Consultation Services
The Center's researchers are available to provide consultation in
Outcomes Research and Evaluation and Qualitative Research.
What is Outcomes Research and Evaluation?
Outcomes Research and Evaluation provides evidence such as patient’s experiences, preferences, and satisfaction with the results of the treatments.
Outcomes Research and Evaluation at the Center
The Outcomes Research and Evaluation section of the Center for Urban Health Policy & Research offers expertise and consultation
in quantitative methodology for research projects, policies, interventions, and/ or programs focused on minority health issues
and health disparities.
This includes:
- Study Design
- Methods and Measures
- Database Development
- Statistical Analysis
Outcomes and evaluation measures of interest to the Center include, but are not limited to the following areas:
- Quality of life and well-being
- Physical health and functioning
- Service utilization
- Hospitalizations and ER visits
- Knowledge and understanding
- Patient satisfaction
For further information, please contact Section head, Dr. Tina Harralson ( harralsont@einstein.edu)
What is Qualitative Research?
Qualitative research has grown out of the social sciences, but it is a methodology that cuts across disciplines. Qualitative
researchers use techniques such as observation, open-ended and semi-structured interviewing to gain a rich understanding of
social and behavioral processes in their natural settings. The use of qualitative methods, either on their own or in combination
with quantitative methods, enhances a researcher’s ability to address a research question more fully and to explore areas
and assumptions in ways quantitative methods alone cannot.
The Center offers a range of consultative services related to the design, conduct, and analysis of qualitative research. Our
staff includes senior researchers with a social science background and years of experience with the collection, analysis,
and interpretation of qualitative data. Methods include focus groups and both semi-structured and open-ended interview techniques.
Consultation can take place at any and every stage of research, including study design, proposal writing, training of interviewers,
development of interview guides, coding and analysis of data, and write-up. Our team is also experienced in the use of computer-assisted
software for data analysis for management and analysis of qualitative data.
Qualitative Research Design
Many research questions are best answered by the inclusion of qualitative methods in the research design, whether through
a purely qualitative research design or one that combines both quantitative and qualitative techniques. We can provide consultation
in the earliest stages of a project or proposal by working with beginning researchers or those unfamiliar with qualitative
methods in the design of a study, drafting of potential interview questions, and putting together a realistic budget and timeframe
for qualitative research.
Interviewer Training
Our staff is experienced in training both senior investigators and junior members of a research team in the skills necessary
to successfully conduct both semi-structured and open-ended interviews. Using videotaped practice interviews with simulated
patients, we can train multiple members of a research team in qualitative interviewing techniques, including how to probe
deeper into individual responses while staying within the confines of an interview guide.
Development of Interview Guides
The quality of data collected is only as good as the quality of the interview guide. We are available to consult at the earliest
stages of research to develop interview guides for focus groups, semi-structured and open-ended interviews that will yield
the best possible data. Consultation at this stage of a qualitative study ensures that subsequent stages of the research,
including coding and analysis of transcripts, will proceed smoothly and successfully.
Data Analysis and Write-up
Methods for analysis of qualitative data can vary depending on the research design, research questions, and number of interviews
or focus groups conducted. We provide consultation to individual researchers and teams in the process of theme identification,
development and definitions of codes and codebooks, and establishing the reliability of codes. We specialize in the use of
Atlas-ti, a computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software program, to organize and manage transcripts of focus groups
and interviews and facilitate coding and analysis of qualitative data. We also provide consultation in the writing of research
reports and manuscripts using qualitative data.
Click here to see Examples of Our Qualitative Work
Please direct all inquiries and consultation requests to Center for Urban Health Policy and Research
