Essentials of Qualitative Research
Build a strong foundation in qualitative research, from understanding its core principles to exploring research design, data collection and analysis.
Enrol now and start learning →Build the knowledge and confidence to navigate qualitative research
Qualitative research offers powerful ways to explore people's experiences, perspectives and the meanings they make of the world. But if you're new to qualitative research, the concepts, terminology and methodological choices can feel overwhelming.
Where do you begin? How does qualitative research differ from quantitative research? What counts as qualitative data? And how do you move from collecting data to developing meaningful interpretations?
In this comprehensive, self-paced course, Dr Claire Moran guides you through the essential foundations of qualitative research, combining clear explanations with practical examples and guided learning activities.
You'll explore the principles that underpin qualitative research, learn about different approaches to generating and analysing data, and develop an understanding of how research questions, theoretical perspectives and methodological decisions fit together.
Designed to be accessible, engaging and practical, this course will help you build the knowledge and confidence to take your next steps in qualitative research.
Who is this course for?
Essentials of Qualitative Research is designed for anyone seeking a clear, accessible introduction to qualitative research. It is particularly suited to:
- PhD and postgraduate researchers beginning their qualitative research journey.
- Undergraduate and honours students studying qualitative research for the first time.
- Academic researchers transitioning from quantitative to qualitative research.
- Research professionals and practitioners who want to develop foundational qualitative research skills.
- Anyone seeking to refresh or strengthen their understanding of the principles of qualitative research.
No previous experience with qualitative research is required.
What will you learn?
By the end of the course, you will have developed a stronger understanding of:
- What qualitative research is and how it differs from quantitative research.
- The strengths, characteristics and limitations of qualitative research.
- How qualitative researchers explore meaning, experience and social context.
- The different types of data used in qualitative research and how they are generated or selected.
- The principles of qualitative interviewing and other data collection methods.
- How to begin coding qualitative data and developing themes.
- The role of research questions in guiding qualitative research.
- How theoretical perspectives, ontology and epistemology influence research decisions.
- The importance of researcher subjectivity and reflexivity.
- How to approach qualitative research with greater confidence and methodological awareness.
What does the course cover?
Understanding the foundations of qualitative research
We'll begin by exploring what qualitative research is and what makes it distinctive.
You'll learn about the differences between qualitative and quantitative research, including the types of questions each approach is suited to answering.
We'll also explore some of the defining characteristics of qualitative research, including its attention to meaning, context, subjectivity and the complexity of human experience.
Exploring meaning and social context
Qualitative research is concerned with more than simply describing what people think or do.
We'll examine how meaning operates across different levels of human experience, including:
- Individual experiences, emotions and perspectives.
- Interpersonal relationships and immediate social contexts.
- Broader cultural, institutional and societal influences.
Through practical examples, you'll develop an understanding of how these interconnected systems of meaning can inform qualitative research questions and interpretations.
Collecting and generating qualitative data
Qualitative research draws on a wide range of data sources, extending well beyond interviews and focus groups.
You'll explore the distinction between producing new data for a research project and selecting existing materials for analysis. We'll introduce different approaches to qualitative data collection, including:
- Individual interviews and focus groups.
- Observation and ethnographic approaches.
- Participant diaries and creative methods.
- Documents, media and archival materials.
- Visual and other forms of qualitative data.
You'll also consider the importance of open-ended questioning, flexibility and the researcher's role in generating meaningful data.
Introduction to qualitative coding and theme development
Once you've collected qualitative data, how do you begin making sense of it? This section introduces the foundations of qualitative data analysis, focusing on the processes of coding and developing themes.
Using a sample dataset, you'll explore how researchers:
- Engage actively with qualitative data.
- Identify meaningful segments of data.
- Develop initial codes.
- Consider relationships and patterns across codes.
- Begin organising codes into potential themes.
- Develop meaningful and informative theme names.
Through guided exercises and worked examples, you'll gain an introductory understanding of how qualitative researchers move from raw data towards analytical interpretations.
This course provides a foundation in coding and theme development rather than comprehensive training in a particular analytical methodology.
Developing qualitative research questions
A strong research question is the starting point for a coherent research project.
We'll explore what makes a good qualitative research question and how qualitative questions differ from those typically used in quantitative research. You'll consider:
- Why qualitative research questions are often exploratory and process-oriented.
- The importance of remaining open to unexpected findings.
- How research questions may evolve during a qualitative study.
- The relationship between research questions and methodological choices.
- The ethical and social implications of the knowledge produced through research.
The focus is on understanding how research questions guide the decisions researchers make throughout a study.
