Module 1: Foundations and Philosophical Paradigms in Qualitative Research

·       Differentiating Qualitative from Quantitative Research: Aims and approaches

·       Overview of major philosophical paradigms: Interpretivism, Constructivism, and Critical Theory

·       The researcher's role and reflexivity in qualitative inquiry

·       Qualitative research ethics: Informed consent, anonymity, and researcher safety

·       Introduction to different qualitative traditions (e.g., Phenomenology, Case Study)

·       Practical session: Writing a personal reflexivity statement and justifying a chosen philosophical stance for a hypothetical study.

Module 2: Qualitative Research Design, Ethics, and Planning

·       Formulating effective qualitative research questions (focusing on "how" and "why")

·       Developing a coherent qualitative research proposal/protocol

·       Designing research instruments: The role of the interview or discussion guide

·       Ethical review and approval processes for sensitive qualitative studies

·       Managing resources, timelines, and logistical planning for fieldwork

·       Practical session: Drafting a detailed research protocol, including a timeline and an outline of the ethical consent process.

Module 3: In-Depth Interviewing and Elicitation Techniques

·       Structuring the interview: Funneling, rapport building, and sequencing questions

·       Non-verbal communication and active listening skills

·       Probing and follow-up techniques (e.g., silent probes, reflective probes)

·       Using visual, artifact, or photo elicitation techniques to deepen responses

·       Techniques for interviewing elites, sensitive populations, or vulnerable participants

·       Practical session: Role-playing a 15-minute mock in-depth interview, followed by constructive critique of probing effectiveness.

Module 4: Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Group Dynamics

·       When to use FGDs: Exploring social norms, shared experiences, and consensus

·       Moderator and note-taker roles and responsibilities

·       Managing group dynamics: Handling dominant or silent participants

·       Designing effective discussion guides and stimulus materials for groups

·       Logistics: Recruitment, setting, recording, and remuneration of participants

·       Practical session: Practicing moderating an FGD with a small group, focusing on question flow and managing group participation.

Module 5: Ethnography, Observation, and Fieldwork Methods

·       The principles of ethnographic fieldwork and immersive research

·       Types of observation: Participant observation versus non-participant observation

·       The process of field notes creation: Descriptive, reflective, and methodological notes

·       Conducting "walk-throughs" and mapping for contextual data collection

·       Ethical boundaries and building rapport in sensitive field settings

·       Practical session: Spending 30 minutes in an observation exercise (e.g., observing a public space or group interaction) and writing comprehensive field notes.

Module 6: Purposeful Sampling Strategies and Participant Selection

·       Contrasting probability sampling with purposeful sampling in QRM

·       Key purposeful sampling strategies: Maximum variation, critical case, and snowball sampling

·       The concept of data saturation versus theme saturation in participant recruitment

·       Practical tools for recruitment, screening, and tracking participants

·       Sample size considerations and justification in qualitative research

·       Practical session: Developing a recruitment strategy and screening questionnaire for a study requiring a specific purposeful sample (e.g., critical case sampling).

Module 7: Data Transcription, Memoing, and Software Preparation

·       Transcription standards: Verbatim vs. naturalized transcription and notation systems

·       The importance of the transcription process as the first step of analysis

·       Systematic memo-writing: Types of memos (theoretical, analytical, procedural) and their purpose

·       Introduction to Qualitative Data Analysis (QDA) software (e.g., NVivo, ATLAS.ti)

·       Organizing and storing qualitative data files securely and ethically

·       Practical session: Practicing transcription notation on a short audio clip and generating initial analytical memos based on the content.

Module 8: Thematic Analysis (TA) in Practice

·       Overview of the six-phase framework for Thematic Analysis (TA)

·       Phase 1 & 2: Familiarization and Generating Initial Codes (coding process)

·       Phase 3 & 4: Searching for and Reviewing Potential Themes

·       Phase 5 & 6: Defining, Naming, and Producing the Final Report

·       Coding types: Descriptive, interpretive, and pattern coding

·       Practical session: Collaboratively coding a short sample transcript and iteratively developing a theme based on the coded excerpts.

Module 9: Advanced Qualitative Analysis Methodologies

·       Introduction to Grounded Theory Methodology (GTM): Open, axial, and selective coding

·       Overview of Discourse Analysis and its application to institutional texts or communication

·       Introduction to Narrative Analysis: Focusing on participant stories and chronology

·       Utilizing visual models and frameworks to represent complex relationships in data

·       Decision-making: Choosing the appropriate QRM analysis method based on research questions

·       Practical session: Applying the open coding process of Grounded Theory to a provided set of observational field notes.

Module 10: Ensuring Trustworthiness and Reporting Findings

·       Establishing Trustworthiness: Credibility, Transferability, Dependability, and Confirmability

·       Techniques for enhancing rigor (e.g., member checking, triangulation of data sources)

·       Writing the qualitative methods section with clear documentation and justification

·       Presenting findings: The use of illustrative quotes, vivid description, and narrative flow

·       Developing strong, evidence-based conclusions and recommendations

·       Practical session: Critiquing a sample qualitative research findings section, focusing on the effective use of quotes and the articulation of conclusions.

Requirements:

·       Participants should be reasonably proficient in English.

·       Applicants must live up to Armstrong Global Institute admission criteria.

Terms and Conditions

1. Discounts: Organizations sponsoring Four Participants will have the 5th attend Free

2. What is catered for by the Course Fees: Fees cater for all requirements for the training – Learning materials, Lunches, Teas, Snacks and Certification. All participants will additionally cater for their travel and accommodation expenses, visa application, insurance, and other personal expenses.

3. Certificate Awarded: Participants are awarded Certificates of Participation at the end of the training.

4. The program content shown here is for guidance purposes only. Our continuous course improvement process may lead to changes in topics and course structure.

5. Approval of Course: Our Programs are NITA Approved. Participating organizations can therefore claim reimbursement on fees paid in accordance with NITA Rules.

Booking for Training

Simply send an email to the Training Officer on training@armstrongglobalinstitute.com and we will send you a registration form. We advise you to book early to avoid missing a seat to this training.

Or call us on +254720272325 / +254725012095 / +254724452588

Payment Options

We provide 3 payment options, choose one for your convenience, and kindly make payments at least 5 days before the Training start date to reserve your seat:

1. Groups of 5 People and Above – Cheque Payments to: Armstrong Global Training & Development Center Limited should be paid in advance, 5 days to the training.

2. Invoice: We can send a bill directly to you or your company.

3. Deposit directly into Bank Account (Account details provided upon request)

Cancellation Policy

1. Payment for all courses includes a registration fee, which is non-refundable, and equals 15% of the total sum of the course fee.

2. Participants may cancel attendance 14 days or more prior to the training commencement date.

3. No refunds will be made 14 days or less before the training commencement date. However, participants who are unable to attend may opt to attend a similar training course at a later date or send a substitute participant provided the participation criteria have been met.

Tailor Made Courses

This training course can also be customized for your institution upon request for a minimum of 5 participants. You can have it conducted at our Training Centre or at a convenient location. For further inquiries, please contact us on Tel: +254720272325 / +254725012095 / +254724452588 or Email training@armstrongglobalinstitute.com

Accommodation and Airport Transfer

Accommodation and Airport Transfer is arranged upon request and at extra cost. For reservations contact the Training Officer on Email: training@armstrongglobalinstitute.com or on Tel: +254720272325 / +254725012095 / +254724452588