Global Health Research in Practice
A comprehensive guide for researchers, students, and practitioners navigating the complexities of health research in diverse global settings.
By Eric Green
Why This Book?
Helping you become a critical consumer of research and a confident contributor to research teams.
Critical Thinking
Learn to evaluate evidence rigorously—interpreting effect sizes, recognizing bias, and distinguishing strong claims from weak ones.
Causal Reasoning
Master the logic of causal inference, from potential outcomes and DAGs to quasi-experimental designs that approximate randomization.
Practical Application
Develop skills in measurement, sampling, and study design that translate directly to real research projects in diverse settings.
About the Book
Global Health Research in Practice teaches you to think like a researcher—to ask focused questions, design rigorous studies, and interpret evidence critically. This book covers the full arc of the research process, from developing ideas and searching the literature to selecting designs, planning methods, and translating findings into practice.
The emphasis throughout is on causal inference: understanding what works, for whom, and why. You will learn to reason with counterfactuals, draw causal diagrams, and recognize when evidence supports strong conclusions and when it does not. Whether you are evaluating an intervention, analyzing observational data, or appraising someone else's study, this book gives you the tools to build and assess causal arguments.
Whether you're a graduate student learning to contribute to research teams or a practitioner seeking to strengthen the evidence base for your programs, this book offers practical guidance grounded in the realities of global health research.
Key Topics Covered
- Causal Inference and Study Design
- Statistical Inference and Interpretation
- Measurement and Construct Validity
- Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Methods
- Sampling and Sample Size
- Research Ethics and Collaboration
- Open Science Practices
- Translating Research to Policy
What Students Are Saying
Recent praise from Duke University students
The writing is exciting and captivating. It tells a story that is easy to follow, yet greatly informative.
I feel like I am talking to a mentor, not trudging through loads of boring text.
I was literally so afraid of designing a research study and now I'm not at all.
About the Author
Eric Green is a quantitative scientist and educator whose work focuses on how rigorous statistical methods can inform real-world decisions in health and medicine.
He is an Associate Professor of the Practice of Global Health at Duke University. His work bridges academia, technology, and applied health research, with an emphasis on transparency, methodological rigor, and making complex analytical ideas usable in practice.
Read full bio
Ready to Transform Your Research Practice?
Join thousands of researchers who are advancing global health through rigorous, ethical, and impactful research.