In this toolkit, you will find the tools and information you need to design a successful HIV-related operations research (OR) study, from developing the research protocol to analyzing and reporting on results. In addition to an introduction to OR and the complete AIDSQuest survey library, the toolkit consists of four sections, each of which focuses on a particular aspect of the OR process. The toolkit draws on a decade of Horizons experience developing and implementing OR to strengthen HIV prevention, treatment, and care programs and services around the world.

Designing a Study

Ensuring Ethical
Procedures

Collecting and
Analyzing Data

Measuring Key
Constructs

This section takes you through all the steps of designing an OR  study. This includes identifying the research problem, defining objectives and hypotheses, and selecting a study design. It also covers sampling, including information on Horizons’ experience with respondent-driven sampling (RDS). (more)

This section provides guidelines and resources to ensure that data collection is conducted in an ethical manner, particularly when dealing with children and adolescents in international settings. (more)

Here you’ll find information on quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis including instruments and analytic procedures, many of which are drawn from Horizons' AIDSQuest HIV/AIDS Survey Library. You’ll also find an interview about Horizons’ experience using handheld computers for data collection. (more)

Horizons developed measures for key constructs that can be used in surveys for a variety of populations. In this section you’ll find the Gender-Equitable Men (GEM) scale and a stigma index, among other measurement tools. (more)

This OR Toolkit was funded by the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the generous support of the American people through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The opinions expressed herein are those of the Horizons Program and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.