School of Nursing Sciences
University of Nairobi
Introduction to Qualitative Research: Seminar series for PhD students
Dates: Tuesdays, July 14 to August 11th, 2020)
Time: 8-9:30 am EST (Boston Time)/3-4:30pm EAT (Kenya Time)
Link and details for the Zoom meeting available for students only
Course instructors:
Monica Adhiambo Onyango, RNM, RCHN DAN, MPH, MSN, PhD
Clinical Associate Professor
Boston University School of Public Health
Department of Global Health
Email: monyango@bu.edu
Profiles: https://profiles.bu.edu/Monica.Onyango
Miriam C. A. Wagoro, RN, RPN, RM, RCHN, DAN, BScN, MScN PGDip, PhD
Clinical Mental Health Nurse & International Research Ethics Specialist
Director, School of Nursing Sciences
University of Nairobi
Email: carole@uonbi.ac.ke
Eunice Omondi Akinyi Omondi
Email: eaomondi@uonbi.ac.ke
Description: Research involves a systematic approach to discovery often through a process of testing presumptions. This
process begins with deciding on a research question, conducting a literature review and deciding on a research design
which addresses the research question. Decisions made at this point include considering what kind of data will be collected,
how they will be collected, who will be invited to participate and how the data will be analyzed. One of the research
methodologies is Qualitative Research. This seminar introduces students to qualitative approaches, data collection and
analysis methods. Students will have opportunity to design qualitative research questions, study guides, practice qualitative
interviewing and data analysis.
This seminar is designed with an assumption that the participants have general basic knowledge and skills in developing a
research protocol including: Introduction, background/Significance, study rationale, purpose, research questions, objectives
and methods. This seminar id developed to focus on basic fundamentals of qualitative research.
SESSIONS
Week 1: 14 JULY 2020 - Introduction to Qualitative Research
Session Objectives:
Define qualitative research.
Compare and contrast quantitative and qualitative methods
Describe the uses of qualitative research design.
Discuss the different types of qualitative approaches
Content
Definition of Qualitative research
Difference between qualitative and quantitative study designs
Uses of qualitative research design
The different qualitative approaches
o Qualitative Descriptive
o Grounded Theory
o Ethnography
o Phenomenology
o Case Studies
Required Readings:
Mohajan, HK. (2018). Qualitative Research Methodology in Social Sciences and Related Subjects. Journal of
Economic Development, Environment and People, Vol-7, Issue 01, 2018. Available at: https://mpra.ub.uni-
muenchen.de/85654/1/MP).RA_paper_85654.pdf
Jameel et al (2018). Introduction to Qualitative Research for Novice Investigators. URNCST Journal (2018): Volume
2, Issue 6 Page 1 of 6. DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.26685/urncst.57. Available at:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326020915_Introduction_to_Qualitative_Research_for_Novice_Investigat
ors ( Read pages 1-3 for this session)
All required readings are posted here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1h4IsmtV9Jzzfw7sP2yhVSGCH-
nueAxKk?usp=sharing
Week 2: 21 JULY 2020 - Techniques of Qualitative Data Collection
Session Objectives:
Discuss selected methods of qualitative data collection
Design qualitative research questions
Describe common types of qualitative sampling methods
Develop a qualitative study guide (questionnaire)
Practice and demonstrate techniques of qualitative interviewing
Content:
Selected methods for qualitative data collection
In-depth Interviews
Key Informant Interviews
Focus Group Discussions
Observation
Sampling: Purposive sampling, Quota sampling, Snowball Sampling
Types of qualitative questions (Open vs closed ended; leading vs non-leading questions)
Use of probes in qualitative interviews
Techniques of data collection (written descriptions and audio recording)
Prepare for qualitative interviews (individual and FGDs)
o Materials needed
Required Readings:
Jameel et al (2018). Introduction to Qualitative Research for Novice Investigators. URNCST Journal (2018): Volume 2,
Issue 6. DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.26685/urncst.57. Available at:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326020915_Introduction_to_Qualitative_Research_for_Novice_Investigators (
Read pages 3-6 for this session)
Albine Moser & Irene Korstjens (2018) Series: Practical guidance to qualitative
research. Part 3: Sampling, data collection and analysis, European Journal of General Practice,
24:1, 9-18, DOI: 10.1080/13814788.2017.1375091. Available at:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5774281/pdf/igen-24-1375091.pdf (Read Page 1-8 for this session)
All required readings are posted here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1h4IsmtV9Jzzfw7sP2yhVSGCH-
nueAxKk?usp=sharing
Week 3: 28 JULY 2020 - Qualitative Data Analysis
Session Objectives
Describe the key principles and features of qualitative analysis.
