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Office of Behavioral & Social Sciences Research
National Institutes of Health
e-Learning for Behavioral & Social Sciences Research
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Setting the Scene
Appropriate Research Methods
'Science' in the Social Sciences
Design Decisions in Research
Theory Development
Social and Behavioral Theories
Describing How
Sample Surveys
Social Survey Data Collection
Administrative Data Systems
Observational Studies
Explaining Why
Qualitative Methods
Conversation Analysis
Software and Qualitative Analysis
What Works
Clinical Trials
Cluster Unit Randomized Trials
Emerging Issues
Ethical Challenges
Multilevel Modeling
Objective Measurement of Subjective Phenomena
Measuring Socioeconomic Status
Evaluating the Quality of Health Care
Patient-Reported Outcomes
All Chapters
Setting the Scene
Appropriate Research Methods
'Science' in the Social Sciences
Design Decisions in Research
Theory Development
Social and Behavioral Theories
Describing How
Sample Surveys
Social Survey Data Collection
Administrative Data Systems
Observational Studies
Explaining Why
Qualitative Methods
Conversation Analysis
Software and Qualitative Analysis
What Works
Clinical Trials
Cluster Unit Randomized Trials
Emerging Issues
Ethical Challenges
Multilevel Modeling
Objective Measurement of Subjective Phenomena
Measuring Socioeconomic Status
Evaluating the Quality of Health Care
Patient-Reported Outcomes
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Appropriate Research Methods
1. Learning Objectives
2. Introduction
3. Different Methods
4. What's Wrong
5. Where to Now
6. Appropriate Methods
7. Danger in Dichotomizing
8. The Essentials
9. From Description to Explanation
10. Understanding What Works
11. Finding Harmony
12. Summary
13. References
14. Author Biography
'Science' in the Social Sciences
1. Learning Objectives
2. Introduction
3. Statistical Data
4. Causal Reasoning
5. Psychiatric Epidemiology
6. Positivism
7. Probabilistic Reasoning
8. Purposes of Social Research
9. 'Science' in the Social Sciences
10. Summary
11. Glossary
12. References
13. Author Biography
Design Decisions in Research
1. Learning Objectives
2. Introduction
3. The Conceptual Phase
4. The Design and Planning Phase
5. The Empirical Phase
6. The Analytic Phase
7. The Dissemination Phase
8. Summary
9. References
10. Author Biographies
Theory Development
1. Learning Objectives
2. Introduction
3. Causal Complexity
4. Prediction vs. Explanation
5. Meaning and Background
6. Common Sense
7. Who Believes What?
8. Understanding and Interpretation
9. Two Approaches
10. Mechanisms
11. Theories and Systematization
12. Determining Real Causes
13. Confounding
14. Problems with Causal Models
15. Summary
16. References
17. Author Biography
Social and Behavioral Theories
1. Learning Objectives
2. Introduction
3. Theory and Why It is Important
4. Important Theories and Their Key Constructs
5. Interventions to Change Health Behavior
6. Theory Use in Intervention Research
7. How Theory is Used
8. Choosing the Right Theory
9. Challenges Moving Forward
10. Summary
11. References
12. Author Biography
Sample Surveys
1. Learning Objectives
2. Introduction
3. Defining Objectives
4. Total Survey Error
5. Designing a Sample
6. Developing a Survey Instrument
7. Collecting Data
8. Preparing for Analysis
9. Calculating Survey Weights
10. Calculating Estimates
11. Reporting Results
12. Resources
13. References
14. Author Biography
Social Survey Data Collection
1. Learning Objectives
2. Introduction
3. Recruitment
4. Interviewer Training
5. Continuous Interviewer Learning
6. Monitoring Interviewers in the Field
7. Summary
8. References
9. Author Biography
Administrative Data Systems
1. Learning Objectives
2. Introduction
3. History
4. Features
5. Accessing Data
6. Advantages and Disadvantages
7. Illustrations
8. Summary
9. Resources
10. References
11. Author Biography
Observational Studies
1. Learning Objectives
2. Introduction
3. Descriptive Validity
4. External Validity
5. Construct Validity
6. Measurement Validity
7. Measurement Reliability
8. Formal Representation
9. Internal Validity
