Basic Qualitative Toolkit

A lecture on observant participation, with discussion on how it differs from participant observation and how the two approaches can be combined for a hybrid approach.

A detailed lecture overviewing an interactionist/situationist critique of qualitative interviews and providing practical advice for interviewing.

An article discussing the use of critical discourse analysis in research on education. Discuses the definitions, theories, and methodologies that have been used.

A short article presenting a step-by-step guide to conducting a discourse analysis, with specific guidance on using it as a tool to study political texts.

A video lecture providing a detailed guide on writing a discourse analysis. The video includes a step-by-step walkthrough of an example paper with helpful annotations.

A book providing a comprehensive overview of discourse analysis, from theory to methodology and criticism. Chapters are short, to the point, and available online.

A short introductory video on discourse analysis. The speaker defines what “discourse” is and discusses different methodological approaches.

A lecture on systematic social observation (SSO) and how this tool was adapted to collect comparable data from civil society organizations.

A short article discussing different types of field notes, how to take high quality field notes to enhance your research, and topics for ethical consideration.

An article providing an in-depth introduction to meta-ethnography, discussing different types of meta-ethnographies and its various methodological stages.

An article providing an accessible introduction to multilevel models, with tips on how to addres common methodological challenges.

An article providing an in-depth overview of multilevel analysis, with applied examples using the the TIMSS dataset.

A short article discussing biases that arise with secondary analysis of large national survey datasets and related considerations.

A detailed article presenting a simple process for using secondary data to answer research questions.

An article proposing an easy 5-step process for analyzing simple survey data. Also includes helpful tips to design effective surveys.

A crash course on common survey sampling methods and related biases. Presented in a fun, accessible, and engaging way!

An article providing an easy-to-follow introduction to survey sampling techniques.

A short and straightforward lesson on key concepts for survey sampling methods and an overview of related statistical parameters (includes text and a video).

A detailed lecture on the problem of sensitivity bias in surveys and how to address it at the analysis stage.

A detailed lecture on the problem of sensitivity bias in survey design and how to address it at the design stage.

An article discussing practical considerations for question ordering and flow, with discussion on how to limit bias in responses.

An article providing a plain language overview of question design and methodology, with examples showing how small changes in wording can make a big difference.

A short video covering the “ground rules” of survey design. Discusses different question types and provide tips to write good questions.

A short video proposing a 5-step process for designing a questionnaire or survey, with examples for each step.

An article proposing an intersection between the problem-centered interview and an expert interview: the ‘problem-centred expert interview’.

A detailed yet accessible article providing a basic introduction to problem-centered interviews, with discussion on appropriate instruments and analyzing results.

A detailed lecture overviewing cognitive interviewing as a method to pretest survey questions, with discussion on web probing.

An accessible article introducing cognitive interviewing (CI) and its methodology, and how it can be applied to cross-cultural research.

A detailed video workshop on how to conduct better interviews, with 10 tips on “embracing the beginner’s mind” as an interviewer.

A short video discussing how to conduct IDIs well, with tips on how to build trust, prepare interview questions, and record responses.

A detailed video lecture on how to conduct better interviews. Includes discussion on positionality and a “easy advice” to elevate your skills.

A short video on how to use IDIs as an effective research tool. Discusses appropriate research questions and sampling considerations.

An online textbook chapter providing a detailed overview of qualitative interviews, with step-by-step instructions on how to create an effective interview guide.

An article providing an introduction to interviewing in research. Includes an overview of different types of interviews and resources to learn about each one.

Researchers have access to a variety of (free) services at Spark to support their work, including research conversations, software licenses, and trainings.

A short article overviewing Q Methodology and describing how to use it with a group of research participants. Includes links to other helpful resources and papers.

A comprehensive, yet accessible, article that introduces participatory mapping, provides helpful tools, and discusses best practices and processes.

An article providing a detailed introduction to ideation, with steps on how to prepare for a session and different models to try.

