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Unit of study_

FMHU5003: Introduction to Qualitative Research in Health

2025 unit information

This unit of study introduces you to qualitative research in health. It is designed for beginners and people who want an advanced level introduction. We will examine core concepts like methodology and reflexivity; consider approaches to research design (including sampling and developing research questions), data collection (including interviewing, focus group, observation, visual methods) and analysis; and discuss frameworks for thinking about research ethics and research quality. You will get practical experience in research design, data collection, data analysis and evaluating published qualitative literature. Throughout we will consider the value of qualitative approaches for constructing knowledge about health and hear from working qualitative researchers about how they use qualitative methods in their work.

Unit details and rules

Managing faculty or University school:

Medicine and Health

Study level Postgraduate
Academic unit Public Health
Credit points 6
Prerequisites:
? 
None
Corequisites:
? 
None
Prohibitions:
? 
PUBH5505 or BACH5255 or QUAL5005
Assumed knowledge:
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None

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Understand the value of qualitative research;argue for the value and usefulness of qualitative research
  • LO2. Understand and apply the principles underlying qualitative study design
  • LO3. Understand and apply qualitative data collection principles, and evaluate personal data collection skills
  • LO4. Understand the principles shaping qualitative research practice, and justify research practice decisions in relation to these principles
  • LO5. Understand qualitative data analysis principles, and analyse qualitative data at an introductory level
  • LO6. Evaluate the quality and contribution to knowledge of published qualitative literature

Unit availability

This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.

The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.

Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 2 2024
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 2 2024
Online Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 2 2025
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Outline unavailable
Semester 2 2025
Online Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Outline unavailable
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 2 2022
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 2 2022
Online Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 2 2023
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 2 2023
Online Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

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Modes of attendance (MoA)

This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.