhood health
Prerequisite for Fieldwork
 Completion
of 18 credits toward the
master's degree.
 Including:
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at least 3 required core courses (biostatistics,
epidemiology, and the course most relevant to
your specialization)
and at least 2 courses in students' specialization.
Fieldwork Site Selection
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Provide appropriate public health experience as it relates to the student’s career
goals and area of concentration.
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Provide support and space for the student appropriate for the experience.
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The environment of the site is safe for the student’s field practicum experience.
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An available preceptor who is qualified and able to spend time with the student
and provide guidance.
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The preceptor has an understanding of the educational needs of public health
students, and to increase responsibility and independence gradually.
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If fieldwork is to be performed in a student’s own current job setting, the
student must engage in substantially different assignment outside the scope of
his or her usual activities. Activity must be approved by fieldwork faculty.
Fieldwork Preceptor
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Educational requirements of preceptor
Assist the fieldwork student in determining specific, mutually- agreeable, written
fieldwork objectives & deliverables to the agency.
Orient the student to the field organization’s mission, programs, policies,
protocols.
Commit time for instructional interaction & dialogue w/ student.
Provide supervision of the student’s activities.
If indicated, resolve conflicts w/ agency or organization policy.
Prepare an evaluation of the student, and discuss it with the student prior to
sending it to the fieldwork faculty member.
Transmit the student’s final evaluation to the student’s fieldwork faculty member.
Share any comments and/or suggestions about the field experience with the course
fieldwork faculty.
Fieldwork Site Examples
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Federal agencies, such as the USDHHS, VA, CDC, USDA, OSHA
State, county or city health departments or social service agencies
Managed care organizations
Neighborhood health centers and community clinics
Hospitals (public, nonprofit, for profit)
Extended care facilities or community mental health centers
Environmental health consulting companies
Industrial settings
Multi-specialty medical practices
Head Start, public schools, private schools, nursery schools
Academic or other non-governmental research institute
Be sure to look at the listserv for opportunities
Fieldwork Expectations and
Deliverables
Expectations
 Strong Experience / Not Just
Clerical
 Keep Fieldwork Faculty Member
Updated Throughout (using
Formstack Fieldwork Survey
Forms)
Deliverables
 Fieldwork Contract
 Project Plan
 IRB Determination Form
 Evaluations
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Student’s Evaluation of Fieldwork
Preceptor’s Evaluation
Literature Review (both rapid and
formal)
Reflections on Fieldwork
Fieldwork Status Surveys
Capstone Proposal
Online Forms
(http://cuny.edu/site/sph/huntercollege/campusresources/fieldwork.html)
Fieldwork Timeline
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Steps are needed at each of the following
junctures:
The semester before your planned PH737
Fieldwork experience
 Just before and during the fieldwork semester
 End of the fieldwork semester
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The Semester Before PH 737
(Pre-Fieldwork)
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Notify your program advisor of your intention to register
for PH 737.
Discuss eligibility and possible fieldwork options you are
considering.
Make an appointment with your track Fieldwork faculty.
Have a good sense of what your intended project or
organization is by the time you register for the next
semester’s PH737 course.
If you are eligible to do a Master’s essay, find a faculty
sponsor and discuss options for both Fieldwork and a
project.
Just Before & During the First 2 Weeks
of PH 737 Fieldwork
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Finalize details of project site, preceptor and
project.
Develop a written work plan, including the
“fieldwork contract.”
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Must have discrete deliverables and acknowledge the
use of the work for the Capstone class.
Secure approval of fieldwork faculty member
and preceptor.
