The focus of this course is on the critical examination of research, with an emphasis on maintaining the links between the research problem, theory, and research methods. Most research methods courses focus on either qualitative or quantitative methodologies and methods, and rarely address how to meaningfully integrate the two. The course will ensure that PhD students develop methodological literacy, reasoning and thinking early in the program. Health research draws upon theories, research designs, and methods from a variety of disciplines including social and behavioural sciences, clinical sciences, management and business sciences, epidemiology, statistics, and others. Strategies for designing robust research studies using a variety of methodological approaches are examined.