Phone: +61 313 3855
Email: jaklin.eliott@adelaide.edu.au
Location: Level 11, 178 North Terrace

Learning & Teaching Team
Phone: +61 8313 2128
Email: postgrad_enq@adelaide.edu.au

1	Outline the contribution to, and characteristics of, qualitative research to population health
2	Demonstrate the capacity to make informed ethical decisions about the conduct of population health research
3	Critically evaluate the use of qualitative methods in population health research
4	Recognise and describe some of the major theoretical perspectives which inform qualitative research
5	Identify the major research methods used to collect data in qualitative research, and critique the advantages and disadvantages of each
6	Demonstrate capacity to appropriately collect, analyse, and report on qualitative data
7	Use terminology for the field of qualitative research correctly and contextually with appropriate referencing
8	Demonstrate ability to work and communicate effectively with others regarding qualitative research

Liamputtong, P. (2013) Qualitative research methods, 4th edn. Oxford University Press: Melbourne.
 
The prescribed text is integral to the course and may be purchased from Unibooks: 
Unibooks
The University of Adelaide
ADELAIDE SA 5005
Phone: +61 8 8223 4366 Toll free: 1800 182 003
Fax: +61 8 8232 7315
Email: bookshop@unibooks.com.au
Website: www.unibooks.com.au
 
Other essentials readings will be available in electronic format through MyUni.
The Course Workbook will be available to students through MyUni before the course commences.

N/A

The course will be offered online.
 
Access Adelaide
Access Adelaide is the name of the online service that allows students to access and, in some cases, amend their records. It can be found at: https://access.adelaide.edu.au/sa/login.asp

Students can log into Access Adelaide to view:
· their enrolment details for any term
· their academic results
· their unofficial academic transcript
· their personal details
· the fees, charges and payments on their University account
· their exam schedule
· their graduation eligibility details.

Students can:
· change their address and telephone details (please inform the Discipline as well)
· change their password
· set a password clue to help them remember their password.

Student email
Students should set up a university email and check it regularly. Information from the course coordinator and student administration  will be sent via the University of Adelaide email address. It is the student’s responsibility to check their email. Students will need their student number located on their student card to log in. http://webmail.adelaide.edu.au/

This course will be offered completely online.

Online learning modules (using Articulate and/or text where appropriate)
Online learning modules covering the research methodologies and methods used to manage qualitative data, specifically  examining; the theory and principles underlying qualitative research; how to conduct qualitative research (including data collection  and analysis); and specific issues and dilemmas associated with using qualitative research. They will also develop a portfolio of  various resources designed to broaden understanding of the topic and any relevant technology. Student learning will be  self-directed.

Moving from research question to ethics application
As part of formative assessment, students will submit and provide feedback to others’ proposed research questions (see below).  Other written summative assessment tasks for this course will provide opportunity to develop aspects of the final assignment.

The final assignment for students will involve submission of a completed application for ethical approval, as if to the University of Adelaide Human Research Ethics Committee. Applications can be found here: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/ethics/human/ 
 
Online discussion boards
Students will be able to post questions and answers to a discussion board associated with each of the modules. This will be  monitored by the course coordinator but students will be encouraged to answer each other’s questions.

Peer assessment & feedback (non graded)
Students will join/be allocated to groups to discuss and provide feedback about each other’s proposed research question. Online  asynchronous or synchronous discussion will be facilitated through MyUni using discussion boards, webchat, Collaborate or Skype  depending on the students’ preferences and availability. The discussions will be schedule to align with the related assessment tasks.

Refer to coordinator

Week	Topic	Lecture
Week 1	Definitions and Ethical Aspects	What is Qualitative Research Ethics of Qualitative Research
Week 2	The Role of Theory Qualitative Research Questions	Why use Theory in Qualitative Research? Developing a Qualitative Research Question
Week 3	Evaluating Qualitative Research 1	Rigour & Validity Sampling
Week 4	Evaluating Qualitative Research 2	Social Constructionism Critical Appraisal
Week 5	Theoretical Approach 1	Critical Approaches: Action Research, Feminist & Discursive Analysis
Week 6	Research with special populations	Cross-cultural & indigenous research Research with vulnerable populations
Week 7	Theoretical Approach 2 Methodology	Ethnography & Critical Ethnography Mixed Methods & Health Services Research
Week 8	Methodology 2	Coding Thematic Analysis
Week 9	Methodology 3	Interviews Focus groups
Week 10	Theoretical Approaches 4 Methodology 4	Grounded Theory Transcription
Week 11	Proposing and presenting research	Developing a Qualitative Research Proposal Writing up your research
Week 12	Student-directed revision	Opportunity for clarification on course content or assessment

Students should have access to a reliable network connection.

N/A

Assessment Task	Task Type	Weighting	Learning course objective(s) being addressed
Assignment 1	Formative	Nil	1,2,7,8
Group Assessment	Summative	10%	1,2,7,8
Assignment 2	Summative	20%	1,3,7,8
Assignment 3	Summative	30%	1-8
Assignment 4	Summative	40%	1-8

N/A

Assignment 1: (0%). Developing a qualitative research question
As part of formative assessment, each student must submit a, and provide feedback on others’, qualitative research question. The
feedback discussion will be facilitated by staff via online asynchronous or synchronous discussion tools (e.g., MyUni discussion  boards, webchat, Collaborate, or Skype, depending on student preferences and availability). This question may form the basis of  the final assignment 4, namely, a completed Ethical Application; criteria for assessment will be made available via MyUni.  This  activity will commence in Week 1, and follow through to Week 4.
 
