Qualitative Research Methods in Public Health

Catalog description

This elective course explores the theories, methods, ethics, and practical applications of qualitative research. It builds upon the foundational research methodology taught in the MPH core curriculum with the central goal of preparing students to lead their own qualitative projects, including capstones, theses, or future research. Qualitative analysis is utilized broadly throughout various fields, such as anthropology, sociology, psychology, communications, business, medicine, and public health. Through readings from diverse disciplines, students will explore how qualitative approaches have been applied in different settings to address diverse research questions. The course begins by clarifying the knowledge generated by qualitative methods and demystifying the role of theory, emphasizing its importance in project quality. It then covers key aspects of preparing a qualitative study; identifying suitable sites and samples, effectively communicating with stakeholders, and ensuring a reflexive mindset attuned to the ethical issues. Students will learn various methods for collecting qualitative data, such as observation, interviews, virtual ethnography, document analysis, and photo-elicitation. The course also includes instruction on analyzing the data using an iterative coding process facilitated by software. Finally, students will work on developing explanatory theory from this analysis in order to engage meaningfully with the research community about a given topic.