Qualitative research methods for global public health - Online
Postgraduate course
- ECTS credits
- 5
- Teaching semesters
- Spring
- Course code
- INTH323O
- Number of semesters
- 1
- Teaching language
- English
- Resources
- Schedule
Course description
Objectives and Content
Aim
The course is taught on-line and aims to provide a space for students in global health to engage in critical assessment and application of qualitative research methods in a scientifically rigorous manner. The course gives an introduction to basic concepts and assumptions in qualitative research, qualitative research designs, and various approaches to data collection and analysis. Students will design a mini research project and will apply qualitative methods in a fieldwork research exercise.
The main topics covered
- Theoretical foundation of qualitative research methodology
- Characteristics of qualitative research, their strengths and limitations
- Research methodologies
- How to design a qualitative research project
- Data collection methods: In-depth interview, Focus Group Discussion and Participant observation
- How to develop interview / topic guides
- How to analyse qualitative data
- How to report findings
- Research ethics, confidentiality and informed consent
- Rigour and trustworthiness in qualitative research
Learning Outcomes
On completion of the course
the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:
Knowledge
The student is able to
Explain the general principles of qualitative research
Define a research question that needs a qualitative research approach
Describe the main data collection methods (interviews, focus group discussions and observation) and the rationale for their use
Restate the principles of qualitative content analysis
Explain challenges of confidentiality and informed consent
Discuss how to assess trustworthiness in qualitative research reports
Skills
The student is able to
Design a small scale qualitative research project
Develop interview guides
Conduct in-depth interviewing
Transcripe interviews verbatim
Apply the principles for coding and qualitative content analysis
Appraise the strengths and limitations of qualitative research
Apply the principles for appraising the trustworthiness of quality research
General competence
The student is able to
Apply knowledge and skills in qualitative research in other projects
Communicate results from qualitative research and master the language and terminology of the qualitative research tradition
Level of Study
Semester of Instruction
Required Previous Knowledge
Proficiency in English at a level corresponding to TOEFL 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based) or IELTS band 6.0 is expected and basic knowledge of qualitative research methods.
Access to the Course
Students admitted to a Master's Degree Programme may join this course (e.g. tropEd European Network).
Other eligible students from other masters programmes
Teaching and learning methods
Web-based lectures (reading web-based texts, videos, small exercises) 35%.
Participation in moderated discussion boards 20%. Groups of students will be given questions for discussion, and a moderator/teacher will participate in each discussion for a limited period of time.
Group proposal development exercise. Students will study in teams to develop a mini research project proposal. Help and advice will be given to the groups of students from the professor during this process 10%.
Group mini research exercise: Students will study in teams to formulate, design, develop and carry out a small qualitative research project using one or more of the methods discussed in the course. Students will analyse the results together, and deliver presentations during the final session of the course 35%.
Total: 125 hours SIT
- Individual studies of web-based lectures (text reading, videos and small exercises/quizzes): 45 hours
- Participation in web-based discussions in groups of student, moderated by professor: 20 hours
- Assignments of 60 hours:
- Development of a project proposal for research, together with a team of students (10 hours)
- Development of a mini research report from a mini research exercise performed by a team of students (40 hours)
- Development of a written individual reflection report (10 hours)
Forms of Assessment
Portfolio assessment:
- Counts 20%: A group mini research project proposal: A word document of minimum 400, maximum 600 words plus appendices including informed consent form and data collection tools.
- Counts 40%: A group mini research report: A word document of minimum 1500, maximum 2500 words.
- Counts 40%: Individual report on methodological challenges in the mini research exercise: A word document of minimum 1000, maximum 2000 words.
Grading Scale
ECTS A-F