Introduction to Qualitative Research

Description:

Overview:

Qualitative research seeks to understand people’s lived experiences and to answer questions about meaning and perspective, including from the standpoint of the participants themselves. It is particularly effective in obtaining culturally specific information about the values, views, behaviours, and contexts of particular groups.

This one-day course provides participants with an introduction to the key principles and benefits of qualitative research which must be considered in a research design. This includes the different functions of qualitative research, and the main methods and techniques employed in qualitative studies such as interviews, focus groups and observations. It provides guidance on the design of effective qualitative research questions and research instruments, sampling in qualitative research, data analysis techniques, and ethical considerations. We also consider the importance of reflexivity and how to evaluate and ensure quality in your qualitative work.

The training is delivered via a combination of presentations, discussions, and practical activities. It is designed to equip participants to confidently implement their own qualitative design in applied research projects and/or evaluations in a range of settings.

By the end of the course participants will be able to confidently design their own qualitative study.

 

We cover:

- The principles and functions of qualitative research;

- Research and question design: the type of questions which qualitative approaches address;

- Methods and techniques of qualitative research including: interviews, focus groups, and observations;

- Sampling in qualitative research;

- Mixed methods: what qualitative research can add;

- Key qualitative data analysis techniques;

- Ethics, rigour and reflexivity in qualitative research.

 

Who should attend?

This course will be useful for researchers who are new to qualitative research or who wish to brush up on their qualitative knowledge and skills. This includes doctoral students and academics. Researchers using qualitative methods in government, policy, consultancy, social research organisations and charities will also find this training useful.

Please note: this is an interactive live course with presentation, group activities, group discussions, and opportunities to ask questions. You should be prepared to participate and have use of camera and mic on Zoom.

 

Trainer biography

Dr Karen Lumsden is a qualitative trainer, consultant and coach, and Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Aberdeen, UK.

She has over 20 years’ experience delivering qualitative methods courses and training to academics, PhD students, social researchers, and practitioners. This includes courses at the Universities of Aberdeen, Glasgow, Essex, Auckland, Kingston, via the Social Research Association and the European Consortium for Political Research, and also for government departments, NHS, charities, police organisations, social research and market research organisations. She has has written and edited a number of books and journal articles on qualitative methods including Crafting Autoethnography (Routledge, 2023) and Reflexivity: Theory, Method, Practice (2019). She is on the Editorial Board of the journal Qualitative Research. For more details of her services visit: www.qualitativetraining.com

 

Bookings:

Bookings for this course can be made via Eventbrite tickets. If your organisation requires payment to be made via invoice please contact me directly to check if this will be possible. I only issue invoices for UK based organisations or individuals and confirm booking/s when payment terms are mutually agreed and confirmed in writing prior to the event date.

 

Refund policy:

There is a 14 day 'cooling off' period from the date of booking on this course. The refund policy is 100% refund up to 25 working days prior to the course date. This does not include the Eventbrite ticket fee which is non-refundable. After 25 days the entire course fee is payable.

If the course is fully booked and has a waiting list then transfer to another course or future course date might be possible, however this is at the discretion of the trainer.

Please note that Dr Karen Lumsden delivers a range of courses for other training providers in addition to these Qualitative Training courses. She takes no responsibility or liability for individuals booking on similar courses or training with other providers which may contain similar or the same course content. Refunds will not be given under these circumstances once the training has been partly/fully consumed.

Cost:

£140 (discounted rate for PhD students or unwaged)
£180 (full rate)

Website and registration:

Register for this course

Region:

International

Keywords:

Qualitative sampling, Qualitative Interviewing, Qualitative interview design, Focus groups, Unstructured/ ethnographic observation, Participant observation , Data Quality and Data Management , Quality in Qualitative Research, Qualitative Data Handling and Data Analysis, qualitative

Related publications and presentations from our eprints archive:

Qualitative sampling
Qualitative Interviewing
Qualitative interview design
Focus groups
Unstructured/ ethnographic observation
Participant observation
Data Quality and Data Management
Quality in Qualitative Research
Qualitative Data Handling and Data Analysis

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