Table 2. Three phases of COP research following seven stage model of formative research.

Research phase	Formative research stage	Year	Core activities	Role of social scientist
Phase one Baseline data collected prior to intervention Identify problems Generate and weigh intervention options, Work out details of intervention strategies	Formative research stages 1–4	2010–2011	Three social scientists conduct focused ethnographies related to BU Former BU patients and community members Health system and staff Community health workers Traditional Healers	Ethnography Health service Research Action research to identify potential intervention strategies
Phase two (two parts) Proof of concept study (POC) Intervention implementation and refinement Pilot study (PS) Intervention implementation, monitoring, problem solving	Formative research Stage 5–6	* POC 2011–2012 * PS 2013–2015	POC: Implementation of intervention in early stages Monitor and make suggestions for mid- course correction PS Year one: social scientists facilitate implementation Year two: Hospital and clinic staff take over implementation	POC: Implementation research; social scientists as facilitators PS Year one: social scientists facilitate Year two: Social scientists monitor only
Phase three Evaluation	Formative research stage 7	2016	Outcome evaluation Process evaluation: shifts in social relations, partnerships, task shifting and task sharing, role identity, new norms and practices Impact evaluation: impact on stakeholder relations and health care seeking beyond BU	Ethnography: Interviews, case studies, observations of stakeholder meetings, focus groups Data triangulation from mixed methods Evaluation (Qualitative and quantitative data)