Qualitative Research Design from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to Qualitative Research

In this first week, you'll get the chance to explore characteristics and approaches of both qualitative and quantitative research, understand their differences, and acknowledge how both are complementary.

Qualitative Methods

This week, we'll look at two types of data that can be collected and dive into the three main data collection methods used in qualitative studies. Finally, we'll wrap up by discussing the concept of saturation and consider the lingering question, "how much data is enough?"

Objective-Driven Design

In our third week, we'll discuss how to develop a problem statement from a topic of interest, craft research questions and aims, and discuss how this process all relates to objective-driven design.

Methods, Population, Sampling, & Recruitment

For our fourth week, we'll take a look at how to choose data collection methods that are best suited for your aims, explore the various sampling and recruitment strategies to select participants, and finally consider how research design is an iterative process.

Research Ethics

Our fifth week is all about ethical considerations in qualitative research. As researchers, we need to be aware and take precautions to ensure our work with human subjects is never exploitative, deceitful, or harmful. We'll go over the key ethical principles to keep in mind when beginning a qualitative study.

Course Project and Design Examples

In this final week, you'll combine all items of your research design for a final submission. We'll also review real cases of graduates in the MPH program to see the different approaches that can be taken.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Introduces qualitative research and provides learners with a good foundation

Compares and contrasts qualitative and quantitative research approaches

Provides an overview of qualitative methods for data collection

Outlines a step-by-step approach to qualitative research design

Develops skills in specifying a population of interest, an appropriate sampling strategy, and potential approaches to recruitment

Covers ethical concerns specific to qualitative research and potential solutions

Reviews summary

Highly rated qualitative research course

Learners say this excellent course on qualitative research design is well-received, with engaging assignments and easy-to-understand lectures that improved their understanding of the subject. They especially appreciated the in-depth insights and practical examples provided. The instructor is eloquent and knowledgeable, making complex concepts accessible to beginners.

The course provides a range of useful resources, including videos, readings, and lectures.

"Good course and useful resources"

"This course offers more in-depth learning that I wouldn't have gotten via my Epidemiology course."

"I like the videos and the selected lectures which I can use from now on."

Learners found the assignments to be fair and helpful in applying the concepts they learned.

"Assignments were fair and helpful in helping to apply what was learned from the lectures/reading."

"Enjoyed the content and resources provided."

"I really appreciated the examples and the ability to listen to several students projects."

The instructor's explanations and lectures are praised for their clarity and effectiveness.

"The instructor was very eloquent and good at explaining concepts."

"It was excellent lecture by Dr Karren Andes and nice to be a student of this course!"

"Good introduction to qualitative research. The course is easy to understand, so beginners need not worry."

Overwhelmingly positive reviews indicate that learners found this course valuable and enjoyable.

"excellent work"

"It opens a door"

"This course is really beneficial for me."

There is a potential issue with certificate sharing that needs to be addressed.

"There is a problem at the end of this course. The certificate is not fully sharable."

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 Research Design with these activities:

Review "Introduction to Qualitative Research"

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This book provides a comprehensive overview of qualitative research methods and will help you build a strong foundation for the course.

View Qualitative Research on Amazon

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Read Chapter 1-3
Take notes on key concepts and terms
Summarize the main points of each chapter

Review Basic Statistics

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Basic statistics knowledge is helpful for understanding how to analyze qualitative data.

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Review notes or materials from a previous statistics course
Take a practice quiz or work through some practice problems
Meet with a tutor or instructor if you need additional help

Develop a Research Question

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Developing a research question is an essential first step in the qualitative research process. This activity will help you develop the skills you need to identify a topic and formulate a clear research question.

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Identify a public health topic of interest
Develop a research question that is focused, clear, and relevant
Write a brief summary of your research question and its significance

Five other activities

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Attend a Qualitative Research Discussion Group

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Attending a qualitative research discussion group is a great way to learn from other researchers and get feedback on your own work.

