Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods for Public Health

HPM 559 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

Understanding how to effectively use qualitative research to inform health practice and policy is an essential skill for public health students and professionals. This online course provides an introduction to qualitative methods for students interested in either using or conducting qualitative research to inform health policy and practice. The course is designed to introduce students to fundamental questions, principles, and skills necessary to design, conduct, interpret and evaluate qualitative research. In doing so, we take a critical approach to exploring theoretical and philosophical foundations of high quality, ethical qualitative research, while also building practical knowledge and skills for designing qualitative research and using core qualitative methods. 

We begin by considering the question “why qualitative research?”, examining the value of qualitative methodologies for health research and critically reflecting on the philosophical foundations of qualitative approaches. Throughout the course, we explore the implications of such foundational assumptions for designing, conducting and evaluating qualitative research in ways that recognize how both health and research are enmeshed within broader social relations and structures. Course sessions also focus on developing practical skills for conducting qualitative research including: generating data through interviews, focus groups, and observations, and analyzing qualitative data. Students will have opportunities to design and plan qualitative studies, to conduct and evaluate interviews, to practice analyzing qualitative data, to debate ethical dilemmas, and to reflect on our positionalities and roles as public health researchers working in diverse contexts. As an introductory level course, it necessarily aims to cover a breadth of topics; it does not, therefore, provide in-depth or advanced coverage of any one aspect of qualitative data collection or analysis.

This is an online course which includes weekly video lectures, readings and activities (e.g. contributing to discussion boards) to be completed asynchronously. In addition, there are a small number of optional synchronous online discussion sessions. (Asynchronous, written alternatives are available for those who don’t attend.) Work in small groups is a central component of the course. Assessment is based on participation in weekly activities and two assignments to be completed over the course of the semester with support and formative feedback from the teaching team.