Web-based Research Methodology

1 Course Unit

This doctoral elective course will provide an introduction to Web-based research methods in health-related disciplines. This course will examine research methods that have been adapted to the study of human subjects through the Web. This course will have particular emphasis on quantitative and qualitative empirical methods using the Web as a data collection medium. Another important feature of this course will be intensive analysis of ethical and methodological issues conducting research through the Web. Areas to be analyzed include: types of Web-based research; advantages and disadvantages of Web-based research; vehicles (e.g. funding, mentoring) that have supported Web- based research; human subject protection issues; issues/concerns in recruitment and data collection in Web-based research; and professional vehicles (e.g. scholarly publication, lay publications, speaking forums) that have helped disseminate the knowledge derived from Web-based research. Prerequisites: PhD Student Fall 1 Course Unit