221.638.01 HEALTH SYSTEMS RESEARCH AND EVALUATION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Builds an understanding of the purpose and nature of health systems research as a multi-disciplinary endeavor with diverse research goals. Participants review the range of research questions, methodological approaches and study designs that health systems research encompasses, as well as cross-cutting issues pertinent to health systems research such as ethics, gender and human rights, complex adaptive systems and research rigor. Elements of developing a health systems research proposal are reviewed and developed by participants throughout the duration of the course.

Upon completion of the course students will be able to: 1) formulate measurable and meaningful indicators for use in evaluating program performance; 2) design an information system that makes adequate provision for the routine collection of essential evaluative data and appropriately incorporates subjective judgments as well; 3) select appropriate analytical tools for appraising the data, recognizing both the purposes and limitations of common methods of analysis; 4) prepare a project or program evaluation plan that includes all of the features and measures usually associated with the monitoring and evaluation of a health services endeavor; and 5) design a research study to resolve problems identified through routine evaluation to be in need of further investigation.