Qualitative Methods for Public Health

Learning Outcomes

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Manage and analyse qualitative data.
• Orally present research ideas.
• Discuss the ethical considerations that relate to different types of qualitative data collection methods.

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Critically appraise qualitative studies.
• Present research findings appropriately.
• Design an effective qualitative proposal.
• Design effective qualitative studies and be able to understand and interpret interview talk.

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Practical skills in conducting interview and focus group research, and in the utilisation of thematic analysis.
• The philosophical foundations of qualitative research and how methodological considerations influence the research process.
• When and how to use a variety of qualitative approaches to data analysis with a focus on thematic analysis.
• When and how to use a variety of qualitative approaches to data collection, with an in-depth understanding of interviews and focus groups.
• How to appraise, review and report qualitative research.

• Introduction and approaches to qualitative methods
• Data collection decisions in qualitative research
• Data collection methods in qualitative research
• Planning focus groups and in-depth interviews
• Qualitative data analysis
• Thematic analysis
• How to report qualitative findings
• Qualitative synthesis and systematic reviewing
• Writing a qualitative proposal
• Philosophy & principles of ethics and rigour in qualitative research
• Critical appraisal

Teaching and learning methods

A variety of methods will be used including lectures that may include synchronous live sessions and/or asynchronous non-live sessions, active participatory methods, presentations by health researchers, e-learning/interactive tools for learning and self-assessment, guided reading, group study and individual study.

Resources & Reading list

Textbooks

Braun and Clarke (2013). Successful Qualitative Research. Sage.

Holloway I. (2008). A-Z of qualitative research in nursing and healthcare. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.

Green J, Thorogood N. (2018). Qualitative Methods for Health Research. Sage.

Silverman D. (2011). Interpreting Qualitative Data. Sage.

Bowling A. (2001). Research methods in health: Investigating health and health services. Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Assessment strategy

The assessment includes both formative and summative elements. There will be two components to the formative assessment i) an elevator pitch oral presentation and ii) a workshop on qualitative data collection and two components to the summative assessment i) a multiple choice question (MCQ) quiz and ii) a written qualitative research strategy.

The pass mark for the module and written component is 50%. You must also pass the online MCQ quiz by achieving the pass mark of 90% or above. If you fail the MCQ quiz you are allowed to take it again until you pass within the specified time period.

If you have failed the module, you will have the opportunity to submit work at the next referral (re-sit) opportunity. On passing your referral, your final module mark will be capped at 50%.

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External