An article discussing how to develop good facilitation skills, with step-by-step instructions on how to facilitate a meeting and deal with difficult situations.

A step-by-step guide on running a focus group session, with example questions, a planning checklist, and mistakes to avoid.

An article providing a detailed and practical overview of focus groups, discussing when to use focus groups and how to plan a session.

A slide deck discussing how to analyze qualitative data, with discussion on best practices.

This article is a source of creative insights for qualitative data visualization from the journalism field, with a ton of examples.

An article providing creatives insights into qualitative data visualization, with different visualization types and journalistic examples.

An accessible and detailed chart showing the pros and cons of different software. Use this to pick the ideal tool, access software tutorials, and find relevant resources.

A short video for beginners discussing the functions and limitations of qualitative data analysis software.

A short video discussing the pros and cons of qualitative data analysis software. The video helps you answer key questions before choosing your research tools.

A book chapter providing an accessible yet in-depth overview of the coding process, with relevant examples and methodological and software considerations.

An article providing step-by-step instructions to coding qualitative data. The article explains difficult topics simply and discusses mistakes to avoid.

An article overviewing six foundational qualitative analysis methodologies, with example videos and guidance for choosing the right method.

A guide overviewing anonymity and confidentiality in research, with discussion on best practices and practical considerations.

An accessible guide on safety considerations for community-based researchers, discussing topics from the weather to emotional wellbeing.

An FAQ by the Government of Canada (as part of TCPS 2) discussing legal considerations related to research practices and their implications on study design.

An article discussing how to maintain anonymity in qualitative research, using the example of interviews conducted in highly sensitive contexts.

A guide for interviewing individuals who have experienced trauma. Includes a series of videos, a written guide, a set of reflection questions, and links to further resources.

An article providing an overview of different questions to consider when it comes to participant compensation and reimbursement.

A short blog post discussing different approaches to incentivize research participants. Includes ethical considerations on different approaches.

A short article overviewing how to identify stakeholders and their relationship to the project. Includes a stakeholder assessment tool with an applied example.

A short video providing a step-by-step guide to conducting a stakeholder analysis, including how to identify, prioritize, and understand stakeholders.

A blog post presenting new perspectives on stakeholder engagement. Includes links to different methodologies to help you engage stakeholders.

A blog post providing a basic introduction to different types of research approaches (e.g., descriptive versus experimental) and research designs.

A book chapter comparing quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research designs. The chapter emphasizes characteristics that make “good research”.

A short video overviewing research context and its implications. The video provides instructions on how to identify and write a rich description of your research context.

A series of letter exchanges between researchers across continents, this artistic piece provides a creative and challenging example of the process of “writing with”.

An article providing a creative introduction to the practice of “writing with” as an extension of autoethnographic and qualitative inquiry methodologies.

Two papers presenting an autoethnography on the autoethnographic writing process.

A short lecture situating autoethnography among other ethnographic methods and discussing its strengths.

A short video providing a basic introduction to reflective writing. Provides a step-by-step guide to the reflective process alongside example excerpts.

A blog post providing a detailed introduction to reflexivity and techniques that support reflexivity in the research process (with applied examples).

A personal account of applying reflexivity to qualitative research that discusses how reflexivity can add to the knowledge construction process.

Practical approaches to promote transparency and positionality in team coding, with an introduction to the “Living Codebook”.

A short video providing a detailed overview of positionality, its different constructs, and how it affects the research process (with helpful examples).

A short plain-language guide to help you select between interviews and surveys for your research. The guide includes a helpful table listing key methodological features of each research design.

A short lecture on the essentials of mixed methods research. Discusses the advantages of mixed methods research and provides an overview of basic research designs.

A short guide discussing how survey data can be combined with qualitative data to conduct mixed methods research.

Short videos that provide an introduction to positionality in the research process and how to write a positionality statement.

A plain-language guide providing an introduction on how to use and assess different qualitative research methods in the health sciences.

A step-by-step guide to develop a research protocol for a qualitative study, with an applied example and key considerations.