Methods for Conducting Qualitative Research in Diverse Settings (Online)

This one-day course will be offered online only. Attendance is required as the course will not be recorded.

Knowing how to develop various types of qualitative research studies to respond to complex research and community priorities is rewarding, but can also be daunting. This short course provides practical skills for conducting various types of qualitative research in U.S. and international settings. First, students will learn about the epistemological and theoretical foundations of qualitative research and the range of methodologies currently used such as programmatic qualitative research, ethnography, grounded theory, phenomenology, and case studies. Next, the short course provides step-by-step instructions on how to develop and implement various qualitative methods and designs, such as interviews, focus groups, and observations – and how to handle single- versus multi-method qualitative studies or cross-sectional versus longitudinal qualitative studies. Students will learn basic principles for data generation, ethics, and data quality in qualitative studies. We will also focus on practical steps for data analysis, including data management, transcription, and coding. Traditionally, qualitative research is conducted in-person, and students will be trained for in-person interactions. However, the short course’s concluding module teaches students about techniques required for contemporary qualitative research online and by phone, including consideration of recent advances in conducting qualitative research using social media. This course is designed to provide new knowledge for both introductory and intermediate students.

This course will count as 6.0 CSS short course credits.

Instructor: Larissa Jennings Mayo-Wilson

Larissa Jennings Mayo-Wilson, PhD MHS, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Behavior and Department of Maternal and Child Health at the University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health. She is a sexual and reproductive health behavioral scientist with methodological skills in epidemiology, biostatistics, and qualitative science.

Dr. Jennings Mayo-Wilson’s research focuses on improving sexual and reproductive health (SRH), including HIV prevention, in vulnerable adolescents and young adults in the U.S. and sub-Saharan Africa. Specifically, she is interested in: (i) design and evaluation of economic-strengthening interventions to reduce inequities in HIV/SRH, including microenterprise, cash transfers, savings, and financial incentives; (ii) analysis of economic and structural causes of disparities in HIV/SRH, and (iii) use of mobile health technologies to improve implementation and evaluation of HIV/SRH interventions. Her research also examines socio-economic influences on maternal health care-seeking and uptake of assisted reproductive technologies. As part of this work, Dr. Jennings Mayo-Wilson is a faculty fellow at the Carolina Population Center, a research fellow at the Cecil. G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, and Adjunct Associate Professor at the UNC School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Registration fees:

• UNC Chapel Hill Students: $0, with a $35 deposit to hold your spot (deposit is refundable upon your attendance for at least 66% of the course)
• UNC Chapel Hill Faculty/Staff/Postdoc/Resident/Visiting Scholars: $80
• University (Non UNC Chapel Hill) Student/Employee (must have active university email): $105
• Government/Non-Profit/Corporate: $130

Additional course information:

• Cancellation/ Refund Policy: A full refund will be given to those who cancel their registration no later than 10 days prior to the course. If you cancel within the 10 days prior to the class, no refund will be given. Please allow 30 days to receive your refund.
• Zoom link will be sent prior to the course. Registration must be made at least 1 day prior to the course date to receive the Zoom link.

For questions regarding this class, please contact Jill Stevens at jill_stevens@unc.edu