To show the organization of the course that includes this module, follow this link:  Course organization

Learning outcomes

• to learn qualitative approach to research knowing the main methodologies;
• to learn instruments and skills to practice on-field research, in particular within health care contexts;
• to introduce research and its role as a fundamental dimension in health care practices;

Program

The course intends to argue that a practitioner, who doesn't live his/her own profession as a mere executive or technician role, should characterize his/her actions with the capacity to deeply read reality in order to propose changes. In other words the course will present the idea that research is a fundamental dimension for health care professions, since it is considered to be a style and a method able to offer a profound vision of the context and of the real needs of the people living and acting in it (patients, health care practitioners, relatives), and also of the entire environment or institution.
Different approaches to qualitative research will be presented, together with their related epistemological frameworks, philosophies, methods and instruments. In particular we will study in depth the approach characterized by the capacity:
• to enter people’s experience (phenomenological approach),
• to read the meanings that everybody elaborates personally (hermeneutical approach),
• to be within the web of real relationships and settings (ecological and naturalistic approach),
• to transform and improve the system in which he/she works (transformative research).

The course, alternating frontal lectures and laboratorial exercises, will deal with these arguments:
• theories of research in health care;
• qualitative methods;
• ecological paradigm, naturalistic epistemology and phenomenological-hermeneutical method;
• practices of research: instruments for data collection, interpretation, sharing and transformation.

TEXTBOOK:
The Italian textbook is also published in an English version:
• Mortari, L., & Saiani, L. (Eds). Gestures and thoughts of caring. New York-Boston: McGraw-Hill Education, 2014, pp. 200.

FUTHER REFERENCES:
• Silverman, D. (2013). Doing qualitative research. A practical handbook. 4th Edition. London (UK): SAGE Publications.
• Mortari, L. (2007). The ethic of delicacy in phenomenological research. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 2007, 3(1), pp. 3-17.

Examination Methods

Oral exam. The discussion will test the personal study of the textbook and the student’s comprehension of the topics. Moreover the student will be asked to elaborate a personal research hypothesis, as a demonstration of his/her own personal reflection and project ability.

TEXTBOOK:
The Italian textbook is also published in an English version:
• Mortari, L., & Saiani, L. (Eds). Gestures and thoughts of caring. New York-Boston: McGraw-Hill Education, 2014, pp. 200.