Group Assessment (10%).  Qualitative research with a specific special/vulnerable population
Students will be allocated into groups to discuss and present issues associated with a ‘special population.’ Students will identify  issues associated with conducting qualitative research with their population, focusing on the potential ethical sensitivities,  reference to the NH&MRC guidelines, and practicalities involved.  Groups may use online asynchronous or synchronous discussion  tools (e.g., MyUni discussion boards, webchat, Collaborate, or Skype, depending on student preferences and availability) to  coordinate activities and create a short presentation summarising salient issues. These will be submitted by the end of Week 4.  Presentations will be made available to the student cohort, who may post questions regarding the content; presentation formats  may include narrated powerpoint, or Prezi. Assessment will include the presentation, and their responses to peer and staff questions; further instructions and criteria for assessment will be made available via MyUni.  
 
Assignment 2: (20%). Essay: Critical Appraisal of a provided article
Each student must submit online, via MyUni, a written critical appraisal of a nominated article (max 1000 words); further instructions and criteria for assessment will be made available via MyUni. Assignments will be submitted by the end of Week 6.
 
Assignment 3: (30%) Essay: Coding, and thematic analysis of a short piece of provided interview data
Students will be required to code and thematically analyse a provided transcript, providing a short introduction referring to relevant  previous research, and concluding with a summary and recommendations/implications for policy and/or practice. Further  instructions and criteria for assessment will be made available via MyUni. Assignments will be submitted online via MyUni by the end of Week 10 (max 2000 words).
 
Assignment 4: (40%) Developing an Ethics Application for a nominated research project
Students will complete an ethics application as if to the University of Adelaide Human Ethics Research Committee for an approved  research project (project topics are provided): Forms for the application can be found at: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/ethics /human/guidelines/applications Students must consider the requirements of the "National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human   Research (2007)": http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/synopses/e72syn.htm which has sections on both Qualitative Research  and researching with particular populations.  Research with Indigenous communities, the NHMRC (and hence all Ethics Committees)  also requires consideration of "Values and Ethics - Guidelines for Ethical Conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait   Islander Health Research": http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/synopses/e52syn.htm  Further instructions and criteria for   assessment will be made available via MyUni. Assignments will be submitted online via MyUni by the end of Week 13.

Submission of Assignments
Assignments should be submitted through the “Assignments” section of MyUni.  Instructions on how to submit an assignment in this way can be found at: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/myuni/tutorials/ 

Assignments must be submitted by 11.59 pm on the day that they are due. (note that MyUni will accept assignment after this time  but it will be marked Late.

Feedback on assignments will be provided to students within 4 weeks of completion of the task so that students can take  advantage of this feedback. 

Extension of Time for Assessment Items

Up to one week
It is expected that all assessments will be submitted by the specified time on the specified due date.

However, students may apply for an extension of time to submit an assessment, if they are experiencing difficulty. Applications for  extension must be made to the Course Coordinator Jaklin.eliott@adelaide.edu.au in writing (e.g. email) prior to the due date  lodgement of the assignment. Anticipate that it may take a few days to receive a reply. The grounds for granting an extension include health problems, compassionate reasons and other extenuating circumstances. Extensions will usually only be granted for  a maximum of one week, but can be longer at the discretion of the Chairperson of the Academic Progress Committee if  substantiated with evidence such as a medical certificate. Only original documents or certified copies of originals will be accepted.

Students will be notified by email to your University of Adelaide student email account of the outcome of their application. If an  extension is granted then it is the student’s responsibility to keep in contact with the course coordinator and to hand in the  assessment with a copy of the email (or other document) approving the extension.  Failure to submit an assessment item on time  without an approved extension will incur a penalty as detailed under ‘Late Submission of Work’.

Longer than one week
Students who require an extension for longer than one week should contact the Course Co-ordinator Jaklin Eliott on  Jaklin.eliott@adelaide.edu.au to discuss your request. If requesting an extension for longer than a week due to illness, a medical  certificate will be required.

Failure to submit an assessment item on time without an approved extension will incur a penalty as detailed under ‘Late  Submission of Work’.

Late Submission of Work
All assignments should be submitted by 11.59pm on the due date.

Late submission without an approved extension will be penalised at the rate of 10% of available marks for each day after the due  date. Work submitted more than ten days after the due date may be returned unmarked. This action will be taken to prevent  students who do get their work in on time being disadvantaged.

Word Limit
Students are advised to comply with word limits. They are, of course, not expected to achieve exactly the required length and a  10% leeway on either side is acceptable. However, a penalty of 5% of available marks will apply for word limit in excess of the 10% leeway.

Presentation
It is essential that students reference all written work accurately and consistently. We ask that students use the American  Psychological Society Referencing Format (APA 6) and information regarding this system can be found at  http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/ . 

EndNote bibliographic software is a very useful tool for managing references and it is provided free of charge through the  university. Information about EndNote can be found at:  http://www.adelaide.edu.au/library/guide/gen/bibsoft/ 
 
Be aware that marks will be deducted for incorrect referencing in all assignments.