410.710.01 CONCEPTS IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH FOR SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

Provides an overview of the development of a qualitative approach within public health research and practice, focusing on the philosophical underpinnings to qualitative research and the application of such methods to key contemporary public health questions. Considers questions such as, “What counts as knowledge?”, “What are appropriate and useful public health data?”, and “How do we learn about new issues?” Focuses on concepts, particularly highlighting the nature of qualitative questions and data. Not intended to provide training in conducting independent qualitative research.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to (1) describe a wide range of health-focused qualitative studies, (2) have a working knowledge of many of the main journals in which qualitative public health research is published, (3) identify the strengths and weaknesses of adopting a qualitative approach to addressing a particular research question, (4) identify several epistemological and ontological differences between qualitative and quantitative approaches to research, and (5) critically appraise qualitative research studies.