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Find a qualitative research discussion group that is open to students
Attend a discussion group meeting and participate in the discussion
Share your own work with the group and get feedback

Create a Research Proposal Outline

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This activity will help you develop a comprehensive outline for your research proposal. An outline will help you organize your thoughts and ensure that your proposal is well-structured and easy to follow.

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List the main sections of your research proposal
Develop a brief outline for each section
Get feedback on your outline from a peer or mentor

Using NVivo for Qualitative Data Analysis

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NVivo is a software program that can be used for qualitative data analysis. This activity will provide you with an overview of the basic features of NVivo and how to use it to analyze qualitative data.

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Watch a tutorial on NVivo
Follow the steps in the tutorial to analyze a small dataset
Read the NVivo documentation to learn more about the software

Create a Literature Review on Qualitative Research Methods

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This activity will help you develop a comprehensive understanding of qualitative research methods and their applications in public health.

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Search for and identify relevant literature on qualitative research methods
Read and summarize the literature
Write a literature review that synthesizes the key findings of your research

Participate in a Qualitative Research Contest

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Participating in a qualitative research contest is a great way to test your skills and get feedback from experts in the field.

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Find a qualitative research contest that is open to students
Develop a research proposal and submit it to the contest
Present your research at the contest if you are selected as a finalist

Career center

Learners who complete Qualitative Research Design will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Qualitative Research Analyst

This course introduces qualitative research design, and provides an overview of qualitative methods for data collection. Graduates of this course can qualify as entry-level Qualitative Research Analysts, who collect and interpret data through interviews, surveys, and observations. The course description mentions that it covers objective-driven design, which is a key component of research analysis.

See salaries and explore the career path for Qualitative Research Analyst

Market Researcher

Market Researchers design, implement, analyze, and interpret market research to gain insights into customer needs, wants, and preferences. The data gathered by Market Researchers is used to help companies make better decisions about product development, marketing, and sales. This course covers qualitative methods for data collection, and provides an overview of qualitative research design, which are both essential skills for Market Researchers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Market Researcher

Social Worker

Social Workers provide support and assistance to individuals, families, and communities facing challenges. They work with clients to identify their needs and develop plans to address them. This course covers qualitative methods for data collection, which can be used by Social Workers to better understand the needs of their clients and develop effective interventions.

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Public Health Researcher

Public Health Researchers design, implement, and analyze research studies to improve the health of populations. They work with communities to identify health problems and develop interventions to address them.

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Policy Analyst

Policy Analysts research and analyze public policy issues. They provide policymakers with information and recommendations to help them make informed decisions.

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Health Educator

Health Educators develop and implement educational programs to promote healthy behaviors and prevent disease. They work with individuals, groups, and communities to improve their health knowledge and skills.

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Community Organizer

Community Organizers work with communities to identify and address social issues. They build relationships with community members, develop strategies for change, and mobilize resources to achieve their goals.

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Nonprofit Program Manager

Nonprofit Program Managers plan, implement, and evaluate programs that address social issues. They work with staff, volunteers, and community partners to achieve program goals.

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Journalist

Journalists research and report on news stories. They interview sources, gather information, and write articles that inform the public about current events.

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Archivist

Archivists preserve and manage historical documents and records. They work with researchers, historians, and other professionals to provide access to important historical materials.

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Librarian

Librarians help people find and access information. They work in libraries, schools, and other settings to provide access to books, databases, and other resources.

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Teacher

Teachers develop and implement lesson plans to teach students. They work with students to help them learn and grow.

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Museum curator

Museum Curators research, preserve, and interpret museum collections. They work with objects, documents, and other artifacts to tell stories about history, culture, and the natural world.

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Sociologist

Sociologists study human societies and social behavior. They conduct research to learn about social structures, institutions, and processes.

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Anthropologist

Anthropologists study human societies and cultures. They conduct research to learn about human behavior, beliefs, and practices.

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