Qualitative Methods

Prof Mary Bosworth and Dr Estelle Zinsstag

This course introduces students to different methods of qualitative inquiry, data gathering, analysis and reporting.  We will consider when the use of qualitative methods are appropriate and also question the assumed polarity between qualitative and quantitative approaches. Special emphasis will be given throughout the course to ethical issues and cross-cultural and comparative research practices.  Students will study examples of research techniques and carry out applied practice themselves.  Interviews and more contemporary forms of data capture such as visual methodologies and the internet will also be covered in the course and students will have the opportunity to analyse data using NVivo (a qualitative computerized data analysis programme).