Behavioral, Social, and Implementation Sciences Core
The Behavioral, Social, and Implementation Sciences (BSIS) Core provides training, consultation, and custom services to support the work of faculty and collaborators throughout the Third Coast CFAR. Services draw on the BSIS Core’s expertise in qualitative and mixed methods, intervention development and evaluation, implementation science, health department collaborations, and community engaged research. Many BSIS Core services, including research navigation and initial consultation, are offered free of charge. Services that are listed with their hourly rate can be accessed through an established recharge center.
Services and Resources
Qualitative and Mixed-Methods Support
The BSIS Core provides consultation and workshops on the design of qualitative and mixed-methods research and support analysis of resulting data to best inform intervention development and implementation strategies. These include gold standard approaches (e.g., in-depth interviewing, thematic analysis) and novel methods of data collection (e.g., online focus groups) and analysis (e.g., rapid analytic approaches). The cost of these services is $65 per hour. Full list of services below:
Pre-Award
- Data collection planning (interviews, focus groups)
- Interview guide development/refinement
Implementation
- Individual in-depth Interviews (virtual or in-person based in Chicago)
- Focus group facilitation (virtual or in-person based in Chicago)
- Qualitative coding (e.g., Dedoose, ATLAS.ti)
Analysis
- Traditional qualitative analysis
- Rapid qualitative analysis (RQA)
- Manuscript development
Intervention Development and Trial Design
The BSIS Core provides consultation for investigators with formative data (qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods) to select and develop cutting-edge intervention modalities, including development of new interventions and adaptation of existing programs. The BSIS Core can also help investigators navigate to the Third Coast CFAR’s Clinical Sciences Core to help design trial analytic plans and power analyses (pre-award) and analyze trial data upon trial completion (post-award).
Comprehensive Digital Research Solutions and Support
In partnership with the BSIS Core, Northwestern University’s Research Application Design and Development (RADD) core center offers a suite of digital services that provide innovative and efficient solutions for researchers. With over a decade of experience developing web applications and tools for HIV research, RADD specializes in creating user-centered tech that supports every phase of a study.
- Custom Software Development & UI/UX Design
- Participant Engagement and Communication Platforms
- Social media and Print ads Recruitment Campaigns
- Project Management Tools and Workflow Automation
- Graphic Design & Animation Visual Asset Development
- Research and Lab-focused WordPress Website Design
- Data Collection, Management & Analysis
Interested in learning more about RADD’s services? Please visit radd.northwestern.edu.
RADD provides free initial consultations for all CFAR members, regardless of home institution, to discuss how RADD can best support your work. To get started, fill out the RADD Interest Form or email radd@northwestern.edu.
Participant Recruitment
The BSIS Core offers consultation for participant recruitment into HIV studies through online platforms (e.g., apps, social media) or community events. Experienced faculty or study staff will provide feedback on recruitment strategies and materials. The BSIS Core can also connect investigators to community organizations that may share research opportunities with their clients or staff.
Implementation Science
Training and consultation in HIV implementation science is available through the BSIS Core for CFAR members investigators who work in implementation research or who wish to integrate these methods into their HIV research portfolio. The Third Coast CFAR is home to experts in HIV implementation science and creates resources available throughout the CFAR network. Recorded workshops and slide decks on fundamentals and methods in implementation science are available:
- IS 101: An Introductory Workshop
- IS 201: Experimental Designs for Implementation Research
- Landscape of NIH-Funded HIV Implementation Research
- Implementation Science and You: Real-World Applications of Implementation Science in HIV Research
Additional tools and resources to support implementation science are available through the HIV Implementation Science Coordination Initiative.
Health Economics
Health economists in the BSIS Core are available to provide consultation and support in various methods and designs, including selection of economic evaluation methods to assess cost-benefit, cost-effectiveness, and implementation costs of interventions. Services are available in pre-award (i.e., design, grant writing) and post-award support (i.e., data collection, analysis).
Public Health Data
The Chicago and Illinois Departments of Public Health work closely with the BSIS Core to form and enhance scientific partnerships with CFAR members. BSIS Core provides consultation to investigators as they develop new projects and need navigation to create formal data requests, Data Use Agreements, Memoranda of Understanding, Releases of Information, and other agreements. The BSIS Core also navigates users to public resources, such as the Getting to Zero-Illinois HIV data dashboard, the Chicago Health Atlas, AIDSVu, and IDPH HIV monthly surveillance reports.
The Clinical Sciences Core provides navigation through health department and single IRB processes, as needed. With collaboration and approval from CDPH or IDPH, the Third Coast CFAR may also facilitate retrieval and analysis of health department data.
Community Engagement
The BSIS Core works closely with community partners throughout Chicago. Faculty and staff are available to connect investigators to key community members for input on projects in development or to establish a new CAB for a long-term project. This service is available in addition to accessing the CFAR’s standing Community Collaboration Board, which is also available for consultation. View a workshop presented in 2021, Developing Community-Academic Research Partnerships, for tips and guidance from current and former teams engaged in collaborative HIV research.
Request Services
Request BSIS Core services on the Find a Service page. Contact Maggie Matson with questions about the BSIS Core
Leadership
Michael Newcomb, PhD
Director
Expertise: Qualitative and Mixed-Methods Research
Northwestern University
Nanette Benbow, MAS
Co-Director
Expertise: Implementation Science
Northwestern University
Russell Brewer, DrPH
Co-Director
Expertise: Community-Academic Partnerships
University of Chicago