Qualitative Research
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Qualitative Research
This course is part of Market Research Specialization
Instructor: Susan Berman
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What you'll learn
Explain limitations and risks of qualitative research
Create a moderator guide and design a screening questionnaire to recruit for a focus group
Demonstrate how to increase likelihood of focus group participation by effective recruiting strategies
Analyze focus group data and create a focus group report following common business practices in qualitative market research
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There are 4 modules in this course
In this course, the second in the Market Research Specialization, you will go in-depth with qualitative market research methods, from design to implementation to analysis.
Week 1: Define qualitative research and how it differs from quantitative research. Explore the various qualitative research methods and evaluate when and how to use them for your research project. Week 2: Design the qualitative instruments necessary for your interviews or focus groups, and plan your recruitment efforts. Write questions and prompts to ask in an interview or focus group. Design a moderator guide and a screening questionnaire to use when recruiting your participants. Week 3: Recruit participants for your focus group and apply techniques to ensure they show up and participate. Act as a moderator during your focus group and apply strategies to handle various types of situations. Probe responses and engage participants in a group discussion, while collecting qualitative data and keep the discussion moving. Week 4: Organize and analyze the data you have collected. Transcribe the audio from your focus group or interview and interpret your notes. Write a focus group report that can be presented to your stakeholders and see how this information might relate to your quantitative research. Take Qualitative Research as a standalone course or as part of the Market Research Specialization. You should have equivalent experience to completing the first course in this specialization, Research Report: Initiating Research, before taking this course. By completing the second class in the Specialization you will gain the skills needed to succeed in the full program.
In this module, you will explore the fundamentals of qualitative research and distinguish it from quantitative research. You will examine various qualitative research methods, evaluate their strengths and limitations, and identify situations in which qualitative research is the most appropriate approach for addressing a business question. You will also learn how to recognize the qualities of effective qualitative researchers, avoid common risks associated with qualitative research, and begin conducting secondary research to support a qualitative investigation. By the end of this module, you will be better equipped to determine when and how to use qualitative market research to generate meaningful insights.
What's included
10 videos3 readings4 assignments
10 videosβ’Total 70 minutes
- Course Introductionβ’5 minutes
- Qualitative Market Research Introductionβ’1 minute
- Essential Components of Qualitative Researchβ’10 minutes
- Choosing Qualitative Research in the Market Research Processβ’9 minutes
- Choosing Qualitative Research in a Business Case Scenarioβ’5 minutes
- Common Qualitative Research Methods (Part 1): Background, Observational, and Panel Researchβ’6 minutes
- Common Qualitative Research Methods (Part 2): In-Depth Interviews and Focus Groupsβ’8 minutes
- Limitations and Risk of Qualitative Market Research: Accept Limitations, Mitigate Risks, and Communicate Bothβ’10 minutes
- Good and Bad Qualities for Conducting Qualitative Researchβ’5 minutes
- Begin Qualitative Investigation of a Problem or Projectβ’11 minutes
3 readingsβ’Total 45 minutes
- Course Navigation and Safety Statementβ’30 minutes
- The #1 Focus Group Moderator in the Worldβ’10 minutes
- Get Started with Qualitative Research Checklistβ’5 minutes
4 assignmentsβ’Total 90 minutes
- Module 1 Quiz β’30 minutes
- Knowledge Check 1β’15 minutes
- Applying Qualitative Research to a Business Problemβ’30 minutes
- Knowledge Check 2β’15 minutes
In this module, you will be able to write questions applying best practices for qualitative research, design a moderator guide with all essential components, and design a screening questionnaire to identify suitable participants for your qualitative research. You will be able to use these instruments as you progress, and identify the best places and practices to recruit key informants and focus group participants.
