This course offers students in Health Studies a basic understanding of the principles of quantitative research methods in health research, including research design, data collection, and analyses. Considerations such as validity, generalizability, and representativeness of data will be addressed. Topics may include experimental, comparative, and epidemiological approaches. Qualitative research methods will examine research design, data collection, and interpretation in using various methodological approaches such as interviews, focus groups, observation, and case studies. The course highlights prevention research related to key populations at risk of HIV infection and transmission. The course focuses on challenges and issues, with the goal of stimulating critical thinking and engagement with topics. Some material will be presented by Guest Lecturers who are experts in the areas, allowing students to learn from and interact with these experts and to hear about their current research as well as their career paths. It is expected that at the end of this course students will have an advanced appreciation of the history and future and underlying values and ethics of effective HIV prevention research, including future possibilities and challenges. One ancillary aim is to encourage students to compare and contrast HIV Prevention with prevention research in adjacent areas (e.g., HCV, HPV).
This course offers students in Health Studies a basic understanding of the principles of quantitative research methods in health research, including research design, data collection, and analyses. Considerations such as validity, generalizability, and representativeness of data will be addressed. Topics may include experimental, comparative, and epidemiological approaches. Qualitative research methods will examine research design, data collection, and interpretation in using various methodological approaches such as interviews, focus groups, observation, and case studies. The course highlights prevention research related to key populations at risk of HIV infection and transmission. The course focuses on challenges and issues, with the goal of stimulating critical thinking and engagement with topics. Some material will be presented by Guest Lecturers who are experts in the areas, allowing students to learn from and interact with these experts and to hear about their current research as well as their career paths. It is expected that at the end of this course students will have an advanced appreciation of the history and future and underlying values and ethics of effective HIV prevention research, including future possibilities and challenges. One ancillary aim is to encourage students to compare and contrast HIV Prevention with prevention research in adjacent areas (e.g., HCV, HPV).