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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2023/2024

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Deanery of Molecular, Genetic and Population Health Sciences : Public Health Research

Postgraduate Course: Qualitative interviewing and data analysis for public health (PUHR11088)

Course Outline
SchoolDeanery of Molecular, Genetic and Population Health Sciences CollegeCollege of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate)
Course typeOnline Distance Learning AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryThis ten-credit course builds on the core concepts and ideas in qualitative research from the course Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods. There will be significant practical aspects to the course, the aim being that the students finish feeling confident enough to plan and conduct: (1) a research interview in a rigorous way and (2) an analysis of qualitative data, generated either through their own fieldwork or by doing a secondary analysis of existing data generated by other researchers. Students will also apply the concepts and criteria of rigour to interviewing and data analysis. The course is framed to be of relevance to anyone who is interested in learning more about qualitative research, and will help to prepare for a qualitative dissertation project on the MPH (online) programme.
Course description This is a 5-week distance learning course worth 10 credits. Students are expected to spend 15-20 hours per week on this course. Students are given a brief overview of the course and will then be provided with relevant materials and resources. Specific tasks and online discussion exercises relating to each week's topic will be set. This will culminate in a written assignment at the end of the course. More specifically the course covers:

-applying the core concepts and ideas from the course 'Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods' (such as rigour, keeping an audit trail, interpretive approach, reflexivity, open and closed coding) to interviewing and data analysis
- developing an interview guide
- conducting an interview
-conducting a small secondary analysis of a small quantitative dataset
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2023/24, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  None
Course Start Flexible
Course Start Date 05/08/2023
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 5, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 1, Online Activities 35, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 5, Formative Assessment Hours 5, Revision Session Hours 1, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 46 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Coursework 100%
Feedback Students will receive feedback on their blogs that they submit as part of their learning, and on the final assessment.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Design a topic guide for a qualitative research interview
  2. Plan and conduct a qualitative research interview in a rigorous manner
  3. Plan and conduct interpretive thematic analysis of qualitative research data using appropriate coding techniques
  4. Select and present key findings from your analysis in a way that is appropriate for qualitative research in public health
  5. Practice reflexivity to keep track of your thoughts and assumptions during the research process to ensure rigour and criticality
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills During this course students will have to demonstrate the ability to work both independently and collaboratively with others. Their knowledge and understanding of the topic will improve but they will also learn generic approaches/skills such as classifying information, critically analysing materials and evaluation skills. Since the course is distance learning, it will contribute to their IT, writing and communication skills. Finally, they will be expected to be able to bring together and draw from the information provided through the course during their essay writing. Competencies such as structuring of work and accurate referencing should improve.
Keywordsqualitative research,interviewing,data analysis,thematic analysis,reflexivity,rigour
Contacts
Course organiserDr Steph Grohmann
Tel: (0131 6)51 3969
Email: steph.grohmann@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Rebecca Sewell
Tel: (0131 6)51 7112
Email: Rebecca.Sewell@ed.ac.uk
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