The subject will introduce students to the uses and conduct of qualitative research, with an emphasis on health-related research. Main topics covered will include: nature and purposes of qualitative research; planning and designing qualitative research; ethical issues in qualitative research; qualitative sampling; methods of qualitative data collection, including in-depth interviews, focus groups, observation; analysing qualitative data; the use of computers in qualitative research; writing qualitative research reports; criteria for assessing qualitative research reports.

Qualitative research methods are presented both as a set of research methods in their own right and as methods to be combined with quantitative methods. The premise underlying the subject is that research methods adopted should be governed by the nature and demands of the inquiry, rather than by any prior preference for qualitative over quantitative methods or vice versa.

Students will be expected to participate in practising the techniques of data collection and analysis introduced during the subject.