We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Course image
Karen Andes, PhD

This course presents a detailed overview of qualitative methods of data collection, including observation, interviews, and focus group discussions. We will start with an in-depth overview of each method, explore how to plan for data collection, including developing data collection guides, and discuss techniques for managing data collection. For observation, we’ll focus on approaches with low levels of interaction with people and the environment (e.g. non-participant observation). We’ll talk about note-taking strategies, the use of observation guides, and approaches to writing up fieldnotes. For interviews, we’ll discuss development of effective question guides and demonstrate interviewing techniques. For focus group discussions, we’ll highlight moderation strategies and how to integrate activities into question guides to promote interaction in the group setting. Finally, we’ll briefly discuss the transcription process for recorded interviews and focus group discussions. Learners of this course will not only be able to put what they learn into practice, but they'll also develop a portfolio of qualitative research materials for career advancement.

Enroll now

What's inside

Syllabus

Observation
In this first week, we'll review structured and unstructured observation techniques, varying levels of participation, and writing up fieldnotes.
Read more
Interviews
This second week explores different interview designs, successful interviewing strategies, and questioning strategies often used in qualitative research.
Focus Group Discussions
In this third week, we'll discuss moderating focus group discussions, using activities, facilitating interactions, and planning for note-taking.
Transcription
In our final week of the course, we'll discuss the process and standards of transcription, interview three recent graduates on their projects, and explore developing an interview or focus group discussion guide.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Covers core qualitative methods, including observation, interviews, and focus group discussions, providing a solid foundation in qualitative research
Taught by Karen Andes, PhD, a recognized expert in qualitative research methods
Builds a strong foundation for beginners in qualitative research methods, making it suitable for learners new to the field
Focuses on practical applications, guiding learners through the steps of planning, conducting, and analyzing qualitative data
Includes a portfolio of qualitative research materials to aid in career advancement, demonstrating the practical value of the course

Save this course

Save Qualitative Data Collection Methods to your list so you can find it easily later:
Save

Reviews summary

Excellent qualitative data collection course

Learners say this well received course was excellent to learn about qualitative data collection methods for public health research. They found helpful resources like video lectures, readings, and exercises.
Course includes helpful exercises.
"I also love how after each new part, there is a small exercise, there is always additional reading aso and then a big end excersise that kinda builds up on the previous weeks."
Course offers additional reading for deeper understanding.
"I love the amount of additional reading Dr. Andes has incorporated into the syllabus."
Instructor is effective and efficient.
"First of all i would like to thank the course Instructor Prof. Karen Andes for being so effective and efficient in delivering the course so wonderfully."
"She made learning so simple and enjoyable."
Students dislike peer grading.
"Good course but I hated the fact that ALL of the assignments are peer-graded, I'd love some feedback from the tutors"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Qualitative Data Collection Methods with these activities:
Compile a library of qualitative research resources
Build a valuable reference for future research projects by compiling resources on qualitative research methods.
Browse courses on Research
Show steps
  • Gather online articles, textbooks, and videos on qualitative research methods
  • Organize the resources by topic or theme
  • Create a digital library or folder for easy access
Volunteer as a note-taker for a research project
Develop valuable observation skills and note-taking techniques through real-world experience in a research context.
Browse courses on Observation
Show steps
  • Identify a research project at a local university or organization that requires assistance with note-taking
  • Contact the researchers and offer your services
  • Attend the data collection sessions and take detailed notes
  • Organize and summarize the notes for the researchers
Review 'Conducting Qualitative Research Interviews'
Supplement course materials with a book specifically dedicated to interviewing techniques in qualitative research.
Show steps
  • Read the book thoroughly
  • Take notes and highlight key concepts
  • Reflect on how the book's insights can enhance your understanding of interview techniques
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Learn advanced observation techniques
Enhance observation skills with specialized techniques for collecting qualitative data.
Browse courses on Observation
Show steps
  • Find online tutorials or workshops on advanced observation techniques
  • Practice implementing these techniques in real-world settings
  • Seek feedback from an experienced observer
Participate in mock focus group discussions
Gain practical experience in moderating and participating in focus group discussions.
Show steps
  • Find a group of peers who are also enrolled in the course
  • Take turns moderating and participating in mock focus group discussions
  • Provide constructive feedback to each other
Practice transcribing qualitative data
Enhance data analysis skills by practicing transcription of qualitative data.
Browse courses on Transcription
Show steps
  • Obtain audio or video recordings of focus groups or interviews
  • Use transcription software or platforms to transcribe the recordings
  • Review the transcripts for accuracy and completeness
  • Compare your transcripts with those created by others to assess your skills
Develop a qualitative research proposal
Apply course learnings to design a compelling research proposal using qualitative methods.
Browse courses on Qualitative Research
Show steps
  • Identify a research topic that interests you and aligns with the course objectives
  • Develop a clear research question and objectives
  • Outline the qualitative research methods you plan to use
  • Write a convincing proposal that articulates your research plan
  • Share your proposal with others for feedback and refinement

