Enrolments for 2020 have closed.
Qualitative Research Methods
Postgraduate | ACU-HLSC646 | 2020
Course information for 2020 intake View information for 2024 course intake
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 13 weeks
FEE-HELP available
Qualitative Research Methods
About this subject
On successful completion of Qualitative Research Methods, students should be able to:
- Design, present and justify a rigorous qualitative research project
- Apply knowledge of ethical risks in design, planning and conduct of qualitative research
- Align the role of the researcher with a selected qualitative research approach
- Demonstrate knowledge and skills in selected qualitative research methods of data collection, presentation, analysis, interpretation and communication
- Demonstrate beginning skills in the use of a selected qualitative data management software package
- Theoretical and paradigmatic frameworks in qualitative research
- Designing qualitative research
- Qualitative research methodologies
- Trustworthiness in qualitative research
- Ethical and legal risks
- Data collection methods
- Reflective journaling
- Data analysis methods
- Theoretical Framework
- Content / Thematic
- Discourse
- Interpretation and presentation of results
- Data management software packages
The broad aim of this subject is to provide students with a strong research foundation for those who elect to undertake the research stream at Master’s degree level. This subject is necessary for students to be able to execute knowledge and skills in order to plan and execute a substantial research-based project, capstone experience and/or piece of scholarship that responds to an administrative, leadership, educational or clinical challenge in health care.
The subject meets the course objectives of preparing students to analyse and synthesise complex information and to use decision-making skills to respond to emerging challenges within a dynamic health environment. Specifically this subject aims to develop students’ abilities to use qualitative research methods in the context of ethical, person centred health related research. A variety of research approaches will be explored. Research questions, research design and research methods for qualitative data collection and analysis will be examined with a view to developing and conducting rigorous qualitative research.
The aim of this subject is to develop student’s knowledge and skill in relation to qualitative research methods so as to prepare them to undertake a scholarly research-based project.
In order to pass this unit, students are required to submit three graded assessment tasks. In addition, students must achieve a cumulative grade of at least 50% across all assessments. The assessment strategy used allows for the progressive development of knowledge and skills in relation to qualitative research methods so that students can demonstrate their preparedness to undertake a scholarly research-based project using a qualitative research approach.
In order to develop their preparedness to undertake a scholarly research-based project, students need to develop a firm understanding of important aspects of qualitative research methodology, such as data collection and data analysis. The first assessment task allows students to study and demonstrate their knowledge of these aspects of methodology and to consider whether to continue with this data collection and/or data analysis method in their research proposal.
The second assessment task involves the submission of posts made on the electronic discussion forum. The discussion forum allows students to demonstrate their initial understanding of important aspects of qualitative research methodology and to extend their knowledge via discussion with the lecturer and peers.
The final assessment task involves the development of a research proposal using qualitative research methodology. This enables students to demonstrate an understanding of the various elements of a research proposal and their knowledge of qualitative research methodology with respect to these elements.- Discussion Forum (25%)
- Essay: Data Collection (25%)
- Expanded Methods Section of Research Proposal (50%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
Established in 1991 after amalgamating four eastern Australian Catholic tertiary institutes, Australian Catholic University now has seven campuses, from Brisbane to Melbourne and welcomes students of all beliefs. Specialising in arts, business, education, health sciences, law, theology and philosophy, ACU encourages its students to think critically and ethically and bring change to their communities and offer this online through Open Universities Australia.
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Entry requirements
To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted into a degree.
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.