Survey and Qualitative Methods Core

The Survey and Qualitative Methods Core (SQMC) is a shared resource for population science and clinical investigators whose research requires qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods of data collection.  

Data expertise 
Our team supports data collection across the project spectrum; from consultation to design to execution and dissemination of results. We have technical expertise in protocol development, assessment methodology, instrument testing, data collection, and analysis in both qualitative and quantitative spheres.     

Consultation and collaboration 
The SQMC resides within the McGraw/Patterson Center for Population Sciences at Dana-Farber and the Harvard Cancer Consortium (HCC), thereby expanding the availability of efficient, high-quality scientific consultation and execution of research.  

We offer survey design, data collection, and management services to HCC members, as well as the larger research community.  We have experience fostering collaboration across institutions, diseases, and research programs.

Publication Acknowledgement

If research supported by this core facility results in publication, please acknowledge this support by including the following in your publication(s):

We thank Harvard Cancer Consortium in Boston, MA, for the use of the Survey and Qualitative Methods Core, which provided ______________________________ service. Harvard Cancer Consortium is supported in part by a NCI Cancer Center Support Grant # NIH 5 P30 CA06516.

• Qualitative Research
  • Qualitative Research Design
  • Moderator and Interview Guide Development 
  • Qualitative Data Collection 
  • Qualitative Data Coding and Analysis 
  • Facilitation of Transcription and Translation Services   
  • Cognitive Interviewing 
  • Dissemination of Qualitative Findings
  • Training & Capacity Building
• Survey Research & Psychometrics
  • Survey Research Design
  • Sampling
  • Instrument Selection
  • Instrument Design and Validation
  • Survey Pre-Testing
  • Dissemination of Quantitative Findings
• Database Design and Management
  • REDCap Database Design and Data Management
  • Participant Tracking
• Quantitative Data Analysis and Visualizations
  • Analysis Plan Development
  • Data Aggregation and Cleaning
  • Exploratory Data Analysis
  • Hypothesis Testing
  • Statistical Model Generation 
  • Data Visualizations
• Mixed Methods Research
  • Mixed Methods Study Design and Consultation
  • Instrument Development, Data Collection, and Management
  • Integrated Data Analysis and Interpretation
  • Modified Delphi Support
  • Capacity Building, Reporting, and Knowledge Translation
• Training and Seminars
  • Career Development Award-K Award Support 
  • Training Seminars Library
  • Study Team Training

Developing and implementing a novel t-NGS approach to population-based newborn screening for early onset-cancer risk – DFCI/BCH

Principal Investigator: Lisa Diller, MD (DFCI)

Description of the Project:

The overall study is designed to examine the potential of incorporating genetic testing of newborns for cancer risk.   In  order to assess the burden of this information on parents, qualitative interviews were conducted with a selected group of parents whose children have had a genetic diagnosis made early in childhood requiring cancer surveillance.

Contribution of the Core:

• Co-developed interview instrument with PI and study team
• Conducted in-depth interviews with parents whose children have had a genetic diagnosis made early in childhood requiring cancer surveillance
• Facilitated transcription of interview data
• Provided structural and thematic data coding utilizing NVivo software
• Provided thematic analysis and final written report to PI
• Collaborated on manuscript preparation

"Young Lung Cancer”  Psychosocial Needs Assessment

Principal Investigator: Narjust Florez, MD (DFCI)

Description of the Project:

The overarching goal of this study is to define the psychosocial needs of young patients with lung cancer using quantitative and qualitative methods.  Continued study of lung cancer in young people will provide new insights into their unique needs that will allow for the creation of  interventions to dimmish the psychosocial impact of the disease this population.  Results from this study aim to inform the oncology community of the barriers and facilitators encountered by young patients with lung cancer in routine oncology practice.

Contribution of the Core:

• Survey methods support, instrument design and formatting
• Survey programming, deployment and data collection
• Developed focus group moderator guide with PI and study team
• Moderated focus groups with young lung cancer patients
• Facilitated transcription of focus group data
• Provided structural and thematic data coding utilizing NVivo software
• Provided thematic analysis and final written report to PI
• Psychometric analysis of survey data and qualitative data integration
• Collaborated on manuscript preparation