Introduction to Qualitative Methods for Health Economics

This course aims to provide an introduction to the use of qualitative methods in health economics research. The usefulness of qualitative techniques in informing health economics research questions will be discussed and participants will receive guidance on core practical techniques around sampling, data collection and data analysis.

The course is really well structured. The quality of the lectures was outstanding, particularly when they spoke about their own experience.
Course feedback
March 2020
Date *Information on this page relates to the last run of the course and is for reference only.*
Fee TBC
Format Online
Structure TBC
Audience Open to all applicants
Course Organisers Professor Joanna Coast, Dr Sam Husbands & Dr Amanda Owen-Smith

Full course details

By the end of the course participants should be able to:

  1. understand the nature of qualitative research and how it can be applied in health economics;
  2. define the principal steps involved in designing a qualitative study, including ethical and governance considerations;
  3. understand key concepts around sampling in qualitative research;
  4. describe techniques of data collection including focus groups, observations, and 1:1 interviews;
  5. outline the main approaches to qualitative data analysis and apply an analytic strategy to data for economic purposes; and
  6. identify some core techniques for publishing qualitative research in health economics.

The course is intended for anyone aiming to integrate qualitative methods into health economics research. As this is an introductory course, there is no need for participants to have prior experience of qualitative research.

The course contains lectures as well as more informal small group and practical sessions that provide a hands-on introduction to qualitative research, including practising techniques for 1:1 interviews and analysing data through an economics lens.     

Topics to be covered include:   

  1. introduction to qualitative research and its use in health economics;
  2. sampling and recruitment;
  3. individual interviewing techniques (with practical work embedded);
  4. focus groups;
  5. eliciting data for economic purposes and the use of tasks;
  6. data analysis;
  7. data analysis for specific economic purposes;
  8. observation techniques;
  9. an introduction to secondary data analysis;
  10. planning a qualitative project and key considerations (ethics and research governance); and
  11. publication, presentation, and rigour (with practical).

Please note: The course will use NVivo 12 for demonstrations.