Explain the steps to analyzing qualitative data.
Explain how to ensure validity and reliability of qualitative data
Content:
Data Translation and transcription
Qualitative Data Analysis:
What constitutes qualitative data?
Content analysis
Inductive vs deductive analysis
Data coding
Interpretation of data
Quality and rigor (validity & reliability) in qualitative studies: Credibility (internal validity), transferability (external
validity), Dependability (reliability), Conformability (objectivity)
Practice data coding and analysis
Using existing transcripts, students will practice qualitative data coding and analysis in small groups. They will be
expected to generate codes from the transcripts and share with the larger group. The instructors will compare the
students’ codes with the code book.
Required Readings
Albine Moser & Irene Korstjens (2018) Series: Practical guidance to qualitative research. Part 3: Sampling, data
collection and analysis, European Journal of General Practice,24:1, 9-18, DOI: 10.1080/13814788.2017.1375091.
Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5774281/pdf/igen-24-1375091.pdf (Read Page 8-11 for
this session)
Sutton, J. & Austin, Z. (2015). Qualitative Research: Data Collection, Analysis, and Management. Can J Hosp
Pharm. : 68(3): 226–231.doi: 10.4212/cjhp.v68i3.1456. Available at:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4485510/pdf/cjhp-68-226.pdf
Erlingsson, C., & Brysiewicz, P. (2017). A hands-on guide to doing content analysis. African Journal of Emergency
Medicine 7, 93–99. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6234169/
All required readings are posted here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1h4IsmtV9Jzzfw7sP2yhVSGCH-
nueAxKk?usp=sharing
Week 4: 4 AUGUST 2020 - Introduction to Nvivo Software for qualitative data Analysis
Session Objective:
Explore the use of Nvivo software for qualitative analysis
Students will be introduced to Nvivo software for qualitative data analysis. Depending on whether Nvivo software is
available, students will get a chance to do some handson practice.
Nvivo: Available at: https://www.qsrinternational.com/nvivo-qualitative-data-analysis-software/home
WEEK 5: 11 AUGUST 2020 - Nursing Research-authorship and publishing, End of Seminar Evaluations
Session Objective
Discuss the role of partnerships in research
Discuss author-ship in publications
End of Seminar Evaluation.
In this session, students will discuss considerations for partnerships and collaborations in research and
publications. How to negotiate authorship in a partnership. Ensuring that the partnership is bi-directional and
authentic towards building the nursing profession in Kenya.
Practice: Designing A Qualitative Interview Guide
Think of a research project you have been working on. You have identified a topic and research questions. This exercise
requires you to design qualitative study questions and guides to answer those research questions using individual face-to-
face in-depth interviews. This exercise is intended to give you the opportunity to practice designing qualitative study instruments.
Guidelines:
1. For your research, write the problem statement and the study questions that you are attempting to answer using in-
depth interviews (IDIs)
2. Describe the target population for your interviews and justification for targeting this population. Why is qualitative
study design necessary and appropriate for this project?
3. Develop an interview guide for individual face-to-face in-depth interviews to answer the study questions developed
above for your research project.
4. The study tool should have no less than 5 questions and no more than 10 main questions. Each question should
include at least three possible probes
