HAD6760H

Doctoral students only; to be taken in the second year or later (ie, not to be taken in the first year of study)

The field of health services research draws upon theories, research designs and methods from a wide variety of disciplines including social and behavioural sciences, clinical sciences, management and administrative sciences, law, epidemiology and biostatistics. The goal of this course is to provide a forum for doctoral students to explore theoretical/conceptual frameworks, study designs and research methods, and to apply them in the preparation of a health services research project.

Upon completion of the course, students should be able to:

• Draw upon and integrate the research theories and methods used in a variety of disciplines to define a research question and plan a health services research project;
• Develop a conceptual framework for a research study and use it as the basis for a study design;
• Understand the application of quantitative and qualitative methods used in health services research;
• Demonstrate the analytic skills required to critically read and evaluate the health services research literature;
• Develop and defend a research question, conceptual framework and methodology that addresses an important health services research question.

• Session facilitation   25%
• Literature review   35%
• Theoretical/conceptual framework project   40%