Process Evaluation of a Retreat for Scholars in the First Cohort: The NIH Mixed Methods Research Training Program for the Health Sciences

Abstract

The Mixed Methods Research Training Program for the Health Sciences aims to enlarge the national pool of trained investigators in mixed methods and improve the quality of grant applications to the National Institutes of Health. Selected scholars are assigned a consulting team, participate in webinars, and attend an annual “retreat” focused on learning mixed methods through application to their research. Our article summarizes the process evaluation of the retreat. Scholars identified strengths in small interactive groups to discuss individual projects and the opportunity to apply learning. Scholars wanted further opportunity to discuss individual projects, understanding interventions and mixed methods, and finding collaborators. Our findings will be useful to leaders developing workshops or similar programs at the faculty level.