Mentorship Leads to New Textbook, "Integrated Research Methods in Public Health"

Integrated Research Methods in Public Health is a new book written by SPHIS faculty member Muriel Harris, PhD, Associate Professor, Dept. of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, and alumna, Baraka Muvuka, PhD, MPH, MCHES, Assistant Professor of Clinical Family Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine. Published by Wiley in Nov. 2022, the authors present the reader with innovative ways of teaching and understanding research methods.

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Their goal was to produce a comprehensive textbook that “integrated the entire research process for public health researchers and practitioners.” Chapters cover topics such as conducting literature reviews, quantitative research, qualitative research, mixed methods research, and publishing research. It also includes activities to deepen the learning as well as case studies.

Dr. Harris also thought this would be a great opportunity to guide her mentee, Dr. Muvuka, through the process of publishing a book. She explained, “By the time Dr. Muvuka collaborated to write this book she was herself a professor in public health teaching both undergraduate and graduate levels, so she had also had the experience of teaching research methods.”

Their work together goes back to Dr. Muvuka’s time a doctoral student at SPHIS when Dr. Harris was chair of Dr. Muvuka’s dissertation committee. The two began this process in 2020 but experienced several delays due to the pandemic. 

Reflecting on her experience, Dr. Muvuka said, “Collaborating with my mentor on this textbook was a transformative and memorable experience. This collaboration reflects the growth of a mentoring relationship built throughout my doctoral studies at the University of Louisville. It serves as a lesson that mentoring relationships can evolve beyond graduation, and, in some cases, can last a lifetime.”