Qualitative Methods in Health Research

Why does a small community in Canton Vaud strongly oppose the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine? How do Somali women navigate the emotional and cultural complexities of a breast cancer diagnosis? In what ways do intensive care physicians manage the psychological toll of burnout in high-stress clinical environments?

This course introduces students to the principles and practice of qualitative research in health, equipping them to explore such complex, context-dependent questions. Through a critical and hands-on approach, students will learn how to investigate the lived experiences, beliefs, behaviors, and social dynamics that shape health and healthcare.

By engaging with cutting-edge methodologies and ethical frameworks, students will gain the analytical tools needed to design and conduct rigorous qualitative studies, interpret rich narrative and observational data, and contribute meaningful insights to academic, clinical, and policy discussions in contemporary health research.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

1. critically assess the role and value of qualitative research in addressing complex questions in health, healthcare delivery, and health systems;
2. design a qualitative study by formulating research questions, selecting appropriate methodologies, and justifying methodological choices;
3. apply core techniques for data collection in qualitative health research, including conducting semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and observational fieldwork;
4. conduct a thematic analysis of qualitative data, demonstrating the ability to code, identify patterns, and interpret findings in relation to research questions and theoretical frameworks;
5. reflect on ethical, epistemological, and positionality issues in qualitative health research, including researcher reflexivity and power dynamics in participant-researcher relationships;
6. effectively communicate qualitative research findings by producing clear and coherent written reports and oral presentations that align with academic standards and are tailored to diverse audiences, including policymakers, practitioners, and the public.

• Salute e benessere

In presenza

Learning methods include interactive lectures, guided discussions, critical readings, multimedia resources (such as videos and podcasts), and hands-on fieldwork. Together, these approaches are designed to help you acquire both the theoretical foundations and practical skills necessary to design and conduct your own qualitative research project.

The assessment for this course is divided into two complementary components, each contributing 50% to the final grade:

1. In the field: Conducting a qualitative study (50%)
Group task (2–3 students)

• Design, conduct, and report an interview-based qualitative study on a health-related topic of your choice.
• The project must include the formulation of a research question, development of an interview guide, data collection, initial analysis, and reporting.
• The work will be presented as an abstract and in a structured oral presentation at the end of the course.

2. My journey through qualitative research (50%)
Individual task

• A personal, reflective piece documenting your lived experience throughout the course as a qualitative researcher.
• This includes your insights, challenges faced, lessons learned, progress made, and goals achieved.
• The reflection will be compiled and submitted as an ePortfolio project.