PHVIT9200 Kvalitative metoder Emneplan

This course is based on PHVIT9100, Health Sciences II: Philosophy of Science, Research Ethics and Research Methodology. The course takes a critical perspective of key methodological traditions in qualitative research, focusing particularly on phenomenology, hermeneutics, and discourse analysis. Topics covered include research design, research interviews and different forms of interviewing methods, and observation as a research method. Emphasis is placed on the application of advanced strategies for analysing complex data material within the respective research traditions.

Admission to the PhD programme.

The course can also be offered to students who have been admitted to the "Health Science Research Programme, 60 ECTS", by prior approval from the supervisor and based on given guidelines for the research programme.

On completion of the course, the PhD candidate has achieved the following learning outcomes, defined in terms of knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge

The PhD candidate:

• is at the forefront of knowledge in selected qualitative research designs and their theoretical basis, and related methodological considerations
• has in-depth knowledge and understanding of interviews and observation as methodological research tools in the phenomenological, hermeneutic, and discourse-analytic research traditions
• can evaluate the usefulness of different forms of analysis, interpretation, and documentation within the relevant traditions

Skills

The PhD candidate can:

• plan a health science research project with relevant qualitative designs and methods
• analyse, interpret, and disseminate the results of qualitative research
• address complex scientific issues and challenge established knowledge and practice in qualitative methodology

General competence

The PhD candidate can:

• argue in favour of particular qualitative approaches based on scientific theory
• identify relevant ethical issues and conduct research based on qualitative methodology with professional integrity
• participate in discussions on qualitative methodology

Work and teaching methods consist of lectures, seminars, self-study, practical exercises in pilot interviews, and analysis of authentic interviews and observation notes. The outcomes of the seminars are presented and discussed in plenary sessions.

None

General admission requirements for the Ph.D. Degree in Health Sciences.

All

Students will be able to:

• give a general description of methods relevant to the collection and interpretation of data in research in behavior analysis

• discuss specific methods of data collection and their appropriateness for answering different kinds of research questions

• describe and discuss criteria for validity and reliability, and of methods of assessing them

• describe and discuss criteria for empirically supported treatment

• describe and discuss the rationale for single-case research designs

• produce graphical presentations of data

• briefly outline the history of basic and applied single-case research

• describe different recording techniques and their application criteria

• describe different strategies for dealing with variability in data

• discuss criteria for selecting behavior to assess (social, clinical, organizational, and personal significance)

• discuss basic principles for selecting an appropriate baseline

• describe criteria for deciding the length of baseline as well as intervention phases

• discuss the use of pilot studies

• give an account of the principle of changing one variable at a time, and exceptions to that principle

• discuss criteria for using different types of withdrawal designs

• give examples and explain the difference between withdrawal and reversal designs

• give examples of the use of multiple baseline designs and alternating treatment designs

• give examples of direct, systematic, and clinical replication procedures

• conduct visual and statistical analysis of the effect of independent variables in single-case research designs

The course consists of 1 introductory meeting, and 5 seminars of 5 x 45 minutes, with student presentations and time for feedback and discussion.

The introductory meeting is a 2-hours web-based meeting, taking place approximately 2 weeks ahead of the main part of the course. At this meeting, the structure, content, and purpose of the course are presented. The students are asked to give short presentations of their Ph.D. projects, and describe how the course may be relevant to it. The main purpose of this early session is to help the students to start systematic work with the course readings.

The seminars target central themes from the course readings for student presentations and discussions. A high level of student participation is expected. During this time, students will produce several PowerPoint presentations, and a final presentation. Course teachers mediate discussions. After feedback and discussions, the students submit two PowerPoint files each, which serve as the exam.

• All papers approved,
• attendance in at least 80 % of the seminars, and
• approved paper presentation in final seminar.