Qual Connect Symposium

There were two beginner and two advanced workshops run concurrently to cater for all levels of qualitative research experience. The first beginner workshop, run by Dr Free Coulston, looked at ‘Planning for qualitative research and inductive content analysis’, and the second was run by Dr Danya Vears focusing on ‘Inductive Content Analysis’. The first advanced workshop by Dr Jenny Setchell was based on ‘Beyond the formulae – stretching our methodologies’, which was followed by Dr Gemma McKibbin and Jasmin Isobe presenting ‘Thinking with theory – philosophical positioning for qualitative research’. Next up was an interactive panel discussion on the topic ‘Can participatory research be truly inclusive?’. This was chaired by Dr Rachel Toovey, with panelists Brooke Conley, Dr Nicholas Hill, and Stephanie Weir.

This event also marked the launch of the Qualitative Research for the Health Sciences course that many Qualitative Research Community of Practice members have been working to bring together for the past few months. This is a series of online modules in combination with monthly Community of Practice meetings which are aimed to provide information and training on various methods specific to health science graduate researchers to fill knowledge gaps identified by current PhD students.

There was also the chance to connect with other researchers through a Speed Networking activity and then again over a delicious, catered lunch. This was a fantastic opportunity for like-minded researchers to build valuable connections through linking in with the MDHS Qualitative Research Community of Practice that meets monthly, and via the launch of a new course at the symposium.

If you’d like to join the monthly Qualitative Research Community of Practice send us an email on mshs-qual@unimelb.edu.au