Qualitative Research Methods

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved

Course Description Version:4.00

Study Course Accepted:29.08.2024 11:14:18

Study Course Information
Course Code:		SVUEK_011		LQF level:		Level 7
Credit Points:		6.00		ECTS:		9.00
Branch of Science:		Sociology; Theory and History of Sociology		Target Audience:		Medical Services
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:		Inese Stars
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:		Institute of Public Health
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:		Riga, Kronvalda bulvāris 9, svekrsu[pnkts]lv, +371 67338307
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)		12	Lecture Length (academic hours)		4	Total Contact Hours of Lectures		48
Classes (count)		12	Class Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Classes		24
Total Contact Hours								72
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
Research methodology, knowledge of social sciences (sociology, social anthropology, psychology), public health.
Objective:
To provide information to students about qualitative research methodologies, the ideological nature of the diversity of methods and application possibilities in public health, health care. Present qualitative research philosophical paradigm, research principles and widespread use. Show basic strategy review, which is necessary for qualitative research. Develop a critical understanding of the qualitative research advantages and disadvantages.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.	Topic			Type of Implementation		Number	Venue
1	History of qualitative research, philosophical foundations. Definitions of qualitative research.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
2	Application of qualitative research, especially - in health care research.			Classes		2.00	auditorium
3	Specific attributes of qualitative research.			Classes		2.00	auditorium
4	Research paradigms in qualitative reseach: phenomenolgy, grounded theory, etnography, case study.			Lectures		2.00	auditorium
5	Phenomenological, grounded theory, etnographic, case study resarch in health care.			Classes		4.00	auditorium
6	The design of qualitative research: research problem, purpose, question. Sample issues. Purposeful sample.			Lectures		4.00	auditorium
7	Developing teh research problem, purpose statement, research question in qualitative resarch.			Classes		2.00	auditorium
8	Interview as qualitative research method.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
9	Focus group discussion as a research method in qualitative research.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
10	Participant observation as a research method in qualitative research.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
11	Data analysis in qualitative research. Thematic analysis.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
12	Thematic analysis - practical work.			Classes		2.00	auditorium
13	Validity and reliability issues in qualitative research.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
Assessment
Unaided Work:
1. Development of a qualitative research application. 2. Searching databases, reading, describing and summarizing three scientific articles that reflect research on health topics using qualitative research methods. 3. Establishment of a protocol of semi-structured interview questions. 4. Coding of qualitative interview material.
Assessment Criteria:
1. Presentation of scientific articles (15%). 2. A protocol of semi-structured interview questions (15%). 3. A qualitative research application (20%). 4. Written exam after mastering the study subject (combined exam - multiple choice answers and free answer questions) (50%).
Final Examination (Full-Time):		Exam (Written)
Final Examination (Part-Time):
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:		To describe the philosophical assumptions of qualitative research, to recognize and identify the main types of qualitative research, to explain the differences in the type of study, its offered research opportunities and the suitability of a particular research problem, to organize the study design stages, to tell about reliability and validity theoretical aspects, including the problems associated with the reliability of qualitative research and their possible solutions, to explain the ethical issues in qualitative research.
Skills:		To choose a most appropriate types of qualitative research for concrete scientific problem, to defend their research ideas, to generate and formulate the research problem, objectives, and the question / s, choose the correct sampling method; create an in-depth interview question protocol, to make thematic text analysis in given interview material, to discuss (analyze) the studies that used qualitative research methods.
Competencies:		Develop a qualitative research plan, integrating social knowledge and public health knowledge.
Bibliography
No.	Reference
Required Reading
1	Green J., Thorogood N. (2014) Qualitative Methods for Health Research. SAGE Publication, London.
2	Pope C., Mays N. (ed.) (2020) Qualitative Research in Health Care. Blackwell Publishing.
3	Cropley Arthur (2002) Qualitative Research Methods: an Introduction for Students of Psychology and Education. (akceptējams izdevums)
4	Ulin R.P., Robinson E.T., Tolley E.E. (2016) Qualitative Methods in Public Health: a Field Guide for Applied Research. USA.
Additional Reading
1	Creswell. John W. (2018) Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Traditions. SAGE Publications. Thousand Oaks. London.
2	Silverman D. (2022) Doing Qualitative Research: A Practical Handbook. SAGE Publications. Thousand oaks.
Other Information Sources
1	žurnāls „Qualitative Health Research”