Overview
This set of six one-day courses aims to equip you with the knowledge and skills to understand, design and conduct high quality qualitative research.
You can attend all courses (at a reduced rate) or book specific days individually.
By attending all six days you'll:
- gain a clear understanding of the principles of qualitative research
- practise skills including interviewing, running a focus group, data analysis, and developing and presenting a research protocol
This course is run by UCL's Research Department of Primary Care and Population Health (PCPH), based at the UCL Royal Free campus, Hampstead, London.
Who this course is for
It's aimed at MSc and PhD students, as well as those working in academic research or health, who carry out (or plan to carry out) qualitative research.
You don't need to have any previous experience of qualitative research.
If you're an MSc student at UCL you can take this course as one of your modules for 15 credits. You'll need to get the approval of your MSc lead.
Course content
Details of what each of the one-day courses will cover:
- Day 1: Understanding qualitative research methods
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Lead: Dr Julia Bailey
This course will help you understand the basis on which qualitative methodology is selected as a research approach.
You'll:
- learn about the philosophical debates around qualitative research
- contrast qualitative and quantitative approaches
- discuss the place of qualitative research in health and medicine
You'll also critique a published paper of a qualitative study. This will help you reflect on a completed study and consider not only the methodological approach and selection of methods, but also practical aspects such as sampling, what counts as data, the position of the researcher, data analysis, and application of findings.
Learning objectives
By the end of this one-day course you'll:
- understand some of the philosophical debates that inform qualitative research
- be able to describe the principles of qualitative research design
- know when qualitative research designs are appropriate
- have an overview of the dilemmas and debates associated with qualitative research design
- Day 2: Qualitative interviewing - theory and practice
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Lead: Jaimie Ross
On this course you'll learn about qualitative research interviewing techniques and developing topic guides.
You'll explore structured, semi-structured and in-depth interview methods and their application, using real world examples. However, the emphasis will be on semi-structured interview techniques.
You'll also learn about and discuss:
- the importance of different communication styles and researcher reflexivity
- practical issues such as sampling and structuring questions
Throughout the day you'll be encouraged to think of an area of research around which you'll structure and produce a topic guide for use in a practical session on the day.
As far as possible, the day is tailored towards research that those attending are planning/doing.
Learning objectives
By the end of this one-day course you'll be able to:
- describe and distinguish between structured, semi-structured and 'in-depth' interviewing
- formulate and construct a topic guide
- apply and evaluate some key interviewing skills
- Day 3: Focus groups in qualitative research - theory and practice
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Lead: Lorraine McDonagh
This course will introduce you to focus groups - a key qualitative research method.
You'll learn about the:
- different stages of the research process where focus groups can be used
- types of research questions that lend themselves to this approach
- practicalities of sampling, convening and conducting focus groups, including issues to consider when researching sensitive topics
You'll also practise your communication and group facilitation skills.
Throughout the day you'll be encouraged to think of an area of research around which you'll structure and produce a topic guide for use in a practical session on the day.
Learning objectives
By the end of this one-day course you'll be able to:
- explain when and how to use focus groups
- design a topic guide for a focus group study
- organise and facilitate a focus group
- Day 4: Qualitative data analysis
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Leads: Dr Fiona Stevenson and Dr Nathan Davies
On this one-day course you'll discuss a range of ways of conducting qualitative data analysis and the rationales for different approaches.
You'll be encouraged to critically reflect on how decisions made throughout research affect the type and extent of analysis possible. The importance of decisions about transcription are also stressed.
You'll consider the place of data management software in qualitative analysis. You won't be taught how to use particular software packages, but you'll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using these.
You'll conduct a thematic analysis on a piece of data, and reflect on and consider the best approach for your own work.
As far as possible, the day is tailored towards research that those attending are planning/doing.
Please note: this course does not provide training in the use of Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis packages
Learning objectives
By the end of this one-day course you'll be able to:
- distinguish between different types of qualitative data analysis
- recognise the importance of decisions relating to transcribing, reflexivity, field notes, double coding and data management
- consider various approaches to analysis
- understand the principles and practicalities of conducting a basic thematic analysis
- evaluate the benefits of Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis for your projects
- Day 5: Designing a qualitative study
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Leads: Jane Wilcock and Rachael Frost
In this interactive course you'll plan your own qualitative study design.
You'll work in a small group, with an experienced tutor, and have plenty of one-to-one discussion and advice on qualitative study design.
The morning is spent planning studies. In the afternoon you'll present your study design proposal to tutors and other students in small groups, and discuss research issues arising from the proposed studies.
Learning objectives
By the end of this one-day course you'll be able to:
- write clear research questions
- understand the principles of (and debates about) quality in qualitative research
- plan a qualitative research study, specifying the details of how a study will be carried out
- present (on flip charts) a summary of your study design
- discuss the rationale for chosen study designs
- Day 6: Writing qualitative research
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Lead: Julia Bailey
On this course you'll learn how to write up qualitative research (e.g. a research paper). This will also cover how to describe qualitative research for an academic/medical audience.
You'll learn about what constitutes good writing, and practise conveying your ideas clearly in writing. You'll also discuss solutions to barriers and blocks to writing.
You'll develop your own plans for your research writing.
Learning objectives
By the end of this one-day course you'll:
- understand the debates and dilemmas in how to describe qualitative research for a (medical) academic audience
- be able to convey ideas clearly on paper
- be able to identify barriers and blocks to writing
- have an outline plan for your own writing
Dates and times
Each day runs from 9am to 5pm. The courses will next run on:
- Day 1: Understanding qualitative research methods - 4 November 2019
- Day 2: Qualitative interviewing - 5 November 2019
- Day 3: Focus groups in qualitative research - 6 November 2019
- Day 4: Qualitative data analysis - 7 November 2019
- Day 5: Designing a qualitative study - 8 November 2019
- Day 6: Writing qualitative research - 6 December 2019
Teaching and assessment
The sessions involve a range of teaching styles, including group work, practical tasks and discussion.
Learning will be assessed through planning and writing a protocol for a qualitative research project.
You'll be required to do about one hour of reading in advance of each day course.
Learning outcomes
On completion of all six courses you should be able to:
- understand some of the philosophical debates that inform qualitative research
- describe and distinguish between structured, semi-structured and 'in-depth' interviewing
- explain when and how to use focus groups
- distinguish between different types of qualitative data analysis
- write clear qualitative research question/s
- understand debates and dilemmas in how to describe qualitative research for an academic audience
Cost
The fees are:
- £1,300 for all six days
- £1,150 for five days (Days 1 to 5)
- £250 per one-day course
The fee covers the cost of tuition, course materials and food and refreshments. Accommodation and travel aren't included.
Further information
More information about these courses can be found on the PCPH's website.
If you have any questions about the course content, please email Fiona Stevenson (f.stevenson@ucl.ac.uk) or Julia Bailey (julia.bailey@ucl.ac.uk).
For administrative queries, please contact Ayan Robleh (a.robleh@ucl.ac.uk).
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Course information last modified: 02 May 2019, 16:11
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