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In line with the key focus on real world skills in this programme, this module acknowledges the need for qualitative research and mixed (combined) approaches to the data. This is intended to apply to real world problems in health or social care contexts. This module will build on the previous ‘Introduction to Qualitative and Mixed Methods’ module. The module will start off with a reminder of some key concepts that you covered in this previous module and how you can integrate this learning into the current module.

The module will introduce the concepts of sampling (purposive, theoretical and similar) as appropriate to the research question and consider the suitability of different models of data analysis (LO1) The module provides an initial understanding of different qualitative and mixed analytic approaches (LO1), through to the development of strategies that integrate the analysis process at multiple stages (LO2. LO3). It also focusses on evaluation of the importance of ethical considerations to qualitative and mixed methods analysis of data (LO4). This will expand on what you learned about in relation to the ethical and practical challenges of qualitative/mixed methods research that was covered in the qualitative and mixed methods module.

In the previous module, you will have learned about tools and frameworks for appraising qualitative and mixed method research. You will have appraised a specific qualitative/mixed methods research paper for your previous summative assessment. In the current module, you will be drawing from your knowledge of critical appraisal in order to conduct quality data analysis.

Supervised secondary analysis of existing qualitative data will be used to support development of skills in data management and analysis (LO5). This will feed into both formative and summative assessment.

1.Critically analyse and compare different approaches to qualitative, multimethod and mixed method analysis
2. Explore and evaluate the benefits and limitations of using different software packages to aid qualitative and mixed method analysis.
3. Develop and critique an appropriate analysis strategy, integrated into the process of data collection
4. Evaluate the importance of ethical considerations to analysis of qualitative and mixed data
5. Execute in-depth qualitative data analysis