This 15 credit module, Qualitative Health and Care Research, aims to equip learners with the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities to effectively engage with qualitative research methodologies in health and care research. Specifically, the module will enable you to: 

• develop the ability to critically analyse the strengths and limitations of qualitative approaches in health and care research. This equips you to choose the most suitable methodology for your research questions. 

• gain a comprehensive understanding of qualitative research and its diverse methodologies, thus, learn to identify research questions where qualitative methods can provide valuable insights. 

• develop practical knowledge of the main methods of qualitative research methods for data collection (e.g., interviewing techniques) and analysis (e.g., thematic analysis). You will be able to apply these skills to both conducting original research and critically interpreting existing studies. 

• critically read and evaluate qualitative research findings published in academic journals and other sources. This includes understanding how researchers present methodologies, findings, and their interpretations.

On successful completion of this module, you will achieve the following learning outcomes:

• Demonstrate an appreciation of qualitative research traditions and methodologies, and critical evaluation of how and when to use them in health and care research.

• Demonstrate critical understanding of the main methods used in qualitative research for case selection, generating and analysing data, and appraising quality in primary research and qualitative evidence synthesis.

This module contributes towards the MRes Health and Care Research.

Extra information

If the course you are applying for is fully online or blended learning, please note that you are expected to provide your own headsets/microphones.

Content

The module syllabus typically covers the following: 

• Introduction to approaches in qualitative research 

• Definitions, nomenclature, epistemology: understanding qualitative research 

• Traditions of qualitative research 

• Methodological approaches 

• The place of qualitative research in health and wellbeing research and in evidence-based practice 

• Methodological quality and the types and sources of data in qualitative research 

• Methods for collecting qualitative data – interviews, focus groups, observations, qualitative surveys 

• Methods for analysing qualitative data – transcribing; field notes; data management; coding; inductive and deductive analysis

• Approaches to data analysis 

• Critical appraisal of qualitative research and overview of qualitative synthesis in secondary research 

• Reporting qualitative evidence

This level 7 (Masters level) module adopts a blended learning approach, combining interactive lectures and seminars with group activities to foster a collaborative learning environment.

The assessment will comprise of one task, a 3,000-word written assignment which will focus on two aspects: analysis of qualitative approaches and critical appraisal of published research.