Complete qualitative research workflow
Move step by step from research problem to research questions, design, sampling, tools, fieldwork, coding, themes, and findings.
ARK Center for Professional Learning
Three-Day Tool-Based Course
Qualitative Research in Action: Design, Fieldwork and Analysis
A three-day tool-based course for health and development professionals.
Build practical confidence to design qualitative studies, prepare field-ready tools, conduct interviews and FGDs, manage qualitative data, code narratives, develop themes, and communicate useful findings.
30 July - 1 August 2026Course dates
9:30 AM - 5:30 PMDaily time
15 participantsLimited batch size
Course at a glance
A focused professional course with practical outputs.
Designed for interactive learning, personalised feedback, and hands-on practice across the qualitative research cycle.
Duration3 full days
Dates30 July - 1 August 2026
Time9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
VenueARK Foundation, Dhaka
Course feeEarly bird: BDT 8,000 if paid before 5 July 2026; regular fee: BDT 9,000. Lunch and refreshments included.
Application deadline23 July 2026
Batch size15 participants
FormatTool-based, practice-oriented training
OrganiserARK Center for Professional Learning (ARK CPL), ARK Foundation
Why this course, why now?
Qualitative skills are now central to better programmes, services, and policy decisions.
Public health and development work increasingly needs to understand not only what is happening, but why it is happening and how people experience services, interventions, institutions, and systems.
Professionals are often expected to conduct interviews, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, observations, and qualitative analysis, yet many have limited opportunities for structured, practical training across the full workflow.
Public health research and implementation
Development programmes and NGO work
Programme evaluation, MEAL, and documentation
Policy-oriented and systems-focused learning
What makes this course different
Practical learning, not only methodology.
Participants apply concepts through guided exercises, role-play, case-based discussion, fieldwork planning, manual coding, and group work.
Tool-based learning
Work with practical templates and worksheets that can be adapted for research, evaluation, implementation research, and programme learning.
Fieldwork simulation
Practise interview skills, FGD moderation, probing, note-taking, consent, and realistic field troubleshooting scenarios.
Method-first analysis
Learn the logic of coding, theme development, interpretation, rigour, and findings writing before using software.
Bangladesh-relevant examples
Use examples from health, development, NGO, community, facility, and programme implementation settings relevant to Bangladesh.
Tangible outputs
Leave with draft research questions, a sampling matrix, data collection guide, fieldwork plan, codebook structure, thematic matrix, and findings outline.
Who should attend
Built for early- to mid-career professionals applying research in real settings.
Especially useful for participants with exposure to research or programme work who want stronger practical confidence in qualitative research.
Public health professionals
Researchers and research associates
Programme officers and programme managers
Monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning professionals
NGO and development sector professionals
Health programme implementation staff
Government and project-based technical staff
Early-career academics and postgraduate students
Professionals planning qualitative interviews, KIIs, FGDs, or field-based studies
Individuals transitioning into research, evaluation, or implementation research roles
What participants will learn
The skills to design, conduct, analyse, and communicate a qualitative study.
The learning outcomes follow the prospectus and focus on immediate professional application.
Understand when and why qualitative research is appropriate.
Convert a research problem into clear qualitative research questions.
Select suitable qualitative study designs for different research and programme purposes.
Develop a practical sampling and recruitment plan.
Prepare IDI, KII, and FGD guides using appropriate question structure and probes.
Distinguish interviews, KIIs, FGDs, observation, and field notes.
Conduct interviews and FGDs with stronger rapport, probing, listening, and moderation skills.
Plan fieldwork, including pilot testing, roles, debriefing, quality checks, transcription, translation, and anonymisation.
Code qualitative data manually and develop a starter codebook.
Use a thematic matrix and move from codes to themes and interpretation.
Strengthen rigour, credibility, transparency, and ethical practice.
Write and communicate findings for reports, manuscripts, policy briefs, and programme decision-making.
Three-day learning journey
A structured route from study design to fieldwork and findings.
Each day combines short teaching inputs, demonstrations, guided exercises, role-play, case discussion, and facilitator feedback.
