Course Outline

HLT701 Qualitative Research: Approaches and Practice

Course Coordinator:May El Haddad (melhadda@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Nursing

2026Trimester 2

Online

Online You can do this course without coming onto campus, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

Qualitative research is used in everyday settings to answer questions related to issues of interest and their underpinning phenomena. You will attain a sound grounding in applying appropriate qualitative research methods. Theoretical content covers: qualitative methodologies, qualitative research methods, and presenting qualitative results. Course workshops promote critical thinking and provide opportunities to practice using qualitative research methods. While learning is self-directed, workshops and online forums allow discussion of theoretical and practical questions throughout the course.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Online
Online – Online asynchronous learning and teaching materials. 3hrs Week 1 12 times

Course Topics

Perspectives, principles , underlying assumptions and application to methodologies and methods

Collecting Qualitative Data (process and practice)

Analysing Qualitative Data

Reporting and Dissemination

 

 

What level is this course?

700 Level (Specialised)

Demonstrating a specialised body of knowledge and set of skills for professional practice or further learning. Advanced application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Critically appraise different qualitative methodologies. Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
2 Apply a research method to a qualitative research topic. Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
3 Effectively communicate an informed argument on a qualitative research topic area. Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
4 Apply principles and practices of academic writing and referencing Ethical
5 Demonstrate ethical use of intellectual property Ethical

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Enrolled in any PGRD level Program or SC420 or SC423

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Fundamental research methods knowledge and understanding of research procedures including ethics in human research.

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Feedback will be provided in sessions to assist with subsequent assessment tasks.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Written Piece Individual 25%
1000 words
Week 4 Online Submission
All 2 Artefact - Technical and Scientific Individual 25%
1000 -1250 words
Week 8 Online Submission
All 3 Plan Individual 50%
3000 words
Week 12 Online Submission
All - Assessment Task 1:Written assignment. Qualitative research fundamentals
Goal:
The goal is for you to present your formative understanding of fundamental principles and underlying assumptions of qualitative research. You will receive feedback and guidance to develop your knowledge and skills in the course and to support your completion of assessment tasks 2 and 3.
Product: Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format:
Choose two published qualitative research papers that address a topic/issue of interest to you. They should use different methodologies to investigate the topic/issue. 

For each paper briefly summarise the aim, research question and rationale for undertaking the study. 

Provide an overview of the principles and underlying assumptions that inform the aims, question(s) and methodologies used in the two studies and critically appraise the application of these in the reports presented.

Briefly identify what your review contributes to your plan for investigating a topic/issue using a qualitative approach
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Description of principles and underlying assumptions for each study
1
2
Critique of the application of the principles and underlying assumptions to the methodologies used to investigate the topic/issue
1
3
Reflection on learning for own qualitative research plan
3
4
Information literacy skills: use of sources and citations
3
5
Written presentation including structure, grammar, application of referencing protocol (APA 7th edn.)
4 5
Generic Skills:
All - Assessment Task 2:Digital presentation. Data collection and analysis
Goal:
The goal is for you to represent your engagement and learning about qualitative data collection and analysis approaches and practices.
Product: Artefact - Technical and Scientific
Authorship Statement:
Format:
You will produce a short PowerPoint presentation designed to share with peers which sets out your understanding of principles/ assumptions and procedures in qualitative data collection and analysis.

You will produce one slide for each of the following content items: 

Preparing to collect data

Data collection process and procedures 

Preparing to analyse data 

Analysis process and procedures 

You will also include a title slide and a reference slide. 

Notes: For each content slide you will complete 'notes' to illuminate and explain the slide content. Each content note is to be written using academic written communication structure and grammar and include appropriate citations. Each content note is to be no longer than 200 words in length.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Knowledge and understanding of principles/ underlying assumptions relating to qualitative data collection
1
2
Alignment and explanation of procedures with the data collection approach
2
3
PowerPoint communication - Clarity and accuracy of information, visual quality
3
4
Information literacy skills: use of sources and citations
4 5
5
Written presentation including structure, grammar, application of referencing protocol (APA 7th edn.)
3
Generic Skills:
All - Assessment Task 3:Written assignment. Plan for a qualitative research study
Goal:
The goal is for you to apply qualitative research principles, underlying assumptions, methods and procedures to a plan for a research study.
Product: Plan
Authorship Statement:
Format:
In your plan you will: 

Set out a research aim and question, and provide a case for the conduct of a qualitative study to investigate the question 

Set out a suitable methodology for the proposed study and justify the use of this methodology 

Set out the research method and procedures that would be used to conduct the study including: 

Context 
Population and sample 
Data 
Analysis approach and procedures 
Ethics 
Reflexivity and rigor
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Clarity of research question
3
2
Presentation and appraisal of methodology
1
3
Application in methods and procedures
2
4
Information literacy skills: use of sources and citations
4 5
5
Written presentation including structure, grammar, application of referencing protocol (APA
6th edn
3
Generic Skills:

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required Virginia Braun,Victoria Clarke 2013 Successful Qualitative Research n/a SAGE Publications Limited

Specific requirements

You will require a computer headset with a microphone and audio for web conferencing activities.

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: