Online Program

LI Course
Oral

Partnership: The three faculty are or have been members of APHA.

Statement of Purpose and Institute Overview: The purpose of this course is to equip public health professionals and scholars with awareness and confidence in approaching and conducting qualitative research projects, and to familiarize participants with qualitative data collection and analysis techniques and tools. Based on the literature on qualitative research methods and public health, nurses, social workers, and medical anthropologists have been more adept in engaging in health-related qualitative research. Growing research on social determinants of health to understanding the root causes of health behavior, treatment decisions, and the socio-environmental contexts in which illness and disease exist is conducive to innovative qualitative research methods. Based on our collective experiences of working in non-profit, public sector, and academic institutions, there also seems to be a growing need and interest, yet at times unawareness, hesitancy, and fear, among students, faculty, and practitioners in engaging in qualitative research methods. This course will address these needs and allay these fears by providing a supportive environment in which participants can begin to formulate research questions, design data collection tools, find themes in the data, and consider approaches to writing up and disseminating the findings. The instructors will demonstrate the multiple uses of qualitative data through their experiences and data on the public health workforce, Black women’s health issues, food desserts in rural communities, and resiliency in urban youth. Through both lecture, interactive discussion, and small group assignments, participants will learn about the role of theory in qualitative research, research methodology, and sampling/recruitment. To reinforce their understanding, participants will receive hands on experience in interview guide development, interviewing techniques, data analysis, and writing.

Session Objectives: List five approaches to qualitative inquiry. Demonstrate confidence in selecting appropriate qualitative research methods to address a range of public health issues. Discuss building rapport with respondents, particularly those from marginalized populations. Design interview and/or focus group questions. Demonstrate competence in coding and analyzing qualitative data. Design a mini-qualitative research study.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)