Foundation Course in Qualitative Research, online
Thursday, 22 October 2026 to Friday, 23 October 2026, 9.30am - 11.30am
Apply for this courseIntroduces the planning and conduct of a qualitative study, making core qualitative-research concepts and methods accessible to researchers from qualitative or quantitative backgrounds.
You are required to attend two sessions:
- Thursday 22 October, 09:30 - 11:30
- Friday 23 October, 09:30 - 11:30
course description
No previous experience is required, and there is no pre-course work – all teaching takes place during live interactive online sessions. Whether you are planning a qualitative study, collaborating with qualitative researchers, or simply want to broaden your research skills, this course will provide a clear, practical introduction to qualitative research methods.
The course is led by Dr Francine Toye, an internationally recognised qualitative researcher and recipient of the University of Oxford Excellence in Teaching Award. Her teaching focuses on demystifying qualitative research, making it practical, engaging, and directly relevant to improving healthcare.
course objectives
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
- Understand the key differences between quantitative and qualitative research, including concepts such as realism and relativism
- Recognise the strengths, similarities and differences between common qualitative methodologies, including grounded theory and thematic analysis
- Understand what makes qualitative research trustworthy
- Learn the fundamentals of qualitative interviewing, coding, and data analysis
- Understand purposive sampling and the concept of information power
- Discuss current issues in qualitative research, such as the opportunities and challenges of using Generative AI
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS
Maximum 20
ATTENDANCE CERTIFICATE ON SURVEY COMPLETION
It is now a requirement that you complete the three short questions in the survey you receive after attending the course. Once you have submitted the survey, you will be sent an email with a link to your attendance certificate. This is to ensure we receive the feedback we need to evaluate and improve our courses. Survey results are downloaded and stored anonymously.
feedback from previous sessions
Really enjoyed the course - the best online teaching I have attended. Great course would highly recommend.
I'm impressed by Francine that she made very clear and simple [and] reachable. Very good first interaction for the quanti-person like me to start to want to know more about qualitative research.
How welcoming Francine was and the general atmosphere of the group. The content was accessible and informative