Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Advanced Qualitative Research: Framing, Writing & Beyond

Course Description

This course provides a structured opportunity for PhD students to talk about their own doctoral work and to receive feedback from the instructors and other students. It is intended that the course topics will meet the practical needs and interests of individual students completing their dissertation, yet stretch them beyond where they might otherwise go on their own. It will help prepare students for some key research and career challenges and the debates that await them after graduation, particularly as health researchers using qualitative and post-qualitative methodologies. The course will counter the isolation and potential stalling of thesis work at this stage, aggravated by the pandemic, and provide mentorship to address the particular challenges of qualitative inquiry and scholarship in the health sciences and in other settings in times of change. This course also facilitates the formation of networks that can serve as resources to students as they complete their theses and move out into professional careers. The structure of the sessions will include guest lecturers, discussions, presentations, and creative exercises to connect with our creativity and imagination.

Course Objectives

The objective of this course is to develop the skills required to advance the careers of qualitative health researchers in different settings, including academia. At the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Write empirical and theoretical findings effectively and convincingly for thesis completion and publication
• Communicate the contribution of one’s own qualitative research for interdisciplinary audiences within the health sciences
• Appraise the quality of qualitative health research, utilizing appropriate criteria and being aware of the debates in this area
• Assess the strengths and limitations in one’s present level of competence as a researcher to plan for future professional development
• Reflect on their strengths and challenges and identify supports and connections that may help to overcome difficulties related to the advanced stage of writing a PhD thesis.