Qualitative Research In Psychology

Timetable

When: Tuesday, 8.00-9.30 AM.

Where: Faculty of Psychology and Cognitive Science, 89 Szamarzewskiego Street, Building AB

Module aim (aims)

• introduce the main characteristics of qualitative and mixed-methods approaches in social sciences, especially in psychology;
• provide a review of philosophical perspectives (ontological and epistemological) on the qualitative approach;
• examine the role of conceptual framework in qualitative research
• present the properties of collecting qualitative data (the example of different types of interviews);
• present the basis of qualitative data analysis (transcription, coding, analysing, interpreting);
• provide a picture of selected strategies of qualitative research (thematic analysis, interpretative phenomenological analysis);
• present software tools suitable in qualitative research;
• provide a broad understanding of ethical issues and data management; 
• elaborate on the rules of ensuring the scientific rigour of qualitative research and research report in psychology.

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

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Syllabus

Week 1: Qualitative approach in psychology – introduction. 

Week 2: Philosophical perspectives on qualitative research in psychology.

Week 3: Mixed-methods research in psychology – introduction.   

Week 4: Qualitative data collection – introduction.

Week 5: Qualitative research interviews.

Week 6: Transcription as the decisive process in qualitative approach.

Week 7: Qualitative data analysis – introduction.

Week 8: Qualitative data analysis – coding, analysing, interpreting. 

Week 9: Qualitative research strategies – overview. 

Week 10: Interpretive phenomenological analysis. 

Week 11: Thematic analysis.

Week 12: Qualitative data analysis software. 

Week 13: Ethical issues and data management.

Week 14: Quality and trustworthiness in qualitative research.

Reading list

• Howitt, D. (2010). Introduction to qualitative methods in psychology. Pearson. (Chapter 3, 6, 7, 11, 14).
• Hsieh, H.-F., Shannon, S. (2005). Three approaches to qualitative content analysis. Qualitative Health Research, 15, 1277-1288. 
• Levitt, H. M., Motulsky, S. L., Wertz, F. J., Morrow, S. L., & Ponterotto, J. G. (2017). Recommendations for designing and reviewing qualitative research in psychology: Promoting methodological integrity. Qualitative Psychology, 4(1), 2–22. https://doi.org/10.1037/qup0000082
• O’Connor, C., & Joffe, H. (2020). Inter-coder reliability in qualitative research: debates and practical guidelines. International journal of qualitative methods, 19, 1609406919899220.
• Parker, I. (2004). Criteria for qualitative research in psychology. Qualitative research in psychology, 1(2), 95-106.
• Savin-Baden, M., & Howell-Major, C. (2013). Qualitative research: The essential guide to theory and practice. Qualitative Research: The Essential Guide to Theory and Practice. Routledge. (Chapter 1, 2, 3, 9, 21, 30).