Qualitative Health Research

For module start dates, view our Module Calendar.

High quality research is very important in modern health and social care and as such research training is an important component of our CPD provision.

This module is for masters and PhD students. It will provide you with a general introduction to qualitative research with reference to how it might be applied to the study of issues of health and illness. It focuses on the processes and practices of qualitative research.

Throughout the course you will be expected to develop your knowledge through reading as well as practical tasks and engage in discussion about the principles of research design, making the explicit link between research questions and research methods.

By the end of the course you will understand the benefits of qualitative research in terms of gaining a deeper qualitative understanding of health processes, whilst also recognising some of the central limitations and ethical considerations. You will also have developed skills in selecting and carrying out appropriate data collection and analysis methods.

This module is likely to be of particular interest if you intend to engage in qualitative research in the future, particularly in regard to your dissertation.

Learning outcomes

After the course students will have:

• Comprehension of basic principles of qualitative research, including the processes involved in generating and application of qualitative research questions
• Competence in understanding and applying a range of qualitative research methods
• Ability to manage qualitative data and conducting and disseminating research in a way that is consistent with both professional practice and the normal principles of research ethics
• Understanding of the significance of qualitative epistemological positions, and how they relate to quantitative research design and mixed method research design.

Our expert staff

Dr Ewen Speed is Medical Sociologist and a Senior Lecturer in the School of Health and Social Care. In this module he draws on his own experience of research, both in terms of primary research in the sociology of health and illness, as well as supervising a number of students’masters and PhD projects across a range of health topics.