Semester 2, 2025-2026
Type of courseMethodological and Practical Courses
DateApril 16 and April 17, 2026
LocationUtrecht University
2 days
Maximum number of participants30
ECTS1 EC will be appointed for participation in the complete course
StaffAmarins Jansma (UU), Anne Janssen (UU)
Content, learning goals, preparation
This workshop aims to familiarize students with qualitative research. It is suitable for both PhDs in the earlier years of their project (if they consider conducting qualitative research as part of their PhD) and for PhDs in the later years of their project (if they consider conducting qualitative research after their PhD). The course will focus on different qualitative methods, such as interviews, action research, and document analysis.
Taking the qualitative research cycle as its point of departure, the workshop focuses on enhancing students’ knowledge of (a) developing research questions and research aims that require a qualitative research design, (b) collecting qualitative data, and (c) analyzing qualitative data. Students will also learn about reliability and validity, and ethical matters.
Because KLI students have different levels of experience with conducting qualitative research, the course is split up in two days. Day 1 focuses on the basics of qualitative research and designing a qualitative study, whereas Day 2 focuses on in-depth knowledge of data collection and data analysis and practicing with these phases of a qualitative project. Depending on their needs and interests, students can choose to participate in one of those days or both. Students who attend both days will earn 1 EC, while students who attend one day will earn 0.5 EC. After being registered and accepted through the KLI website, accepted students will receive a form where they can indicate the day(s) they will be attending.
Day 1 starts with introductions. We briefly discuss students’ PhD topics, their experience with qualitative research and their expectations of the workshop. Next, we introduce the qualitative research cycle and discuss some of the reasons why one might want to conduct qualitative research (possibly in addition to conducting quantitative studies). After this introductory lecture, we discuss the basics of the different components of qualitative research: research goals and questions, data collection, data analysis, and reliability and validity. Lectures on these topics are alternated with assignments and discussions (e.g., asking students to think about possible research questions and research aims of their own (potential) qualitative project, and discuss these both in small groups of three or four students and with the entire group). Finally, we address ethical matters and research planning. Any remaining issues can be addressed during the closing discussion.
Day 2 starts with a brief recap of the topics addressed on Day 1 (also for students who attend only Day 2). We then discuss several of the topics of Day 1 in more detail, alternated with various exercises. For instance, whereas on Day 1 we explained the basics of data collection, Day 2 gives students the opportunity to practice with different practical aspects of qualitative research: (1) drafting a qualitative research project, (2) interviewing, or (3) qualitative data analysis. These three practical activities will first be briefly introduced in a plenary lecture. Students then will be divided into subgroups based on their preferences. The first group of students will practice with drafting their qualitative research project, for example by designing a topic list for interviews or create a plan for the collection of text documents. The second group of students will practice the skill of interviewing by letting students conduct mock interviews in duos (practicing with probing, types of questions, reflecting). The third group of students will practice qualitative data analysis by coding a sample interview transcript or text document in NVivo or R Studio (they bring their own interview transcripts or use material provided by the teachers). Students also have the opportunity to change groups after the break if they are done practicing a particular skill. Through these exercises, students gain more in-depth knowledge of the topics addressed on Day 1 as well as hands-on experience with different practical aspects of conducting qualitative research. Day 2 ends with a closing discussion and room for any remaining questions.
Program
Day 1
10.15 – 10.30 Walk-in
10.30 – 11.30 Introductions
11.30 – 12.15 Research questions and research goals (incl. assignment)
12.15 – 13.15 Lunch
13.15 – 14.15 Data collection basics (incl. assignment)
14.15 – 15.00 Data analysis basics
15:00 – 15.15 Break
15.15 – 16.15 Reliability and validity (incl. assignment)
16.15 – 16.30 Ethical matters
16.30 – 17.00 Closing discussion
Day 2
10.15 – 10.30 Walk-in
10.30 – 10.45 Introductions and recap Day 1
10.45 – 12.00 Data collection advanced (incl. assignment)
12.00 – 13.00 Lunch
13.00 – 14.30 Practice designing, interviewing, or coding in subgroups
14.30 – 14.45 Break
14.45 – 15.45 Practice designing, interviewing, or coding in subgroups
15.45 – 16.00 Plenary discussion and closing
At least two weeks prior to the course, students are mailed with the reading materials. They will also be asked about their preferences for the practical exercises for Day 2, so that we can plan the exercises more precisely. Those who want to practice coding are asked to download NVivo and/or R Studio (and any necessary text analysis packages) in advance or other qualitative research software for which their university has a license. We will double check students preferences for Day 2 at the end of Day 1.
Literature
Students are requested to read the following literature before the start of the course:
Further reading (optional):
If there are more PhDs interested in participating than available places, distribution will be based on seniority for this course. This means that we look at how long someone is a KLI member.