INSTRUCTOR: 

Aline UMUBYEYI, MD, PhD

Associate Professor, Public Health

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics                                                                                

E-mail:            a.umubyeyi@ur.ac.rw                                                                       

OTHER SUPPORT

Library, CMHS.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

 This course is intended for all students registered for Master programs. The course covers keys components of research methods from the literature review to the full protocol development. Selected topics covered in lectures include literature search techniques, research design, sample size calculation, sampling strategies, and questionnaires design as well as the research protocol development. The course will have both theoretical and practical aspects.

 COURSE OBJECTIVES:

 =    Overall Objectives

1. To improve student’s ability to design sound research studies
2. To provide practical skills to students to be able at the end of the course to produce their research protocol for their dissertation.

 =    Specific Learning Objectives:

 To enable students to search and use sound literature published in peer reviewed journals

1. To become familiar with a variety of design options for public health studies
2. To enable student to select and apply methods for the control of error and bias
3. To provide students with skills to do proper sample size calculations and use appropriate sampling strategies.
4. To improve student ability to interpret and criticize published data
5. To enable students to develop a research protocol.

 EVALUATION:

 The written developed individual full protocol per student dissertation that will be assessed by its content (written proposal) that will contribute to 30% to the final grade and by its oral presentation that will contribute to 30% to the final grade.

1. The final 40% of your grade will focus on the application of the concepts learned throughout the course.  This is a module written exam.

COURSE CONTENT:

 The following learning objectives for each session of this unit have been prepared to assist you in your preparation for the master’s comprehensive examination in the area of research methods. A review of content related to these learning objectives should provide you with the foundation required for successful mastery of the content.