Career center

Learners who complete Qualitative Data Collection Methods will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Sociologist
As a Sociologist, you will study the behavior and interactions within human societies on a smaller and larger scale. You will need to be able to interact with people from varying backgrounds and communicate with them. This Qualitative Data Collection Methods course will teach you how to collect data through observation and interviews, which are helpful ways to gather data in this role.
Market Researcher
Market Researchers are responsible for gathering and analyzing data about consumer behavior. This data is used to help businesses make decisions about product development, marketing campaigns, and pricing. This course will teach you the skills you need to collect and analyze data through observation and interviews, which are two important methods for gathering data on consumer behavior.
Journalist
Journalists are responsible for collecting, analyzing, and reporting on news and current events. They must be able to gather information from a variety of sources, including interviews, observations, and documents. This course will provide you with the skills you need to conduct effective interviews and observations, two essential methods for gathering information for news.
UX Researcher
UX Researchers are responsible for understanding the needs and wants of users of a product or service. Conduct research through observations and interviews with users will help provide valuable feedback to product development teams. They use this information to design products and services that are user-friendly and meet the needs of the users. This course will teach you the skills you need to conduct effective observation and interviews, which are two essential methods for gathering data on user needs.
Social Worker
Social Workers play an important role in providing support and assistance to individuals, families, and communities. They use observation and interviews to gather information about their clients' needs and to develop and implement plans to help them overcome challenges. This course will teach you the skills you need to conduct effective observation and interviews, which are essential methods for gathering information in social work.
Demographer
Demographers are responsible for studying populations and their characteristics. They conduct research through population data analysis, observations, and interviews to collect information about birth rates, death rates, and migration patterns. This course will teach you the skills you need to conduct effective observation and interviews, two essential methods for gathering data on populations.
Survey Researcher
Survey Researchers are responsible for designing, conducting, and analyzing surveys. They use surveys to collect information about people's opinions, attitudes, and behaviors. This course will teach you the skills you need to design effective surveys and conduct effective observation and interviews, which are two essential methods for gathering data through surveys.
Anthropologist
Anthropologists are responsible for studying the behavior and culture of humans. They conduct research through observations and interviews to gather information about human behavior and culture. This involves studying the social, cultural, and linguistic practices of different groups of people.
Psychologist
Psychologists are responsible for studying the mind and behavior. They conduct research through observations and interviews to gather information about the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral aspects of the human personality. This course will teach you the skills you need to conduct effective observation and interviews, which are essential methods for gathering information in psychology.
Economist
Economists are responsible for studying the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. They carry out research using econometric methods, statistical modeling, observations, and interviews to collect data about economic activity and trends.
Political Scientist
Political Scientists are responsible for studying the political systems and processes of a society. They carry out research through observations and interviews to gather information about how political systems work.
Historian
Historians are responsible for studying the past by examining historical documents and other sources. Qualitative Data Collection Methods may help you gain specific knowledge about the field of history.
Lawyer
Lawyers are responsible for advising and representing clients in legal matters. Some lawyers that specialize in family law might have a use for the skills and knowledge learned in this course, such as how to collect data through observations and interviews.
Doctor
Doctors are responsible for diagnosing and treating illnesses and diseases. Qualitative Data Collection Methods may help you gain specific knowledge about the medical field, but further education is required.
Engineer
Engineers are responsible for designing, building, and maintaining structures, machines, and other physical systems. Qualitative Data Collection Methods may help you gain specific knowledge about engineering, but further education is required.

Reading list

We've selected 13 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Qualitative Data Collection Methods.
Provides a comprehensive overview of qualitative research methods, including observation, interviews, and focus groups. It valuable resource for students and researchers who are new to qualitative research or who want to learn more about the different methods available.
This handbook provides a comprehensive overview of the field of qualitative research, including chapters on different qualitative methods, data analysis, and ethical issues. It valuable resource for students and researchers who want to learn more about qualitative research.
This encyclopedia provides a comprehensive overview of qualitative research methods, covering a wide range of topics such as data collection, data analysis, and ethical issues. It valuable resource for students and researchers who want to learn more about qualitative research.
Provides a comprehensive overview of qualitative data analysis methods. It covers topics such as coding, thematic analysis, and discourse analysis.
Provides a comprehensive overview of five different qualitative research designs: narrative, phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, and case study. It valuable resource for students and researchers who are trying to decide which qualitative research design to use for their study.
Provides a practical guide to grounded theory, a qualitative research method that is used to develop theories from data. It covers topics such as collecting data, coding data, and writing a grounded theory report.
Provides a comprehensive overview of ethnography and participant observation, two qualitative research methods that are used to study culture and social interaction. It valuable resource for students and researchers who are new to these methods or who want to learn more about them.
Provides a comprehensive overview of case study research, a qualitative research method that is used to study complex phenomena in real-world settings. It covers topics such as designing case studies, collecting data, and analyzing case study data.
Provides a comprehensive overview of interviewing, a qualitative research method that is used to collect data from people. It covers topics such as planning for interviews, conducting interviews, and analyzing interview data.
Provides a practical guide to conducting focus groups as a qualitative research method. It covers topics such as planning for focus groups, moderating focus groups, and analyzing focus group data.
Provides a comprehensive overview of discourse analysis, a qualitative research method that is used to study language and communication. It valuable resource for students and researchers who are new to discourse analysis or who want to learn more about it.
Provides a comprehensive overview of visual research methods, a qualitative research method that is used to study images and visual data. It covers topics such as collecting visual data, analyzing visual data, and writing about visual data.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Similar courses

Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2024 OpenCourser