HEL-8028 Analysing Qualitative Data - 3 stp

This is an advanced course relevant for all PhD and MPhil students in health services research fields, including the health sciences and public health, and for those working in social science.

Students will get the opportunity to learn about qualitative methodologies (perspectives, analytical strategies and theoretical framing), and to put their knowledge into practice by conducting qualitative interpretations of qualitative data of different kinds. Theories, perspectives and methods from a wide range of research traditions will be discussed, such as Hermeneutics, Phenomenology, Grounded Theory, Narrative Analysis, Case Studies and Thematic Analysis.

Students will be encouraged to consider the value and applicability of methods for health research study development, and will learn how to apply what they have learned through practical skills-development sessions.

Registration deadline for PhD students and students at the Medical Student Research Program at UiT - The Arctic University of Norway: September 1st

Application deadline for other applicants: June 1st. Application code 9303 in Søknadsweb.

PhD students or holders of a Norwegian master´s degree of five years or 3+ 2 years (or equivalent) may be admitted. PhD students must upload a document from their university stating that they are registered PhD students. This group of applicants does not have to prove English proficiency and are exempt from semester fee.

Holders of a Master´s degree must upload a Master´s Diploma with Diploma Supplement / English translation of the diploma. Applicants from listed countries must document proficiency in English. To find out if this applies to you see the following list:

Proficiency in English must be documented - list of countries

For more information on accepted English proficiency tests and scores, as well as exemptions from the English proficiency tests, please see the following document:

Proficiency in English - PhD level studies  

Recommended prerequisites

HEL-8025 Qualitative Methods in Health Research, or equivalent.

Knowledge:

• Knowledge necessary to perform research with complex study designs based on qualitative methodologies, particularly emphasizing the phase of data analysis, and knowledge about how to write up the results.

Skills:

• be able to consider and apply the most appropriate methodologies for analyzing various forms of qualitative data through qualitative interpretation;
• be able to distinguish various forms of interpretive methodologies and to evaluate the appropriateness of different methodologies for different research questions;
• be able to how to critically appraise publications based on qualitative data and methods; and
• be able to how to facilitate a theory-based qualitative analysis of qualitative data, and how to discuss their findings in relation to theoretical frameworks.

Competence:

• be well-versed in literature related to qualitative research skills, including theoretical approaches to methodology, and
• be able to conduct and critically analyse qualitative data in a variety of forms.

Work requirements

Compulsory attendance, minimum 80 %.

Examination and assessment

A written home assignment (essay) over two weeks on a given topic (2-3000 words), written alone. Graded as pass/fail. Language: English.

A re-sit exam may be arranged in the subsequent term. Registration deadline for re-sit exam is January 15th.

The date for the exam can be changed. The final date will be announced at your faculty early in May and early in November.