Understanding theoretical perspectives in qualitative research
Concepts such as ontology, epistemology and theoretical perspectives can be challenging when you're first encountering qualitative research. In this section, we'll break down these concepts and explore why they matter.
You'll be introduced to different ways of understanding reality and knowledge, including realist, critical realist and relativist perspectives, alongside essentialist, contextualist and constructionist approaches. We'll consider how theoretical assumptions influence:
- What researchers understand as reality and knowledge.
- The kinds of research questions they ask.
- How they engage with participants and data.
- The interpretations they develop.
- The claims they can make from their research.
You'll also explore the importance of researcher subjectivity and reflexivity, including how researchers' experiences, assumptions and perspectives shape the research process.
How will you learn?
This is not a course where you simply watch six hours of presentations.
The training combines clear explanations with practical exercises, reflection activities, quizzes and worked examples to help you consolidate your learning. Throughout the course, Claire draws on real-world examples to make complex methodological concepts accessible and relevant.
You'll have opportunities to pause the recordings, complete activities and compare your responses with the sample answers provided. The course is designed to build your understanding progressively, connecting theoretical concepts with practical applications.
And because it's self-paced, you can work through the material at a time and pace that suits you, revisiting sections whenever you need to.
What's included?
- Approximately six hours of self-paced video training.
- Practical activity handouts.
- Sample answers and answer key for relevant exercises.
- Training slides in PDF format.
- Certificate of Completion.
- Option to arrange additional one-on-one research support.
Meet your facilitator
Dr Claire Moran is a qualitative researcher and educator with extensive experience delivering engaging workshops and masterclasses for universities and researchers across Australia and internationally.
Claire holds a PhD in Health Psychology from the University of Queensland, where she received the Dean's Award for Outstanding Research Higher Degree Theses.
Her teaching brings together methodological knowledge, practical research experience and an engaging, accessible approach to explaining complex concepts.
Having transitioned from quantitative research into qualitative research during her own academic journey, Claire understands the challenges of learning unfamiliar research approaches and is passionate about making qualitative research accessible to researchers at every stage.
Hear from past participants
Discover what researchers have to say about their experience of the Essentials of Qualitative Research.
"Claire's materials, guidance and explanations were very helpful in planning my research and helping me better understand articles and books I had read on research methodology."
"The Essentials of Qualitative Research training provided a great foundation for understanding the key aspects of qualitative research. The self-paced content was easy to digest and helped me better understand the more complex theories and concepts explored in the Thematic Analysis training. I also value being able to return to the materials to reinforce my learning."
Frequently asked questions
No. This course is specifically designed for beginners and introduces the fundamental concepts and practices of qualitative research. It is also suitable for researchers who want to refresh their foundational knowledge.
Yes. The course explores the key differences between qualitative and quantitative research, helping you understand how their underlying assumptions, research questions and approaches differ.
The course includes approximately six hours of video training, together with practical activities and reflection exercises. You can work through the material at your own pace.
The course is entirely self-paced. You can access the recorded lessons and complete the activities at a time that suits you.
Yes. You'll work through introductory coding and theme development exercises using sample data, with worked examples and sample answers to support your learning. The course provides an introduction to analysis rather than comprehensive training in a particular analytical methodology.
Yes. You'll explore research questions, theoretical perspectives and the relationship between methodology and research decisions. For more comprehensive training in designing a qualitative study, including methodological coherence and choosing appropriate methods, we recommend the Qualitative Research Design Masterclass.
Yes. You'll be introduced to coding and theme development through practical exercises. If you're planning to use Reflexive Thematic Analysis as your analytical approach, the Reflexive Thematic Analysis Masterclass provides more comprehensive training in the principles and processes of Braun and Clarke's approach.
No. The focus of this course is on developing a strong foundation in qualitative research principles and practices. If you're interested in exploring how AI can support research planning, literature reviews, qualitative analysis and academic writing, our Using AI in Qualitative Research Masterclass provides dedicated training in these areas.
Yes. You'll receive activity handouts, an answer key with sample responses for relevant exercises, and training slides in PDF format.
Yes. A Certificate of Completion is included.
Yes. Additional one-on-one research support can be arranged separately. For researchers seeking ongoing training, individual guidance and opportunities to connect with other researchers, The Research Circle provides access to all QRI training, monthly Q&A sessions, Mindset & Momentum Mapping sessions and a supportive research community.
Ready to build your foundations in qualitative research?
Whether you're beginning your first qualitative research project, transitioning from quantitative research or looking to strengthen your existing knowledge, this course will give you a clear and practical introduction to the principles of qualitative research. Learn at your own pace, develop your understanding through practical activities and build the confidence to take the next steps in your research journey.
Enrol now and start learning →