Qualitative Methodologies, Data Collection and Analytic Approaches

Note: This course was previously entitled "Introduction to Qualitative Research Techniques".  

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Note re laptops:

Laptops are not required for this course.

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This introductory course is designed for the individual with no background in research or with no previous experience with qualitative techniques of data collection and analysis.  The course will combine lectures and practical 'workshops'.  Time will also be set aside for participants to discuss their own research.  Topics scheduled are:

 

 

(Monday) Introductory session. Outline of the course and identification of participants’ research interests and expectations. Framing. Theory driven, theory generating post modern and post structural research.  Types of qualitative research – various approaches. Issues of Qualitative design: sampling; triangulation; validity and reliability and ethics. 
 

(Tuesday) Interviewing. Casual and formal techniques of interviewing (access, rapport, recording, and types of questions).  Data storage: transcribing interviews, preliminary analysis by themes, recursive techniques of data collection. Workshop on interviewing. Group interviews.
 

(Wednesday) Focus groups and participant observation.  Workshop on running a focus group. The  technique of participant observation - usage, ethical issues and procedures involved.  Workshop on observation and writing up observation sessions. Preliminary data analysis on interviewing and observation data.
 

(Thursday) Data analysis. Types of analysis. Analysis during and after data collection.  Workshop on thematic analysis and developing a coding system.  Content analysis techniques and issues.  Workshops on content and discourse analysis (cultural rather than linguistic).
 

(Friday) Writing up data for different types of research. Thesis, articles, and reports.  Techniques of data presentation and display.  In the afternoon, time will be given over to participants’ research problems, or the further investigation of any areas which participants would like explored.

 

While most ACSPRI courses finish just before 3pm on the Friday, this course typically finishes around lunchtime. Time is generally made up during lunch breaks throughout the week (one-on-one consultation).

 
Level 1 - runs over 5 days
Instructor: 
Emeritus Professor Carol Grbich is a Social Epidemiologist from Flinders University, South Australia.  Her previous appointments were in the School of Behavioural Health Sciences at Latrobe University and in the School of Education at Monash University. She is an experienced researcher and teacher of qualitative research and is the author of 7 qualitative textbooks including; Qualitative Research in Health: An introduction (Sage International, 1999); New Approaches in Social Research (London Sage publications, 2004) and Qualitative Data Analysis (London Sage Publications, 2013). She was the foundation Editor of one of the two International Journals whose focus is on mixed research methods and is the recipient of over $80 million in research grants.
Course dates: Monday 2 February 2015 - Friday 6 February 2015
Course status: Course completed (no new applicants)
Venue: 
University of Melbourne, Parkville Campus (City)
Week: 
Week 2
Recommended Background: 

None.

Recommended Texts: 

• Grbich, C., Qualitative Research in Health: An Introduction, Sydney: Allen and Unwin and Sage International, 1999.
• Grbich, C. New Approaches in Social Research. London: Sage Publications 2004
• Denzin, N., and Y. Lincoln, Handbook of Qualitative Research, California: Sage, 2000.
• Kellehear, A., The Unobtrusive Researcher, Sydney: Allen and Unwin, 1993.
• Minichiello, V., R. Aroni, E. Timewell, and L. Alexander, In-Depth Interviewing: Researching People, (2nd ed), Melbourne: Longman Cheshire, 1995.
 

Course fees
Member: 
$1,800
Non Member: 
$3,230
Full time student Member: 
$1,800
Program: 
Summer Program 2015