SRA Training

Designing a Qualitative Study
Summary:	This one-day intensive course introduces participants to qualitative research, enabling them to: get the most out of a qualitative project; choose their methods appropriately; appreciate the nature of generalisation in qualitative research; and adopt relevant criteria when assessing the contribution of qualitative data. Through a combination of lectures and hands-on practical sessions, it aims to equip participants with a good grasp of the planning and preparation required when conducting a qualitative project
Objectives:	By the end of the workshop, delegates will: be familiar with what qualitative research has to offer be able to draft appropriate and achievable qualitative research aims and questions understand how to devise a defensible sampling rationale be confident about designing an interview or discussion guide appreciate the nature of generalisation in qualitative research
Topics:	Content includes: the nature of qualitative research – what it can and cannot deliver main methods and techniques designing a qualitative project, refining the research question, choosing an appropriate strategy of enquiry sampling in qualitative research designing topic guides for use in interview or focus group based studies judging the ‘quality’ of qualitative research
Who will benefit?	Researchers about to embark on a qualitative project who are new to qualitative techniques or who have been away from the field for a while and would like a ‘refresher’.
Learning outcomes:	Participants will gain a good understanding of how to design and defend a qualitative research project, ensuring that: the design chosen can address the research question and aims appropriate samples and research materials are developed the contribution of a qualitative design is clearly understood and appropriately judged
Course tutor:	Liz Spencer is a Sociologist and an Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences who has specialised in qualitative methods since 1973. She has held research posts at a number of British universities, including the London School of Economics, The London Graduate School of Business Studies, and the University of Essex, and was a Research Director at the National Centre for Social Research. She teaches a range of courses for the Social Research Association and for the Universities of Hong Kong and Essex, and has been a Visiting Professor at the Institute for Higher Studies in Vienna. Currently Liz is a Research Associate of the Institute for Social and Economic Research as well as an independent research consultant. Her recent methodological publications include chapters in Qualitative Research Practice and a report for the Cabinet Office on judging the quality of qualitative research and evaluation. Together with Jane Ritchie, she pioneered ‘Framework’, a matrix-based approach to data management and display
Date & Location:	4th November 2010, Registration 09:00-09.30 - 16:30 Location: Royal Asiatic Society, London
Programme	Download Programme to follow and booking form (doc)