Quantitative Capstone

The MCAH Quantitative Capstone Reserach Project

As part of the requirement for the MPH, each MCAH student must complete a quantitative capstone research project. This project may also be referred to as the program's "Integrative Learning Experience." The project consists of a written and an oral component and is considered to be the comprehensive examination for MCAH students. The MCAH capstone seminars (PH 210E & 210F: Practicum in MCAH Data Analysis I and II) are designed to support students in the capstone process.

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The purpose of the MCAH capstone research project is to engage students in learning:

  • How to formulate a good research question

  • How to identify the appropriate methods to address the research question

  • How to test the research question with empirical data

  • How to analyze/interpret/summarize and present the findings, linking these to the existing body of scientific literature

  • How to present the findings in a formal paper and link them to implications for policy 

  • How to orally present and defend research findings in an academic setting

The goals of the MCAH capstone research project are to:

  • Demonstrate that the student has mastered each of the skills necessary to complete an in-depth quantitatively based research project

  • Ensure that the student has attained an in-depth understanding of and exposure to specific MCAH topics that are relevant to their career goals and interests

  • Demonstrate proficiency of the topic researched through a written paper and through oral presentation of the research findings to one’s peers and faculty

MCAH faculty, staff, students and friends of the program as audience members for the MCAH capstone presentations

Components of the Capstone Project

Committee

Each student will have a Capstone chair, who will read the entire paper and provide detailed feedback. In some cases, the student may also have 1-2 additional members who will meet periodically with them to discuss the research question and findings and give advice on the project, but who might not read the entire paper.

Topic

The topic for the capstone project is the student’s choice, based upon their interests. Students will not be allowed to pursue a descriptive study, such as a needs assessment, a qualitative study, or a mixed-methods study. Such studies, while valuable, do not provide students with the opportunity to exercise their analytic skills to the extent necessary for a master’s degree.

Data Set

Each student must identify and obtain a dataset that they can use for their research. This may be a publicly available dataset, data collected by BPH faculty or collaborators, or data from a job or summer internship, etc. All research activities for the capstone must be approved by the UC Berkeley Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects (CPHS) before activities begin.

Manuscript

The written portion of the capstone is structured as a standard pre-publication manuscript. Approval of the Capstone manuscript is similar to the process of having an article accepted for publication in a peer reviewed journal.

Oral Presentation

In addition to submitting a written portion of the capstone to the Committee, the student will be required to give a final oral presentation of their research study and findings. The presentation component serves as the oral examination of the comprehensive exam.