Course Learning Objectives
- Identify and describe key components of a successful grant proposal and understand the grant application and review process.
- Discuss ethical dilemmas faced by international and domestic researchers and the importance of scientific integrity in research.
- Describe major aspects of project implementation, including submission of materials to domestic and foreign IRBs, creation of study instruments, database development, data management, and research budgets.
- Explain best practices of study design and proposal development.
Module 1: Choosing a Study Design
- Define basic epidemiological and statistical terms.
- List the different kinds of study designs and their advantages and disadvantages.
- Identify which type of study design would work best for different kinds of research questions.
- Define what qualitative research is.
- Explain how qualitative research differs from quantitative research.
- List the different types of mixed-method designs.
- Explain what positionality and reflexivity are in relation to qualitative research.
Module 2: Implementation Science & Laying the Groundwork
- Define what implementation science is.
- Describe how implementation science is different from discovery science.
- Describe mentor and mentee roles and responsibilities.
- Identify potential mentors.
- Describe what makes a successful collaboration.
- Identify potential collaborators.
Module 3: Applying for Funding Part 1: Specific Aims & Hypotheses
- Describe the different components of a research proposal.
- Describe the process of writing a grant.
- List the characteristics of a good introduction paragraph.
- List characteristics of good specific aims.
- Explain the difference between aims and hypotheses.
- Write introduction, aims, and hypothesis statement.
Module 4: Applying for Funding Part 2: Significance & Innovation
- List the characteristics of a well-written significance section.
- List the characteristics of a well-written innovation section.
Module 5: Applying for Funding Part 3: Research Approach
- Explain the purpose of the Research Approach section.
- List the components of the Research Approach section.
- Identify characteristics of a well written Research Approach section.
- Identify statistical analysis resources.
- Calculate sample size using PS sample size program.
- Identify what types of questions lend themselves to qualitative methods.
- Describe different qualitative methods.
- Describe the four ways to sample in qualitative research.
- List the considerations when determining sample size.
Module 6: Applying for Funding Part 4: Other Critical Components
- List critical components of a grant application.
- List some strategies for preparing a grant proposal.
- Explain the purpose of letters of support.
- Describe different kinds of letters needed for a grant.
- Be able to write your own biosketch.
- Be able to identify expenses needed to create a research budget.
- List tips for managing budgets responsibly.
- Describe the peer review process for grant proposals.
- List the scoring criteria for applications.
- Describe how to respond to reviewer feedback.
Module 7: Conducting Research Responsibly
- List the three ethics principles that guide research.
- Explain how the three ethics principles protect human subjects.
- List the types of harm for participants in research studies.
- Define equipoise.
- Describe the pros and cons of using placebos.
- Discuss considerations around standards of care.
- Explain what scientific integrity is.
- Describe how to avoid plagiarism.
Module 8: Designing Study Instruments
- List the steps involved in designing data collection tools; list the various types of data collection methods.
- Describe the logistics of data collection that need to be considered.
- Describe the considerations to think about when organizing survey forms.
- Identify good elements of survey design.
- List what to include in a codebook.
- Design a survey using Kobo Toolbox.
Module 9: Managing Data
- Describe why good data management is important.
- List best practices of data management.
- List considerations for choosing how to store data.
- Describe the basic principles of qualitative data analysis.
- Explain how to collect and analyze qualitative data.\
- List the benefits and drawbacks to various qualitative data collection methods.
- Be able to design a discussion guide for focus groups.
- Explain the purpose of a data analysis plan.
- List the components that make up a data analysis plan.
- Be able to draft a data analysis plan.
- Describe how to code data.
Module 10: Disseminating Research Results: Oral Presentations
- Explain the importance of good organization and presentation of data.
- Identify which data belongs in a Table 1, 2, and 3.
- List best practices for creating tables.
- Describe how to present data clearly using a flowchart.
- Plan for giving a presentation.
- Explain how to present the key message of your presentation.
- List the five key elements of effective presentations.
- Use principles of good design when creating visual aids and slides.
- Describe strategies for preparing to deliver a presentation.
Module 11: Disseminating Research Results: Publishing
- Determine the right journal for your manuscript.
- Use impact factors to compare journals.
- List strategies for submitting articles.
- Define open access.
- Describe various publication fees.
- Identify predatory journals.
- Explain the purpose of writing manuscripts.
- Describe the parts of a manuscript.
- List common criteria for authorship.
- List elements of good scientific writing style.