10. Statistical Conclusion Validity
11. Summary
12. References
13. Author Biography
Qualitative Methods
1. Learning Objectives
2. Introduction
3. Observation
4. Interviews and Focus Groups
5. Documents
6. Visual Data
7. Multiple Methods
8. Credibility
9. Summary
10. Resources
11. Glossary
12. Transcription Symbols
13. References
14. Author Biography
Conversation Analysis
1. Learning Objectives
2. Introduction
3. Basic Principles of CA
4. CA and the Medical Encounter
5. CA in Action
6. Interactions and Outcomes
7. Unmet Concerns
8. Prescribing Decisions
9. CA as Intervention
10. Transcription Symbols
11. Summary
12. References
13. Author Biography
Software and Qualitative Analysis
1. Learning Objectives
2. Introduction
3. Conducting Rigorous Qualitative Research
4. The Qualitative Research Process
5. Logic of Qualitative Research
6. The First Stage
7. Drawing and Verifying Conclusions
8. The Role of Computers
9. Software
10. Choosing QDA Software
11. Summary
12. Resources
13. References
14. Author Biography
Clinical Trials
1. Learning Objectives
2. Introduction
3. Classification
4. Endpoints
5. Design Issues
6. Erroneous Trial Results
7. Statistics
8. Summary
9. Glossary
10. References
11. Author Biographies
Cluster Unit Randomized Trials
1. Learning Objectives
2. Introduction
3. Statistical Implications
4. Common Designs
5. Pair-Matching
6. Unit of Inference
7. Sample Size Assessment
8. Factors Influencing Power
9. Cluster Level Replication
10. CRTs and Informed Consent
11. Cluster vs. Individual Level Analysis
12. Perils of Subsampling
13. Other Perils
14. Analyses at the Individual Level
15. Interim Analyses
16. Cohort vs. Cross-sectional Designs
17. Reporting
18. Appendix
19. Summary
20. References
21. Author Biography
Ethical Challenges
1. Learning Objectives
2. Introduction
3. Principles, Codes, and Standards Today
4. The Belmont Principles
5. Current and Unresolved Issues
6. Research Ethics Committees
7. The Global Norm of Ethics Committees
8. Current Issues Concerning Ethics Committees
9. Scientific Integrity
10. Summary
11. Resources
12. References
13. Author Biography
Multilevel Modeling
1. Learning Objectives
2. Introduction
3. Multilevel Framework
4. Multilevel Methods and Analyses
5. Desiderata for Multilevel Research
6. Multilevel Data Structures
7. Levels and Variables
8. A Graphical Introduction
9. Specifying and Interpreting Models
10. Modeling Contextual Effects
11. Multiple Spatial Contexts
12. Multilevel Residual Mapping
13. Parameter Estimation
14. Non-linear Multilevel Models
15. Spatially Aggregated Data
16. Interpreting a Multilevel Model
17. Power and Sample Size
18. Summary
19. References
20. Author Biography
Objective Measurement of Subjective Phenomena
1. Learning Objectives
2. Introduction
3. The Construct, or Characteristic, to Measure
4. Nature of the Construct
5. Items, Levels of Measurement, and Methods
6. Problems in Measuring Constructs
7. Reliability
8. Validity
9. Summary
10. References
11. Author Biography
Measuring Socioeconomic Status
1. Learning Objectives
2. Introduction
3. What is Socioeconomic Status?
4. Why SES Matters
5. How SES is Measured
6. How SES Should Be Measured
7. Recommendations
8. Summary
9. References
10. Author Biography
Evaluating the Quality of Health Care
1. Learning Objectives
2. Introduction
3. Defining Quality of Care
4. Types of Quality of Care Measures
5. Outcome Measures
6. Process Measures
7. Structure Measures
8. Comprehensiveness of Measures
9. Selecting Measures
10. Examples of Quality of Care Measures
11. Resources
12. References
13. Author Biographies
Patient-Reported Outcomes
1. Learning Objectives
2. Introduction
3. Reasons to Measure PROs
4. Individualizing QOL Measures
5. Terminology of PROs
6. Label What We Measure
7. Validity and PROs
8. Interpretability
9. Types of Measures
10. Applications
11. Summary
12. Resources
13. References
14. Author Biographies
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Exercises
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Office of Behavioral & Social Sciences Research
National Institutes of Health
Department of Health
and Human Services
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