HELSEF4410 – Introduction to Qualitative Methods
Course content
The students will learn basic concepts and approaches in qualitative methodology. Following the course, the students will be able to explain the fundamental principles for conducting qualitative health research. Students will develop a good understanding of what type of research questions that can be answered using qualitative methods and describe the main methods used in qualitative health research. Through lectures and seminars, students will learn different strategies to produce and analyse qualitative data. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to develop a qualitative research design and critically reflect on strengths and limitations of qualitative research designs. Students will learn to identify and reflect upon ethical challenges in qualitative research.
Learning outcome
Knowledge
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to
- explain the basic fundamentals of qualitative research
- understand basic concepts and approaches in qualitative methodology
- understand what type of research questions that can be answered using qualitative methods.
- describe the main methods used in qualitative health research
- explain quality criteria of qualitative research
Skills
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to
- discuss the fundamentals of qualitative research
- develop a qualitative research design
- produce qualitative data
- apply basic principles of qualitative data analysis and present qualitative data
- critically discuss qualitative research designs and their applications in health research
- discuss the strengths and limitations of qualitative research designs
General competence
You will be able to
- critically evaluate qualitative research methodology
- reflect upon ethical and scientific standards of qualitative research
- identify and reflect upon ethical challenges in qualitative research
Admission
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
This course is only available for students at the following master's programmes:
Teaching
The course runs in a period of three weeks and consists of two lectures and two seminars per week.
In the seminars, the students do exercises and assignments.
Compulsory activities:
- Group assignment which runs parallel with the lectures and seminars.
- Oral presentation of the compulsory group assignment.
- 80% attendance in the seminars is required to be eligible to take the exam. Attendance will be registered.
Examination
Home exam.
All compulsory activities must be approved prior to taking the exam.
Grading
The Board at the University of Oslo has decided to introduce detailed guidelines for all examinations, which take place at the University. The description of the grading should be clear and transparent. This is done to ensure alignment between learning outcomes, assignments, and grading. The Faculty of Medicine has developed a web page with information regarding exams and the grading procedures (norwegian version).
Submit assignments in Inspera
You submit your assignment in the digital examination system Inspera. Read about how to submit your assignment.
Use of sources and citation
You should familiarize yourself with the rules that apply to the use of sources and citations. If you violate the rules, you may be suspected of cheating/attempted cheating.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English.You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Evaluation
The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.