Qualitative Methods in Public Health

Overview

This course will familiarise participants with various data collection and analytic methods in qualitative research, allowing them to apply appropriate methods with relevant ethical considerations. Participants will be guided through each step of the qualitative research process starting with the underlying principles of qualitative approaches and moving on to study design, sampling, data collection and analysis. Participants will have hands-on practical experience applying the various data collection methods; as well as learning practical techniques on how to conduct and write the analysis.

Course Objectives

The main premise of this course is that qualitative research is a “skilled craft” that can provide a unique understanding of people’s lives, perceptions, experiences and the social phenomena that form and shape them.

Upon completion, participants will be able to:

1. Describe qualitative methods and when the different types are most appropriately used
2. Understand the debate related to qualitative methods contrasted to other approaches in public health
3. Discuss Social Science traditions in healthcare
4. Consider the role of theory in health research
5. Design a research question
6. Discuss ethics, responsibilities and values
7. Undertake data collection for in-depth-interviews
8. Identify a sampling frame
9. Setup and facilitate focus group discussions
10. Apply different approaches to observation (structured; participatory) and related data collection methods
11. Manage and code data for thematic analyses
12. Undertake content analyses using media data
13. Critically review the qualitative method identifying and discussing reflexivity, validity, reliability and approaches to generalisation
14. Undertake framework analyses, following the Ritchie and Lewis’s method
15. Write up analyses (using the COREQ statement), and present it, clearly, concisely and creatively

Who Should Attend?

Health officers or researchers who wish to understand the social phenomena that shape behaviours and explore topics in more depth and detail than quantitative research methods.

Assessment & Certification

This is a SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) approved course. As part of SSG funding requirements, participants have to achieve at least 70% attendance and pass all assessment(s)/examination(s).

An electronic certificate will be issued to all participants who complete the course:

• Certificate of Competence – Attain a ‘C’ grade or above and meet a minimum of 70% attendance.
• Certificate of Participation – Attain a grade lower than ‘C’ and meet a minimum of 70% attendance.