Qualitative Health Research - Professional/Short course

Program Overview

This Level 7 (Masters level) module, "Qualitative Health Research," explores qualitative approaches to health and well-being research. It covers key methodologies, methods, and theoretical grounding, preparing students to conduct and analyze qualitative research projects. The module is delivered over 8 weeks, with assessment through a 3,000-word written assignment.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Overview:

This 15-credit level 7 (Masters level) module, "Qualitative Health Research," focuses on qualitative approaches to health and well-being research. It explores the key features of qualitative research methodologies and methods and provides a theoretical and conceptual grounding in this field. Completing this module prepares students for conducting qualitative research projects and critically analyzing qualitative studies.

Objectives:

• Identify the advantages and disadvantages of qualitative methods for health and well-being research.
• Utilize the main methods for generating data in qualitative research and conduct qualitative data analysis in primary research and synthesis.
• Understand how to present qualitative research in research papers and other publications.

Program Description:

This module delves into various aspects of qualitative research within health and well-being research. It covers topics such as:

• Definition and nomenclature of qualitative research
• Diverse methodological approaches (grounded theory, ethnography, phenomenology, narrative inquiry)
• The role of qualitative research in health research and evidence-based healthcare
• Ethical considerations in qualitative research
• Sampling strategies
• Reflexivity
• Quality criteria: validity, reliability, and rigor
• Critical appraisal of qualitative research
• Methods for qualitative data collection (interviews, observation, focus groups, online approaches)
• Methods for qualitative data analysis (basic principles, transcribing, coding, inductive and deductive analysis, thematic content analysis, framework approach, narrative analysis, discourse analysis)
• Qualitative approaches to evidence synthesis

Outline:

Content:

• Definition, nomenclature, and epistemology of qualitative research
• Traditions of qualitative research
• Diverse methodological approaches (grounded theory, ethnography, phenomenology, narrative inquiry)
• The role of qualitative research in health research and evidence-based healthcare
• Current methodological debates: value of qualitative research, ethics, sampling, reflexivity, quality criteria
• Methods for qualitative data collection (interviews, observation, focus groups, online approaches)
• Methods for qualitative data analysis (basic principles, transcribing, coding, inductive and deductive analysis, thematic content analysis, framework approach, narrative analysis, discourse analysis)
• Qualitative approaches to evidence synthesis

Structure:

• The module syllabus covers the topics listed above.
• The module is delivered over 8 consecutive weeks.

Individual Modules:

• This module is a single module.

Module Description:

• This single module covers all aspects of qualitative research in health and well-being research.

Assessment:

Assessment Methods:

• 3,000-word written assignment in two parts:
• Part 1: Analyze how qualitative approaches and methods are utilized in health and well-being research.

Faculty:

• The module director is Dr. Stuart McClean.

Outcomes:

• Completing the module prepares students for conducting qualitative research projects and critically analyzing qualitative studies.
This can be beneficial for various careers in health and well-being research, academia, and other fields.

Other:

• The module is offered as a stand-alone course or as part of an undergraduate or postgraduate (Masters level) program.
• Students are expected to provide their own headsets/microphones for online or blended learning delivery.
• Funding may be available for eligible students.