Bright Spots Mini-Lab

Mini-Lab activities help build the qualitative and mixed methods skills of students and public health practitioners.

Mini-Lab activities foster research and evaluation collaborations to find solutions to MCH public health needs by identifying and employing culturally-responsive, asset-based strategies rooted in the perspectives and experiences of individuals, families and communities.

Spring 2023 Sessions:

The Power of First Person Storytelling in Public Health with Allison Myers from the StoryCenter
- Thursday, April 27, 2023 from 11am-1pm CST
- Personal narratives are powerful tools for researchers and practitioners alike. They can be used to educate, influence, train, advocate, and reflect in the public health field. Harnessing the power of these narratives is an important skill. This session on digital storytelling from the StoryCenter will be a brief introduction to the process of gathering and presenting personal narratives for public health use. As a leader in the global storytelling movement, the StoryCenter has decades of experience helping organizations and individuals bolster their storytelling skills and we are excited to feature them at the Mini-Lab.
- In this Learning Lab, participants will
  - learn storytelling structures and techniques for writing powerful, first-person narratives
  - explore several case studies of research and advocacy projects using digital storytelling and participatory media methods
  - draft a short, personal story (200-350 words) using story prompts
- RSVP Here
- About Allison Myers:
  - A graduate of Vanderbilt University and the University of Colorado, Allison is a Senior Program Director and Principal Facilitator for the non-profit organization StoryCenter, which is widely recognized as the innovator in community arts-based participatory media methodologies. Allison works with small groups of people to tell their stories in a way that makes a big difference. Participants have included new moms, refugees, professors, transgender people, survivors of cancer, tribal leaders in northern Kenya, and reproductive health peer educators in Papua New Guinea.
  - Her work has been featured on NPR and funded by a wide range of partners including the US State Department. Her facilitation takes people through a process of identifying, sharing, writing, and recording a short story with powerful photos, videos and narrative. She equips participants with digital tools to produce their own story as well as find effective ways to advocate for improved laws, a better environment, a deeper understanding of how disease impacts vulnerable communities, address stigmas, and encourage community leadership. In public health, Allison has collaborated on a number of research and advocacy participatory media projects with partners that include: Mayo Clinic; UMASS Amherst Department of Community Health Education; Vanderbilt University Medical Center; CO Department of Public Health; UI Health, University of Illinois at Chicago (I-Promote Illinois Maternal Health); Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Richmond (Virginia Neonatal Perinatal Collaborative); Michigan DHHS Maternal Mortality Surveillance Program; and Arizona State University’s College of Nursing and Health Innovation.
  - Allison has traveled and worked in over 45 countries, and is currently based in Lisbon, Portugal.

Past Fall 2022 Sessions:

Introduction to Coding Techniques with Prof. Johnny Saldaña on Thursday, October 6, 2022 from 11am-1pm CST
Positive Deviance with Dr. Alex Foster on Thursday, November 17, 2022 from 11am-1pm CST

Past Spring 2023 Sessions:

Parenting Practices and Childhood Obesity: A Positive Deviance Approach with Dr. Junia de Brito on Thursday, February 2, 2023 from 11am-12pm CST

About the Mini-Lab

The goal of the Mini-Lab is to support the growing interest in qualitative and mixed methods research among public health researchers and public health practitioners. We integrate the rich tradition of qualitative inquiry into current public health research so participants can gain a deeper understanding of the public health needs facing our communities, integrate the experiences and perspectives of key stakeholders and community members into research designs, and find solutions to public health problems that take into account the lived experiences of community members.

The Mini-Lab offers participants the space to build or augment the qualitative research skills they’ve learned in classrooms or while at work in their agencies. Together with trainers, MCH and nutrition students, faculty, and other MCH and nutrition colleagues, participants gather regularly for training sessions labs that provide them with an opportunity to consult with experts on activities that strengthen their skills.

When students, agency staff and faculty utilize the same approach to research methods and the same software for data analysis and management—and when those data are shared—we can collectively work toward improving the health of our most vulnerable populations.

Why is Qualitative and Mixed-Methods Research Important?

The use of qualitative research is critical for public health professionals wishing to gain a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of individuals and communities through the systematic study and analysis of non-numeric data.

Focus groups, observations, case studies, one-on-one interviews, and other qualitative data collection methods can provide important insights into and answer questions about the way individuals and communities experience health and illness, and make sense of everyday life.

Quantitative analysis skills are necessary for current and future public health professionals, but they often want deeper insights into actions, ideas and behaviors that could improve health and bolster effective health promotion. The qualitative research methods lab (affectionately called the “mini-lab”) was born out of our desire to be responsive to the needs of public health practitioners and graduate students.

Mini-Lab History

2021-2022

In 2021-2022 we hosted four Learning Lab workshops: Introduction to Citizen Research with Dr. Stuart Grande, Introduction to NVivo with Junia N. de Brito, Rapid Qualitative Data Analysis in Public Health Practice with Prof. Johnny Saldaña, and Introduction to Ripple Effects Mapping with Dr. Scott Chazdon.

