SFOK24001U Mixed methods in Public Health

Volume 2025/2026
Education

MSc in Public Health Science- elective

MSc in Health Informatics- elective

MSc in Global Health- elective

MSc in Healt Science- elective

Content

Mixed methods approaches are becoming increasingly prevalent in various areas of public health research and learning to design and critically analyze these types of studies is fundamental for public health practitioners and researchers.

The objective of this course is to introduce students to the application of mixed methods research in the field of public health. In this course, students will delve into the epistemological and methodological challenges associated with conducting mixed methods research within the field of public health. Students will acquire the skills to evaluate mixed method research designs and will have the opportunity to develop their own mixed methods studies in a public health area of their choosing. By the end of the course, students will be able to determine when a mixed methods design is suitable for a specific research problem and justify its rationale and design a mixed methods study.

Learning Outcome

Learning Outcome:

After completing the course the student is expected to:

Knowledge

  • Define a clear problem that can be best tackled with a mixed methods approach.
  • Describe different mixed methods designs.
  • Identify epistemologies that underpin mixed methods studies.
  • Reflect on and assess strengths and weaknesses in the knowledge gained by mixed methods approaches.

 Skills

  • Critical analysis of epistemological challenges in the design of mixed methods studies within public health. 
  • Assess quality appraisal in mixed methods research.
  • Critically discuss mixed methods approaches to sampling, data collection and data analysis.
  • Integrate quantitative and qualitative findings.

Competencies

  • Select relevant methods to design a mixed method study.
  • Critically examine and evaluate the choice of mixed methods.
  • Writing results about mixed methods research coherently, integrating qualitative and quantitative findings.

articles and book chapters

Students should be familiarized with basic qualitative and quantitative methods
The course is based on a combination of lectures and interactive seminars drawing on relevant academic literature. Students develop their practical skills through exercises and an extensive empirical case study and integrating the research methods.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 25
  • Preparation
  • 77
  • Exam
  • 48
  • Total
  • 150
Written
Oral
Individual
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Peer feedback (Students give each other feedback)
Not relevant
Credit
5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment, 48 hours
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Criteria for exam assesment

To achieve the grade 12 the student is expected to: 

Knowledge

  • Define a clear problem that can be best tackled with a mixed methods approach.
  • Describe different mixed methods designs.
  • Identify epistemologies that underpin mixed methods studies.
  • Reflect on and assess strengths and weaknesses in the knowledge gained by mixed methods approaches.

 

Skills

  • Critical analysis of epistemological challenges in the design of mixed methods studies within public health. 
  • Assess quality appraisal in mixed methods research.
  • Critically discuss mixed methods approaches to sampling, data collection and data analysis.
  • Integrate quantitative and qualitative findings.

 

Comptencies

  • Select relevant methods to design a mixed method study.
  • Critically examine and evaluate the choice of mixed methods.
  • Writing mixed methods research.