Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Data Collection Methods for Research and Evaluation Projects

Course Description

The purpose of this course is to prepare graduate students for the collection of quantitative and qualitative data in the field.  Using interactive weekly sessions, students will learn how to choose between and implement a variety of data collection methods. For each method, we will examine common challenges and mistakes, ethical issues and threats to validity, trustworthiness and fidelity.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of the course, students will:

• Understand when and how to use a variety data collection methods
• Be familiar with data collection implementation issues
• Identify ethical issues related to each data collection method
• Critically assess the relative benefits and weaknesses of each data collection method
• Understand threats to validity and credibility and how these can be addressed
• Have conducted an in-class demonstration of one method of data collection
• Have prepared two data collection plans