Join us for a day discussing all things qualitative data analysis

Learning objectives

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Develop appropriate research questions;
• Focus a literature review to ensure it is efficient and effective;
• Understand the range of qualitative methodologies and their underlying assumptions;
• Make appropriate choices between methodologies, data collection strategies and analytic methods
• Identify the audiences of their work and frame their dissemination accordingly.

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for postgraduate students and early career researchers in any discipline who are new to working with qualitative data (e.g. literature and documents, transcripts of interviews and focus groups, visual materials, social media and online content, open-ended survey responses etc.)

Course overview and aims

This course provides a thorough overview of the principles and practices of undertaking qualitative data analysis. Framed around the research cycle, we discuss and illustrate the interrelated activities undertaken as analysis progresses – from the paradigms and assumptions that underlie qualitative projects, through the practicalities of planning and implementing an analysis, to writing up, visualising and sharing findings. The aim of this course is to open up thinking about the range and flexibility of qualitative data analysis approaches and to equip participants with the necessary mindsets and frameworks to plan and undertake their own projects. The course is led by two facilitators and the number of participants is limited to ensure everyone has the opportunity to discuss their work-in-progress.

Topics

• The qualitative research cycle – planning and managing the iterative and cyclical nature of qualitative research
• Research in the wider landscape – research topics and objectives, reviewing the state of the art, developing research questions
• The role of methodology – underlying paradigms and assumptions, differences between methodologies and methods
• The ethics of working qualitatively – considerations for involving participants and representing their contributions
• From methodology to data collection – types of qualitative data, ways of collecting qualitative data, integrating different types of data in an analysis
• Analytic activities – integrate, organise, explore, reflect, interrogate
• Qualitative analytic strategies – qualitative approaches, mixed-methods analysis and quantifying qualitative data, focusing on the examples of Grounded theory, Content Analysis, Thematic Analysis, Discourse Analysis, Action Research
• Analysis exercise – small groups collaboratively analyse sample qualitative data using different strategies and compare and discuss their findings
• Collating insights and presenting a narrative – sharing findings with different audiences