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COURSE OUTLINE FOR THE JOKAP-ECAJS AUTHOR TRAINING PROGRAM
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August -October 2025
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SessionDateTopic(s)Learning ObjectivesModeratorPresenter(s)
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1Monday, July 28, 2025Introduction to the program1.     To introduce participants to the JOKAP and ECAJS teamDr. Vincent KipkorirDr. Bundi Karau and Dr.Robert Parker
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2.     To share the course outline and criteria for certification
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3.     To describe why health professionals should participate in research in the region
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Assignment: Complete Pre-workshop survey
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2Thursday, July 31, 2025Research Conceptualization 1.     To describe the various ways of coming up with a research ideaGloria NataliaKhulud Nurani
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2.     To discuss how to frame a research question
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3.     To describe qualities of a good study question
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4.     To explain how to write a concept paper
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Assignment: Come up with a research question and write a concept paper
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3Monday, August 04, 2025Introduction to Study Designs1.     To discuss the various study designs, both descriptive and analyticKhulud NuraniDr. Robert Parker
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2.     To discuss the application of various study designs
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3.     To discuss the evidence hierarchy
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Assignment: Look through literature for papers published in your topic of interest and read through the methodology to identify the study design. Do this until you have identified a paper for each study design to familiarize yourself with their execution
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4Thursday, August 07, 2025Descriptive Study designs 1. Define and Characterize Descriptive Study DesignsSamwel MwendaGloria Natalia
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2. Identify and Differentiate Types of Descriptive Studies
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3. Understand the Strengths and Limitations of Descriptive Designs
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Assignment: Design a short descriptive study that outlines the scope and characteristics of your research question.
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5Monday, August 11, 2025Experimental Study Designs 1. Define and Identify Core Elements of Experimental DesignsSamwel MwendaGloria Natalia
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2. Distinguish Between Types of Experimental Designs
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3. Understand the Principles of Internal and External Validity
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Assignment: Design a brief experimental study to test its effectiveness in answering your research question.
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6Thursday, August 14, 2025Literature search and Reference Management using citation managers1.     To understand the role of effective literature searching in evidence-based public health and academic publishing.Gloria NataliaKhulud Nurani
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2.     To Identify appropriate databases and search engines (e.g., PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar) for systematic and targeted searches.
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3.     To develop structured search strategies using Boolean operators, MeSH terms, truncation, and filters.
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4.     To understand available citation managers and how to use them
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Assignment: Create a search Strategy using your topic of interest and run it on Pubmed. Install Zotero and attempt to generate in-text citations and a bibliography
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7Monday, August 18, 2025How to write a Research Proposal (Part 1: Introduction and Literature Review)1.     To describe the structure of a research proposalKhulud NuraniDr. Jeremiah Munguti
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2.     To describe how to write an introduction
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3.     To discuss how to perform review of literature and structure a proposal’s literature review
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Assignment: Writing the introduction and literature review section of your research idea, building from the concept paper earlier drafted
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8Thursday, August 21, 2025How to write a Research Proposal (Part 2: Methods)1.     To describe the structure of the methods sectionKhulud NuraniDr. Jeremiah Munguti
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2.     To describe sample size calculation
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3.     To discuss how to create data collection tools eg questionnaires
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4.     To discuss bias and confounding factors
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Assignment: Writing the methods section
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9Monday, August 25, 2025Research Ethics1.     To discuss various aspects of research ethicsGloria NataliaDr. Godfrey Sama
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2.     To describe how to prepare documents for ethics
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3.     To discuss how to ensure study quality
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Assignment: Completing the proposal
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10Thursday, August 28, 2025Introduction to Data Management 1.     To introduce the types of variables Khulud NuraniSamwel Mwenda
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2.     To introduce the types of analysis
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3.     To share resources on utilizing research tools – SPSS
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Assignment: Dummy data sheet for identifying types of variables and how to use SPSS
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11Monday, September 01, 2025Data analysis (Part 1: Descriptive analysis)1.     To describe how to run descriptive analysisSamwel MwendaDr. Isaac Cheruiyot
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2.     To illustrate how to use SPSS for descriptive analysis
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Assignment:
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12Thursday, September 04, 2025Practical support session on conducting descriptive analysis1.     To understand how to use SPSS and how to interpret output of descriptive analysisSamwel MwendaSamwel Mwenda
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Assignment:
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13Monday, September 08, 2025Data analysis (Part 2: Analytic analysis)1.     To introduce the concept of hypothesis testingSamwel MwendaDr. Isaac Cheruiyot
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2.     To introduce the tests of association for quantitative and qualitative variables
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3.     To discuss how to interpret p-values, confidence intervals etc
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Assignment:
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14Thursday, September 11, 2025Practical support session on conducting analytic analysis1.     To choose the right test of associationSamwel MwendaSamwel Mwenda
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2.     To understand how to use SPSS and how to interpret output of analytic analysis
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Assignment:
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15Monday, September 15, 2025How to prepare the results section 1.  Purpose and Content of the Results SectionGloria NataliaDr. Mumba Chalwe
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2. Effective Data Presentation Techniques
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3. Clarity, Conciseness, and Objectivity in results presentation
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Assignment: You are provided with a poorly written or overly verbose excerpt from a hypothetical "Results" section of a research paper. Your task is to re-draft this excerpt, applying the principles of clarity, conciseness, and objective data presentation discussed.