2020-2021

In 2020-2021 we launched introductory sessions through Mini-Lab “Learning Labs” which included: Introduction to Facilitation Skills with Dr. Richard Krueger and Dr. Mary Anne Casey, Introduction to Online Focus Groups with Dr. J. Michael Wilkerson, Advocacy through Storytelling with Carol Dreibelbis, Introduction to NVivo with Junia N de Brito, Introduction to Photovoice with Dr. Fernando Ona and Introduction to Walk-Along with Dr. Carolyn Porta.

2019-2020

In 2019 and early 2020, MCH and MCH Nutrition Trainees continued working on a positive deviance research project. Throughout this experience, trainees conducted qualitative research interviews with caretakers and received transcription training once the interviews concluded. During the summer, MCH and MCH Nutrition Trainees received introductory lessons and training sessions on Mendeley and NVivo.

2018-2019

In 2018, Drs. Jamie Stang and Zobeida Bonilla devoted part of their efforts developing agency-University partnerships and building the mini-lab’s infrastructure.

In 2019, the cohort met with a particular focus on reducing the prevalence of child obesity among vulnerable, diverse populations in Minnesota through the use of a “positive deviance” approach to child obesity prevention, and to share successful strategies with other states and communities.

Trainings included:

NVivo and atlas.ti training, mixed methods research design (Michael Besckstrand)
Case studies, participant observations, interviews, qualitative data analysis techniques (Peter Demerath)
Conducting focus group interviews (Richard Krueger)

Mini-Lab Funding

The Mini-Lab is made possible by the HRSA-funded Center for Leadership Education in Maternal and Child Public Health and the Leadership Education and Training (LET) Program in MCH Nutrition, which allows participants to enjoy the Mini-Lab for free.

The Center for Leadership Education in Maternal and Child Public Health is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number T76MC00005-59-00 for Leadership Education in Maternal and Child Public Health in the amount of $1,750,000. This information or content and conclusions of our outreach products are those of the authors and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

The Leadership Education and Training Program in MCH Nutrition is supported by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number T79MC00007-30-00.

Calendar

You can access Mini-Lab training dates, times and other details by visiting our Mini-Lab calendar.

The Lab

The Mini-Lab is located in the West Bank Office Building (Rooms 328A|328B). Participants can access the lab during office hours (8-4:30 pm, M-F, excluding University holidays). Computer stations are available to reserve at this link. Please email minilab @ umn.edu if you have questions about accessing the lab.

Parking

Please park in the surface lot of the West Bank Office Building. We can provide you with 4-hour parking vouchers that will allow you to get out of the lot without charge. If you need a voucher, please contact Zobeida in advance so that she can arrange to get the appropriate number of parking vouchers to you.

Storing your data

Data cannot be permanently stored on lab computers, nor should storage devices should be left in the min-lab. Files should be kept on external hard drives, flash drives, etc. You are welcome to bring your own, or you can let us know and we will arrange to have some on hand for you.

Mini-Lab Survey

We are wanting to monitor and improve the resources at the Mini-Lab. We ask participants and users of the Mini-Lab to complete this short survey.

The Mini-Lab is on the 3rd floor of the West Bank Office Building (WBOB Rm 328A|328B), located on the West Bank of the UMN campus. This quiet, sunlit space provides several comfortable places to gather for discussions. It can also be easily transformed for in-person trainings by skilled instructors, or be configured to build skills-based software tutorials.

Mini-Lab participants have access to the following:

Computers and equipment for data entry and analysis (first come, first served)
Four desktop computers (two Macs, two PCs)
Two laptops
Digital recorders
A color printer
Foot pedals (for easier transcription)
A variety of books

Software for data organization and analysis

A reference library (a selection is listed below)

Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (Creswell, John W.)
The Coding Manual for Qualitative Researchers Third Edition (Saldana, Johnny M.)
The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research (Denzin, Norman K.)
Complete Library List

Additional information

Demos

Atlas.ti and NVivo offer limited demos that can be accessed on personal computers.

Subscriptions

The UMN offers NVivo subscription options to students, faculty, and staff. Please contact UMN IT for further information.

Tutorial Videos

Atlas.ti

Using Atlas.ti on Windows

NVivo

Discover NVivo 12 Plus Webinar

Billy Wong NVivo Tutorials

The Learning Lab Series began in Fall 2020. This series is dedicated to introducing MCH and PHN students and practitioners to the principles of qualitative data collection techniques.

Fall 2020

Introduction to NVIVO

Introduction to Photovoice

Introduction to Walk-Along resources

Spring 2021

Advocacy through Storytelling

Facilitation Skills

Online Focus Groups

Recommendations for online focus groups

Fall 2021

Introduction to Citizen Research

Spring 2022

Introduction to NVivo

NVivo Software

Rapid Qualitative Data Analysis in Public Health Practice

Qualitative Research: Analyzing Life

Introduction to Ripple Effects Mapping

Fall 2022

Introduction to Coding Techniques

Positive Deviance

If you’re interested in learning more about or participating in the Mini-Lab, please contact:

Dr. Zobeida Bonilla, Center for Leadership Education in Maternal and Child Public Health
1300 S. 2nd St., WBOB 328A|328B
Minneapolis, MN 55455
zbonilla @ umn.edu | 612-626-1733

Lauren Roach
Research Assistant for the Bright Spots Mini-Lab
minilab @ umn.edu

Positive Deviance with Dr. Alex Foster: