This course introduces qualitative research, compares and contrasts qualitative and quantitative research approaches, and provides an overview of qualitative methods for data collection. It outlines a step-by-step approach to qualitative research design that begins by identifying a public health topic of interest, works to hone in on a specific research problem, and then specifies research questions, objectives, and specific aims. The course emphasizes the iterative nature of research design in qualitative inquiry and highlights the importance of specifying a population of interest, an appropriate sampling strategy, and potential approaches to recruitment. It introduces the relationship between these considerations and key concepts such as saturation and transferability in qualitative research. Finally, the course considers ethical concerns specific to qualitative research and potential solutions. Learners of this course will not only be able to put what they learn into practice, but they'll also develop a portfolio of qualitative research materials for career advancement.
Qualitative Research Design
This course is part of Qualitative Research Design and Methods for Public Health Specialization
Taught in English
Some content may not be translated
Instructor: Karen Andes, PhD
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What you'll learn
Design a qualitative research project to respond to specific public health problems/questions.
Design strategies and instruments for qualitative data collection linked to study objectives and appropriate for the population of interest.
Address ethical concerns in qualitative research design and implementation.
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There are 6 modules in this course
In this first week, you'll get the chance to explore characteristics and approaches of both qualitative and quantitative research, understand their differences, and acknowledge how both are complementary.
What's included
6 videos4 readings1 quiz1 peer review
This week, we'll look at two types of data that can be collected and dive into the three main data collection methods used in qualitative studies. Finally, we'll wrap up by discussing the concept of saturation and consider the lingering question, "how much data is enough?"
What's included
6 videos2 readings1 quiz1 peer review
In our third week, we'll discuss how to develop a problem statement from a topic of interest, craft research questions and aims, and discuss how this process all relates to objective-driven design.
What's included
5 videos2 readings1 quiz1 peer review
For our fourth week, we'll take a look at how to choose data collection methods that are best suited for your aims, explore the various sampling and recruitment strategies to select participants, and finally consider how research design is an iterative process.
What's included
6 videos2 readings1 quiz1 peer review
Our fifth week is all about ethical considerations in qualitative research. As researchers, we need to be aware and take precautions to ensure our work with human subjects is never exploitative, deceitful, or harmful. We'll go over the key ethical principles to keep in mind when beginning a qualitative study.
What's included
4 videos3 readings1 quiz1 peer review1 discussion prompt
In this final week, you'll combine all items of your research design for a final submission. We'll also review real cases of graduates in the MPH program to see the different approaches that can be taken.
What's included
5 videos2 readings1 peer review
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