What's included
9 videos6 readings2 assignments2 discussion prompts
9 videosβ’Total 49 minutes
- Design Qualitative Instruments and Plan Recruiting Introductionβ’1 minute
- Best Practices for Writing Questions and Probesβ’6 minutes
- Topic Saturationβ’7 minutes
- Process for Qualitative Research and Conducting In-Depth Interviewsβ’6 minutes
- Assessing Questions by Topics and Sequenceβ’5 minutes
- Designing a Moderator Guideβ’8 minutes
- Designing a "Screener" or Screening Questionnaireβ’6 minutes
- Recruitment Planning and Best Practicesβ’6 minutes
- Various Ways to Recruit for Qualitative Researchβ’5 minutes
6 readingsβ’Total 65 minutes
- Video: Focus Group Research 2007 BBQ Sauce Fliptopβ’10 minutes
- Suggested Activity: Begin Moderator Guideβ’15 minutes
- Suggested Activity: Create a Screenerβ’20 minutes
- Sample Flier for Cellphone Focus Groupβ’5 minutes
- Sample Confirmation Letterβ’5 minutes
- Review Instructor's Moderator Guideβ’10 minutes
2 assignmentsβ’Total 90 minutes
- Module 2 Quizβ’30 minutes
- Designing a Focus Group Moderator Guideβ’60 minutes
2 discussion promptsβ’Total 55 minutes
- Post Your Screener Questionnaireβ’25 minutes
- Create and Compare Recruiting Fliersβ’30 minutes
In this module, you will transition into applying what youβve learned previously to conduct a focus group, from design to implementation. You will be able to clarify the purpose of focus groups for qualitative market research and learn associated best practices. You will be able to build on and use the instruments you designed in the previous module. Here you will write confirmation letters and talking points to get the right participants to show up for your focus group. You will be able to identify common pitfalls experienced moderators know and be able to avoid them. You will be able to practice the essential skills needed to moderate a focus group well.
What's included
16 videos2 readings1 assignment2 discussion prompts
16 videosβ’Total 61 minutes
- Introduction to Focus Groups: From Design to Implementationβ’1 minute
- The Purpose and Objectives of a Focus Groupβ’8 minutes
- Recruiting for a Focus Groupβ’11 minutes
- Getting the Right Participants to Show Upβ’6 minutes
- Introduction to Focus Groupsβ’1 minute
- Icebreakers and Introductionsβ’2 minutes
- Inviting Others to Contributeβ’2 minutes
- Collecting Thoughts on a Flipchartβ’1 minute
- Guiding Them to Prioritizeβ’1 minute
- Dealing with a Ramblerβ’3 minutes
- Pair Talking to Each Otherβ’2 minutes
- Allowing Group to Redirect Your Planβ’3 minutes
- Guiding Conversation as It Takes Its Courseβ’12 minutes
- Everyone Talking at Onceβ’1 minute
- Handling a Debateβ’3 minutes
- Concluding Remarksβ’2 minutes
2 readingsβ’Total 25 minutes
- Quirk's: The Focus Group Bill of Rightsβ’10 minutes
- Quirk's: Dispelling the Myths about Focus Groupsβ’15 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 30 minutes
- Module 3 Quizβ’30 minutes
2 discussion promptsβ’Total 40 minutes
- Recruiting for Business Case Scenarioβ’20 minutes
- Notice Important Shifts in Focus Group Conversationβ’20 minutes
In this module, you will be able to make decisions about transcription of a focus group, interpret focus group notes, analyze qualitative data to identify common categories and themes. You will be able to explain what goes into a focus group report including the appropriate words that are expected. You will be able to describe best practices and the components of a qualitative research report. You will also be able to develop qualitative findings that inform the improvement of a quantitative survey design, which helps bridge into the next course. This module is also where you will gather and polish the practice exercises youβve been building all along to complete your course project: a qualitative market research Focus Group Report.
What's included
8 videos1 reading3 assignments1 discussion prompt
8 videosβ’Total 45 minutes
- Analyze, Interpret, and Communicate Qualitative Market Research Data Introductionβ’1 minute
- Focus Group Transcription: Process and Optionsβ’9 minutes
- Interpreting Focus Group Notesβ’7 minutes
- Analyzing Qualitative Dataβ’9 minutes
- Components of a Focus Group Reportβ’5 minutes
- Writing a Focus Group Reportβ’9 minutes
- Bridging from Qualitative to Quantitative Researchβ’4 minutes
- Course Summaryβ’1 minute
1 readingβ’Total 10 minutes
- Focus Group Report Exampleβ’10 minutes
3 assignmentsβ’Total 170 minutes
- Assistant to the Moderator: Focus Group Notesβ’60 minutes
- Module 4 Quizβ’30 minutes
- Writing a Focus Group Reportβ’80 minutes
1 discussion promptβ’Total 15 minutes
- What Effect Does Your Focus Have?β’15 minutes
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Showing 3 of 477
Reviewed on Sep 6, 2020
Really good! But be sure to take up the first courses if you're new to Market Research, and honestly, if you already have experience in this. You will learn a lot! :D Very recommendable
Reviewed on Oct 22, 2023
wonderfully designed course and this lays a great foundation for a qualitative research for those who aim to explore the field.
Reviewed on Sep 29, 2019
Really enjoyed learning about the practical aspects of running focus groups, and I appreciated the video resources that were included.
Frequently asked questions
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
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