On-going Through the Semester
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Undertake fieldwork
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Meet w/ fieldwork faculty member & preceptor as
arranged
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Keep a daily log of activities and submit Fieldwork
status surveys throughout the Fieldwork assignment
End of Semester
Submit these written materials to your fieldwork faculty
member:
 Your fieldwork evaluation
 Preceptor’s evaluation of your performance (sent
directly to Fieldwork Advisor, however please make
sure that it is sent)
 Reflections for your portfolio
 Brief literature review (for your capstone paper)
 IRB approval (if applicable)
 Capstone Proposal
Fieldwork Forms and Handbook
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Preceptor’s Evaluation of Fieldwork Student
Student’s Evaluation of Fieldwork Experience
Fieldwork Log (if applicable)
Fieldwork Handbook available at:
http://www.cuny.edu/site/sph/hunter-college/campus-resources/fieldwork.html
Two Important Requirements
to Graduate
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All CUNY SPH Master’s students must
complete a fieldwork project and either a
Capstone project or a Master’s essay
To comply with CUNY and Hunter College
requirements, Capstone or Master’s essay
projects must be assessed for their impact on
human subjects by Hunter’s Institutional
Review Board (IRB)
When Do I Submit My Fieldwork/Capstone
Paperwork to CUNY/Hunter IRB?
Fieldwork
Capstone/Master’s Essay
Requirements to Graduate
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All CUNY SPH Master’s students must
complete a fieldwork project and either a
Capstone project or a Master’s essay
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To comply with University requirements, Capstone
or Master’s essay projects must be assessed for
their impact on human subjects by Hunter’s
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
…But Not All Capstone/Essays will
Require a Full IRB Submission
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How do I know what IRB level my project
will require?
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How long does this process take?
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When do I submit IRB-related forms?
(1) How Do I Know What IRB Level
My Project Will Require?
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ALL students must submit a simple “Human
Subjects Research Determination Form” as soon
as they have a reasonably clear idea of what
they’d like to do for their Capstone or Master’s
essay (more on this soon….)
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The CUNY/Hunter IRB will review this form and
either approve it as:
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Not research
IRB exempt
Requiring a full IRB protocol submission
CUNY/Hunter College
Institutional Review Board
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http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/irb/ for general
information
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www.IRBNet.com for locating forms and submitting
all IRB documentation
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Research Determination Form is short and easy!
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It’s less than one page of writing
It is advantageous to submit it as early as possible
It is very important to not falsify or skirt over details
IRBNet Website – Under “Forms”
Determination Form Content
Two sections are most important - Sections II and IV
Determination Form Content
What is Typically IRB Exempt?
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Non-identifiable data (Data that have never been labelled with individual
identifiers or from which identifiers have been permanently removed)
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Analysis of de-identified, public use or administrative data (e.g. analysis of
CDC BRFSS data)
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Analysis of de-identified secondary data that was already IRB
approved (e.g. analysis of a de-identified dataset maintained by a faculty researcher)
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Collection/analyses of information used to improve program quality
only (e.g. not intended to be published for generalizable knowledge)
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Literature reviews
(2) How long does this process take?
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Research Determination Form is relatively quick (≤ 1 month)
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Full IRB protocol submission should be timed to meet IRB office
deadline for that month’s meeting (see website).
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1-3 months, depending on questions that arise (more questions, more back and forth…..)
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A well-written IRB Protocol will generate many fewer questions and be much more
likely to pass the first time around without questions from the IRB Board
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Have someone familiar with IRB review your proposal
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When in doubt, provide more detail as opposed to less (Also true for Research
Determination Form)
Timeline in Terms of Actual Months
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Research Determination Form
Prep of full IRB submission
Full IRB protocol review
<1 month
1-2 weeks
1-3 months
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If collecting original data or working with data that has identifiers, presume
process should start 4-5 months prior to actual semester you work on
Capstone/Essay analysis
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If absolutely sure data are not identifiable and public use, can presume 1-2
months
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If somewhere in between….presume the worst!
(4) Might it Slow Down My Graduation
Date?
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Yes…..if you wait until the last minute
No…if you are careful and plan ahead
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Some worst case scenarios:
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Held in holding pattern by IRB office, unable to collect data
until IRB-approved; still answering questions last minute
Submit to IRB after data were collected; not allowed to
publish findings
Falsified work to IRB and risk fines PLUS Federal
retribution against CUNY as a research institutions (several
universities had IRB offices temporarily closed and all research stopped)
Questions?