Figure It Out

URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2025-2026/AM_1271

Course Objective

The objective of this elective course is to enhance the students’ quantitative methods skills needed to design a quantitative study within a multidisciplinary context. Upon completion the students are capable of:drafting a quantitative research proposal for a specific health care policy questionapplying basic and advanced quantitative data analysis methodssummarizing the findings of the quantitative analysiswriting a brief advisory report, based on the quantitative findings and other information that is availablepresenting the quantitative findings to an expert audience

Course Content

With the aim to advise the Health Planning Committee of a specific country: design and analyze the impact of a health intervention to decentralize diabetes and hypertension care. In this course the students will work on impact measurement of a health intervention to decentralize diabetes and hypertension care in a chosen country in a hands-on manner. In phase 1 the students will prepare the research protocol upon request of the Ministry of Health, including a realistic budget. In phase 2 the students will analyze a dataset that fits as much as possible their selected research approach. Part of the analysis is the identification of subgroups that show differences in impact for further qualitative research. Finally, in phase 3 the students will triangulate the qualitative results (that will be made available) with their quantitative data to formulate policy recommendations. A written report and a presentation will complete the course. During the first three weeks, lectures will be offered to assist students in developing a research proposal and to prepare students for their quantitative data analysis. During guided working groups, students will learn to organize, analyze, and interpret the data. In the last week the students will present their findings and policy recommendations, as well as hand in an advisory report, based on their quantitative findings and other information that is available.

Teaching Methods

Lectures, in-class data analysis tutorials, working groups, self-study, peer review. Draft schedule: Week 1:Introduction to overall scope and objectives of the course.Lectures on the context and concepts of the challenge at hand, understanding the call for proposals.Quantitative study designs.Lecture series on specific quantitative analysis methods.Week 2:Working groups on developing the research proposal.Introduction to data sets.Working groups on quantitative data analysis.Lecture on budgeting of research.Week 3:Working groups on collating the budget for the proposal.Working groups on qualitative data analysis and data triangulation.Mentoring the groups during final preparations.Week 4: Write up of results and dissemination.

Method of Assessment

The course grade will be a weighted mix of the following components:Open book MC test (individual): 10% Writing assignment (individual): 15% Proposal (group): 20% R-script (individual): 10% Presentation (group): 20% Brief (group): 20% Engagement (individual): 5%

Literature

- R manuals. - Case study literature will be provided. - Other materials to be announced prior to the course.

Target Audience

First
- and second-year MSc Global Health (Research) students who want to strengthen and/or expand their quantitative research skills.

Entry Requirements

This elective course is open to second-year MSc Global Health (Research) students who successfully completed all courses of the first year and the first semester of the second year. First-year students with a stronger background in quantitative methods are also encouraged to participate in this course.