This course introduces the student to methods used in applied public health research. It is designed to help students to carry out applied public health research (either in their paid work settings or postgraduate projects or theses) through an examination of principles of research. There are two concentrations in the course: first, we spend time critically thinking about how to prepare a research statement and second, using what we learnt through that, writing a research proposal that can be used in a real world setting. In the course we cover such topics as literature reviews, research problems or questions, principles of quantitative and qualitative research, ethics and planning a research project. The course is designed to be utilised by students in further research work.