The Methods Core provides leadership, infrastructure and diverse areas of expertise to promote the quality of HIV-related projects and methods infrastructure at each institution.

The group provides a diverse range of high quality methods expertise coupled with experience in HIV research for training, consultation, and technical support for HIV-related research. Among others, areas of expertise include problem formulation, study design, proposal preparation, instrument design, computerized and audio-computerized assessments, site and participant recruitment, data collection and management, data analysis and statistical modeling, interpretation of results, and manuscript preparation.

Specific initiatives of the Methods Core include Research on Research and the provision of user-friendly analytical tools to community-based organizations (CBOs) and health service organizations. The Research on Research initiative aims to ensure continuous quality improvement by investigating our own research production process. At the same time, this initiative is a means to advance an innovative professional culture and work environment to support staff members in reaching their fullest potential. The development of user-friendly analytical tools empowers CBOs and health service organizations to conduct their own data analysis, which in turn promotes a higher degree of self-sufficiency and self-efficacy.

Investigators are encouraged to consult the Methods Group as early as possible in the development of their research projects.