This moderated online course is run by the Researcher Academy

The Researcher Academy courses are very popular and the majority are run in both semesters to give you the opportunity to attend at a time of the year that suits you. 

Target audience: mid stage postgraduate research students (especially off-campus) and early career researchers

Do you want to know more about qualitative methods? Or are you about to use some qualitative techniques (e.g. focus groups, interviews or observations) as part of your research and want to refresh your skills? If so, this online course is for you. This course is designed for students from all academic backgrounds who are new to qualitative research and would like to learn more about its underlying principles and applications.

Please check that you are eligible for this course before you register.

Please note: the course topics and discussions will change daily and follow-on from one another. Before registering for the course please ensure that your schedule will allow you to sign-in and post comments daily.

Process:

Timeframe: 1 week (5 working days, Monday - Friday / Wednesday - Wednesday)

Your time input: Approximately 90 mins per working day at a time of your choosing.

There will be a number of learning exercises delivered through daily discussion forums. Your contributions to the discussion forums are your means of 'assessment' and you should expect to post messages and respond to the posts of others. Guidance will be provided throughout by the course tutor.

You will receive an email with a link to the course in Moodle a few days before the course starts and you must use this link the first time you log in. Please log in and post a message to the socialisation forum before the course commences if possible.

Description:

The social world is a dynamic phenomenon, and in this way research methods that aim to explore the social world have to be a dynamic and flexible too. The course provides a summary of the theoretical approach to qualitative methods with additional suggestions for online resources. It will also give those who are about to employ the techniques a timely ‘refresher’ on the practicalities of engaging in techniques, such as focus groups, interviews and observations.

The course will help you think about how you can incorporate qualitative research methods into your research design. In addition, the course will deal with the practical elements of carrying out research using qualitative methods. By critically analysing research methods this course will help you to think strategically about applying these methods to your project.

Aims: To provide you with an introduction and overview of the core principles of qualitative research, and the methods employed to research people and their social worlds.

Objectives:

By the end of the course you will

• Understand the defining characteristics of the qualitative research paradigm
• Have identified further resources
• Understand key issues around qualitative data collection techniques

Related Courses:

Introduction to Qualitative Research 
Further Qualitative Research 
Research Interview Skill

Course Accessibility

The following table shows a summary of what is needed to participate in the course. 

If you feel you will experience any difficulties participating, please let us know via the ‘special requirements’ tab, providing as much information as possible. The special requirements tab can be completed when you book your place. Alternatively, you can contact us directly at ra-training@nottingham.ac.uk.

Access Moodle
Access the course 90 minutes each day over the 5 days
Participate in forum discussions on Moodle
Engage with online materials
Complete reflections document/ workbook (optional)
Undertake and submit an assessment (to be marked as attended)

Booking Conditions:

Our webinars/ online courses are very popular, especially in the current period and we are experiencing large volumes of people on our waiting lists.  

Please do let us know if you would like to cancel your place on this course so we can offer your place to another delegate. 

Please note, attendances for webinars/ online courses will still be recorded and corresponding training points, when shown as available, will be awarded.  

This online course/Webinar is delivered by the Researcher Academy 

Please ensure that you maintain your professionalism when booking onto the online courses that Researcher Academy provide.  

We are attempting to maximize the opportunities that we are providing to all Post Graduate Researchers during the University’s lock-down period and appreciate that personal circumstances are changing daily. Places on the courses are limited to a maximum number and we are currently experiencing large volumes of students on waiting lists for these courses.  

Please ensure you let us know if you would like to cancel your place. If you book onto but do not turn up to a webinar or online course, you will be taking someone else’s place and may affect the viability of the course. 

Please note that attendances or lack of for Webinars/ online courses will still be recorded.