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16Thursday, September 18, 2025How to write a discussion1.     Purpose and Structure of the Discussion SectionKhulud NuraniDr. Mumba Chalwe
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2. Interpreting and Contextualizing Findings
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3. Limitations, Implications, and Future Directions
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Assignment: Using the results you refined in the previous section, write one paragraph for the discussion section that interprets the main finding, relates it to existing literature (hypothetically), and briefly outlines its implications.
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17Monday, September 22, 2025Manuscript Preparation1. Manuscript Preparation WorkflowSamwel MwendaDr. Michael Mwachiro
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2. Journal Selection and Submission Guidelines Adherence
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3. Ethical Publishing and Responsible Authorship
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Assignment: Identify a research topic (it can be hypothetical or one you are currently working on). Based on this topic, identify two suitable target journals and outline a pre-submission checklist for one of them.
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18Thursday, September 25, 2025Peer Review Process1. The need for peer review and the role of preprint serversSamwel MwendaDr. Robert Parker
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2. Role of editors and reviewers in the peer review process
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3. Responding to Reviewers
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4. Possible editorial decisions and factors influencing them
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Assignment: Review the peer review process for 3 journals of interest
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19Monday, September 29, 2025Post-Publication Strategies 1. Importance of Post-Publication DisseminationGloria NataliaDr. Vincent Kipkorir
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2. Dissemination Channels
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3. Measure and Enhance Research Impact
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Assignment: Imagine your latest research article (you can use a real one, a past assignment, or a hypothetical one) has just been published. Develop a concise post-publication promotion plan to maximize its reach and impact.
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20Thursday, October 02, 2025Building a Researcher Profile1. Components of a Strong Researcher ProfileGloria NataliaDr. Vincent Kipkorir
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2. Utilizing Digital Platforms for Visibility
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3. Networking and Collaboration Skills
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Assignment: Conduct a brief audit of your current researcher profile (even if minimal) and outline concrete steps you will take to enhance it over the next 6-12 months.
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21Monday, October 06, 2025Implementation Science1. Implementation Science and its Core ConceptsKhulud NuraniDr. Godfrey Sama
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2. Key Frameworks and Models in Implementation Science
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3. Challenges and Strategies in Translating Research into Practice
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Assignment: Choose a well-established health intervention or program that has been proven effective in research settings (e.g., exclusive breastfeeding promotion, a specific HIV prevention strategy, a vaccination campaign, or a maternal health program). Using what you've learned about implementation science, briefly outline how you would implement the intervention
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22Thursday, October 09, 2025Research funding options and grant applications1. Sources of Research FundingDr. Vincent KipkorirDr. Michael Mwachiro
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2. Key Components of a Competitive Grant Application
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3. Strategies for Crafting Persuasive and Ethical Proposals
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Assignment: Identify potential grant funding for your research idea and review their elligibility criteria and guidelines
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23Monday, October 13, 2025Post Workshop EvaluationKhulud Nurani & Samwel Mwenda
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Certificates and feedbackGloria Natalia
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