Qualitative and Mixed Methods in International Health Research

COURSES AND PROGRAMMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

In 2026 the course will be held in collaboration with the School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health of Nagasaki University and will take place in Nagasaki, Japan.

Prof. Ken Masuda and Dr. Miho Sato from the School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health of Nagasaki University will be part of the course leading team of the QMM 2026 edition. Take this 4-week course and gain insight and practical skills to enrich how you design, apply and report mixed methods studies in international public health.

A thorough understanding of human behaviour and its interactions with the socio-cultural context is a key aspect of international health research. Qualitative research provides a means to getting insights into unquantifiable facts and gain an in-depth understanding of the settings in which international health efforts take place. Combining qualitative and quantitative methods in mixed-method designs enhances the strengths of each research method by providing tools to answer research questions that cannot be investigated by one of these methods alone. 

The course focuses on the application of mixed methods designs in international health research. With a combination of theoretical knowledge and application of methodological skills, this course targets an international audience of researchers, policy makers, practitioners and program managers and PhD students involved in decision-making around research design and data collection in international health. Every year, professors and researchers from ITM and partner institutions with extensive experience in study designs, data collection, analysis, empirical ethics, and theory driven in international research settings will lead lectures, coach field work and guide applied exercises. Simultaneously, we offer multiple opportunities for participants to share experiences from their own settings and benefit from the exchange from diverse perspectives and backgrounds. In 2026 the course will be organized in collaboration with the Nagasaki University – School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health.