Designing a Strong Qualitative Study
Theme: From Research Problem to Field-Ready Tools
Participants decide whether a problem is suitable for qualitative inquiry, develop focused research questions, select approaches and methods, address ethics and reflexivity, plan sampling, and draft data collection guides.
- Suitability
- Research questions
- Design decisions
- Ethics
- Sampling
- IDI, KII, FGD guides
Conducting High-Quality Fieldwork
Theme: From Tools to Interviews, FGDs and Field Practice
Participants review tools, practise interviewing and FGD moderation, strengthen observation and field note skills, plan field implementation, maintain data quality, and troubleshoot realistic field challenges.
- Tool review
- IDI and KII skills
- FGD moderation
- Field notes
- Data quality
- Simulation lab
Analysing and Communicating Qualitative Findings
Theme: From Raw Narratives to Themes and Findings
Participants prepare data, compare analysis approaches, practise manual coding, build a starter codebook, develop themes, use thematic matrices, strengthen rigour, and write findings for professional audiences.
- Data preparation
- Analysis approaches
- Manual coding
- Thematic analysis
- Rigour
- Findings writing
What participants will take away
A practical toolkit and a mini qualitative study package.
Participants receive templates and worksheets intended for immediate use in research, programme evaluation, implementation research, formative assessment, and documentation work.
01Qualitative suitability checklist
02Research question worksheet
03Design decision matrix
04Sampling matrix
05Recruitment plan and consent script outline
06IDI, KII, and FGD guide templates
07Fieldwork planning template
08Quality checklist and daily debrief format
09Transcription and anonymisation checklist
10Starter codebook
11Thematic matrix
12Mini qualitative study package
How the course will be delivered
A progressive, practice-oriented learning model.
The course uses short teaching inputs, demonstrations, guided exercises, role-play, case discussion, fieldwork planning, coding practice, group work, and facilitator feedback.
Focused concepts and frameworks
Facilitators introduce core concepts and tools in an accessible way.
Applied examples
Participants see how tools are used in research and programme settings.
Hands-on exercises
Participants apply tools through individual work, group work, role-play, simulation, and coding practice.
Structured improvement
Facilitators and peers provide feedback to improve tools, fieldwork approach, and analytical thinking.
Apply for the next cohort
Qualitative Research in Action: Design, Fieldwork and Analysis
Seats are limited to 15 participants to support interactive learning, personalised feedback, and hands-on practice. Apply early and complete payment before 5 July 2026 to secure the early bird fee of BDT 8,000. The regular fee is BDT 9,000.
Contact: [Contact details to be added]
Dates30 July - 1 August 2026
FeeEarly bird BDT 8,000 before 5 July 2026; regular BDT 9,000
Deadline23 July 2026
Batch size15 participants
VenueARK Foundation, Dhaka
FAQ
Common questions
Details below are drawn from the course prospectus and module overview. Replace placeholders once registration information is final.
Do I need previous qualitative research experience?
The course is designed for early- to mid-career professionals and is especially useful for participants who have some exposure to research or programme work and want stronger practical confidence.
Will the course teach qualitative analysis software?
No. The course teaches method-first analysis: the logic of coding, codebook development, theme development, interpretation, rigour, and findings writing before software.
Will participants receive a certificate?
Participants who attend the full course will receive a verifiable Certificate of Completion from the ARK Center for Professional Learning (ARK CPL).
Is this suitable for programme, evaluation, or MEAL professionals?
Yes. The prospectus lists programme officers, programme managers, and monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning professionals among the intended participants.
What outputs will participants develop?
Participants will gradually build a mini qualitative study package, including research questions, sampling matrix, data collection guide, fieldwork plan, starter codebook, thematic matrix, and findings outline.
What should participants bring?
Confirmed participants will receive a pre-course information package with course, reading, venue, and logistics information.
How do I apply?
Click on the Apply Now button above to register. You will be redirected to a Google Form; fill in the form to register for the course. After registration, complete the payment to confirm your application process.
Suite A-1, C-3 & C-4, House # 06, Road # 109,
Gulshan-2, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 1212
Phone: +88 02 55069866
Email: info@arkfoundationbd.org