Welcome to the Qualitative Research Interest Group Meeting Site

4/9/2027, Noon - 1:00, Zoom
Qualitative Research Office Hours 

Discussion:  Qualitative Analysis Software Options. What software have you used? What are its strengths? We will share our experiences and 2 guests who have used MaxQDA, Dr. Christina Silver from Qualitative Data Analysis Services (UK) and Dr. Tim Guetterman from the University of Michigan, will join in. 

This is an open online meeting for all interested in qualitative research methods, where participants may choose to present to other qualitative researchers their research project, proposal, manuscript, or idea for discussion and feedback. A short basic methods presentation will also be planned, such as using conceptual models, immersion/crystallization, or developing a coding structure.  

Schedule - Office Hours are scheduled 12-1pm on the second Friday of the months of October, December, February, and April.
Sign Up - To reserve time to present your project email Qual.Interest.Group@umassmed.edu at least 3 days in advance (by Tuesday 12n). 

3/18/2027, Noon - 1:00, Zoom
Title: Realist Evaluation
Presenters: Dr. Suzanne Morrissey, UMass Chan and Arwen Bunce MA, OCHIN (a national nonprofit consultancy), Portland, OR

Details coming soon!

2/12/2027, Noon - 1:00, Zoom
Qualitative Research Office Hours 

Discussion:  Imposter Participants. How to guard against ineligible participants infiltrating your study. Drs. Yiyang Yuan and Melissa DuBois who have tackled this problem will participate in the discussion. 

This is an open online meeting for all interested in qualitative research methods, where participants may choose to present to other qualitative researchers their research project, proposal, manuscript, or idea for discussion and feedback. A short basic methods presentation will also be planned, such as using conceptual models, immersion/crystallization, or developing a coding structure.  

Schedule - Office Hours are scheduled 12-1 PM on the second Friday of the months of October, December, February, and April.
Sign Up - To reserve time to present your project email Qual.Interest.Group@umassmed.edu at least 3 days in advance (by Tuesday 12 noon). 

1/15/2027,  Noon - 1:00, Zoom 
Title: Phenomenology
Presenter: Dr. Jennifer Costa, Dana Farber/Harvard

Details coming soon!

12/11/2026, Noon - 1:00, Zoom
Qualitative Research Office Hours 

Discussion:  Use of AI in Qualitative Research. Share your views and experiences.
 
This is an open online meeting for all interested in qualitative research methods, where participants may choose to present to other qualitative researchers their research project, proposal, manuscript, or idea for discussion and feedback. A short basic methods presentation will also be planned, such as using conceptual models, immersion/crystallization, or developing a coding structure.  

Schedule - Office Hours are scheduled 12-1 PM on the second Friday of the months of October, December, February, and April.
Sign Up - To reserve time to present your project email Qual.Interest.Group@umassmed.edu at least 3 days in advance (by Tuesday 12 noon). 

11/20/2026, Noon - 1:00, Zoom, click here to register
Title: Qualitative Participatory Research”
Presenter:  Anne Abbott, PhD MPP, Assistant Professor, Boise State University, School of Public and Population Health
Abstract: Participatory Research engages individuals, groups and communities in the research process. In qualitative research, participants collaborate in the design stage, analysis, dissemination and knowledge transfer. This approach not only empowers participants but also facilitates discovery of practical solutions that have both validity and value to the population under study.
Focusing on her work in youth violence prevention, Dr. Abbott will address methodological considerations when using this approach. She will describe the unique qualities of participatory approaches including best uses and what makes it different from other qualitative traditions. She will also demonstrate the process employed and how she has applied this method to her own research.
Bio: Dr. Abbott spent nearly a decade as the Program Director for Public Health Evaluation at the University of Iowa School of Social Work. She has also worked in policy and advocacy for various child and youth-serving organizations in Washington DC. Dr. Abbott’s research focus is in public health communication, health promotion, program planning/evaluation and policy.

10/9/2026, Noon - 1:00, Zoom
Qualitative Research Office Hours

Discussion: IRB Considerations for Qualitative Studies. Dr. Jes Pagano-Therrien (IRB Chair) will be attending to answer your questions.  
 
This is an open online meeting for all interested in qualitative research methods, where participants may choose to present to other qualitative researchers their research project, proposal, manuscript, or idea for discussion and feedback. A short basic methods presentation will also be planned, such as using conceptual models, immersion/crystallization, or developing a coding structure.  

Schedule - Office Hours are scheduled 12-1 PM on the second Friday of the months of October, December, February, and April.
Sign Up - To reserve time to present your project email Qual.Interest.Group@umassmed.edu at least 3 days in advance (by Tuesday 12 noon).

9/25/2026, Noon - 1:00 Zoom, click here to register
Title: Introduction to Discourse Analysis as Theory and Methodology
Abstract: Communication in our multimodal world goes beyond spoken words and written text. Images, videos, symbols, icons, body language, sound, music, body language, and physical arrangements make unique contributions to effective messaging. Discourse analysis allows for the study of these elements of communication in social processes. With a focus on meaning-making, discourse analysis highlights how the relationship between language and what language represents is far from straightforward (Gee, 2011; Sveinson, 2026). This approach offers opportunities to investigate and to be conscious of artifacts that may communicate (un)intended and implicit messaging that may reveal hidden assumptions and power structures encoded in common documents. It goes past literal words to show how other aspects of messaging content may shape beliefs and behaviors. In this talk, Dr. Sveinson will discuss the inextricably linked theory, methodology, methods, and analysis of discourse analysis, with a focus on the uniqueness of this approach compared to other qualitative methodologies. Emphasis will be placed on how this work links micro-level language use to macro-level structures. Examples of her work will be provided as well as suggested areas of interest to utilize this approach.
Bio: Dr. Sveinson has published 13 articles utilizing (critical) discourse analysis, including empirical pieces, methodological perspectives, and scoping reviews and has received the Isenberg School of Management Outstanding Research Award. She serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Sport Management, Sport Management Review, and Sociology of Sport Journal and is a NASSM Research Fellow.