MSc/PGDip/PGCert Humanitarian Practice / Course details

This unit encompasses essential elements from epidemiology required by MSF staff working in the field as well as basic qualitative and quantitative research methods. 

The unit covers the main essential epidemiological concepts required to enable the students to understand and synthesise evidence from academic papers and how to apply this knowledge to improve their own and their organisation’s practice.  Communication of risk will be used as an overarching theme to explore basic concepts associated with risk and the opportunities that are commonly used to communicate research findings such as incidence, prevalence, relative risk, odds ratios and can be used to inform change in practice.  Basic epidemiological concepts such as use of appropriate indicators and needs assessment will be explored.  Students will be introduced to basic statistical techniques to support synthesis and analysis of data. 

In this module, students will also explore the concept of evidence and its association with the research process as applied to the humanitarian health sector.  Different research paradigms will be discussed, including how each may be applied in the humanitarian setting. 

Core content of this module will include:

• Introduction to qualitative research and its place as a source of evidence to inform practice. 
• Review of how to search for and synthesise findings from qualitative and quantitative research to help inform practice. 
• Critical appraisal of evidence from research studies
• Principles of epidemiology and study design – including descriptive studies, cohort, case control and randomised controlled trials, systematic reviews

Multiple forms of data collection and analysis (types of data; representation of data; summary measurement for continuous data; normal distribution; mean; standard deviation; percentiles; p values; confidence interval; calculation and communication of risk - odds ratios, relative risk; hypothesis testing to include basic parametric and non-parametric tests; bias and confounding; sampling; data analysis.)

Critically examine quantitative and qualitative research paradigms, methods and core concepts in appropriate for humanitarian practice

Understanding of essential epidemiology concepts and portrayal of evidence in shaping policy decisions.

Demonstrate critical knowledge and understanding of the position of evidence in humanitarian practice decision-making.

Critically appraise evidence from qualitative and quantitative research papers.

Monitor and evaluate a range of concepts of risk.

Research and utilise appropriate evidence from a range of sources.

Synthesise, analyse and interpret research findings to inform decision-making.

Communicate research outcomes effectively, using appropriate technical and lay language, to explain risk and patterns of health-related events.

Critical Review of Research Paper - 55%

Critical Reflection - 35%

Contribution to Discussion Board - 10%

Written feedback after submission

Validity and Reliability

Golafshani, N. (2003) Understanding Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Research, The

Qualitative  Report 8(4)   pp  597-607.  http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR8-

4/golafshani.pdf

Hammersley, M. (1987) Some Notes on the Terms 'Validity' and 'Reliability', British

Educational Research Journal 13(1) pp 73-81. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1501231

McKinnon, J. (1988)  Reliability and Validity in Field Research: Some Strategies and

Tactics, Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 1(1) pp 34 – 54

Data Analysis and Presentation

Kuper, A., Reeves, S., and Levinson, W. (2008) Qualitative Research. An introduction to reading and appraising qualitative research. BMJ, 337.

Pope, C. Ziebland, S., and Mays, N. (2000) Qualitative Research in Health Care: Analysing Qualitative Data. BMJ, 320: 114-116.

Caldwell, K., Henshaw, L., Taylor, G. (2005) Developing a framework for critiquing health research. Journal of Health, Social and Environmental Issues, 6(1): 45-54.

Interpreting Statistical Results

Burns, W. (1996) Spurious Correlations http://www.burns.com/wcbspurcorl.htm

Research for health

The global health network website.  Available at: https://tghn.org/

Research for health in humanitarian crises (elrha) website.  Available at: http://www.elrha.org/r2hc/home/

Series of four papers in the Lancet (2017).  Blanchet K, Ramesh A, Frison S, et al. Evidence on public health interventions in humanitarian crises. The Lancet.