This course provides a comprehensive introduction to qualitative research in education as a systematic, interpretive, and philosophically grounded approach to understanding meaning, experience, and context. Students examine how qualitative inquiry addresses complex “how” and “why” questions, with particular attention to the role of the researcher, the importance of context, and the value of multiple perspectives in educational settings. Through an engagement with the ontological, epistemological, and axiological assumptions undergirding qualitative research, students will explore how these assumptions shape research design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
The course emphasizes the centrality of well-developed research questions and guides students in aligning questions with appropriate methodologies, interpretive frameworks, and theoretical foundations. Students are introduced to major qualitative methodologies and learn to select approaches that best align with their research purposes. The course also develops practical skills in data collection and analysis, including sampling, interviewing, observation, coding, and theme development.
By the end of the course, students will know how to establish quality and rigor in qualitative research through standards of trustworthiness and how to navigate ethical considerations such as informed consent, confidentiality, and emerging ethical dilemmas. Students will be prepared to design, conduct, evaluate, and report qualitative research studies effectively. They will be equipped with the conceptual understanding and practical skills necessary to carry out coherent, ethical, and high-quality qualitative inquiry in educational and professional contexts.
Introduction to Qualitative Research
Description
Introduces qualitative research as a systematic, interpretive approach for examining meaning, experience, and context in educational settings. Emphasizes the distinguishing characteristics of qualitative inquiry, its philosophical foundations, and its value for addressing complex “how” and “why” questions in education.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, students will be able to:
- Explain the defining characteristics and purposes of qualitative research in education
- Distinguish qualitative inquiry from quantitative approaches
- Identify contexts in which qualitative methods are appropriate for addressing educational problems
The Research Question
Description
Examines the research question as the central organizing element of high‑quality research. Emphasizes scope, feasibility, ethical responsibility, and alignment with methodology, demonstrating how research questions guide design, data collection, and analysis.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, students will be able to:
- Develop research questions that are focused, ethical, and researchable
- Align research questions with methodological orientation
- Demonstrate coherence among problem statements, purpose, and research questions
Reading and Producing Scholarly Work
Description
Develops skills for critically reading academic literature and producing graduate‑level scholarly writing. Emphasizes strategic reading, source management, academic integrity, and adherence to disciplinary conventions to support effective participation in scholarly discourse.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, students will be able to:
- Critically read and analyze peer‑reviewed educational research
- Manage and synthesize scholarly sources effectively
- Produce graduate‑level scholarly writing that adheres to disciplinary standards
Philosophical Assumptions in Qualitative Research
Description
Explores the philosophical foundations of qualitative research, focusing on ontology, epistemology, axiology, and methodology. Emphasizes how researchers’ assumptions shape research design, interpretation, and credibility, and underscores the importance of alignment and reflexivity in rigorous qualitative inquiry.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, students will be able to:
- Describe the ontological, epistemological, axiological, and methodological assumptions underlying qualitative research
- Analyze how philosophical assumptions influence research design and interpretation
- Reflect on the researcher’s positionality and its role in qualitative inquiry
Interpretive Frameworks
Description
Examines interpretive frameworks as the paradigmatic lenses that connect philosophical assumptions, theory, and methodology. Introduces major interpretive traditions in educational research and emphasizes the intentional selection of frameworks to ensure coherence, transparency, and purpose in qualitative studies.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, students will be able to:
- Identify major interpretive frameworks used in educational research
- Explain how interpretive frameworks connect philosophy, theory, and methodology
- Select an interpretive framework that aligns with a research problem and purpose
Theoretical Frameworks: The Blueprint for Research
Description
Focuses on the theoretical framework as the foundational structure guiding research design, analysis, and interpretation. Emphasizes theory selection, alignment with research goals, and the role of theoretical frameworks in establishing coherence, rigor, and scholarly credibility.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, students will be able to:
- Define the role of a theoretical framework in educational research
- Distinguish theoretical frameworks from personal beliefs and conceptual frameworks
- Apply theoretical frameworks to support coherent research design and analysis
Qualitative Research Methodologies
Description
Provides an overview of major qualitative research methodologies used in educational inquiry, including narrative research, phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, and case study. Emphasizes methodological fit with research purpose and the distinct logics underlying different qualitative traditions.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, students will be able to:
- Compare major qualitative research methodologies and their purposes
- Identify the philosophical assumptions underlying different qualitative approaches
- Select appropriate methodologies based on research questions and problems of practice
Data Collection
Description
Examines qualitative data collection as an aligned, ethical, and systematic process. Introduces common data collection methods and sampling strategies while emphasizing researcher reflexivity, ethical responsibilities, and practical considerations necessary for gathering credible qualitative data.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, students will be able to:
- Identify qualitative data collection methods and sampling strategies
- Align data collection choices with methodological and ethical considerations
- Apply principles of ethical data collection, including IRB requirements and researcher reflexivity
Qualitative Data Analysis
Description
Explores qualitative data analysis as an iterative, interpretive process involving coding, theme development, and meaning making. Emphasizes analytic rigor, transparency, and the role of theoretical and methodological frameworks in shaping interpretation.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, students will be able to:
- Describe the iterative process of qualitative data analysis
- Apply basic coding strategies and develop analytic themes
- Interpret qualitative findings within theoretical and methodological frameworks
Quality Qualitative Research
Description
Examines how rigor and quality are established in qualitative research through standards of trustworthiness. Introduces key criteria such as credibility, dependability, confirmability, transferability, and authenticity, emphasizing reflective and methodologically aligned research practice.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, students will be able to:
- Explain standards of trustworthiness in qualitative research
- Apply strategies to enhance qualitative rigor and credibility
- Evaluate qualitative studies using established quality criteria
Ethics in Qualitative Research
Description
Explores the ethical issues inherent in qualitative research, emphasizing ethics as a continuous, relational practice. Addresses informed consent, confidentiality, researcher positionality, and emergent ethical dilemmas, positioning ethical decision‑making as central to research rigor and integrity.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, students will be able to:
- Identify ethical challenges unique to qualitative research
- Apply ethical principles throughout the research process
- Address researcher positionality, reflexivity, and emergent ethical dilemmas
Reporting Your Findings
Description
Focuses on effective reporting of qualitative research findings in scholarly writing. Emphasizes ethical representation, reflexivity, audience awareness, and the strategic use of participant voice, while distinguishing between the presentation of findings and interpretation.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, students will be able to:
- Report qualitative findings clearly and ethically using scholarly conventions
- Represent participant voices with accuracy and respect
- Distinguish between presenting findings and offering interpretation
Dr. Jesse Moland 