Ph.d-kurs: Approaches to analysis of qualitative data in social work and child welfare research  – UiT februar 2026

Approaches to qualitative analysis in social work and child welfare research  

Choosing the right analytical strategy is a pivotal step in any qualitative research project.    

This course is designed to equip doctoral students in social work and child welfare with the knowledge to choose among different analytical approaches to analyze qualitative data, amongst others in investigating:    

• power structures and marginalizing processes within welfare politics, welfare management and public services    
• experiences of children and families in social work and child welfare 
• how ethical issues are addressed in the analysis of sensitive data 

Through lectures, practical examples and discussions, you will gain insight into the foundations, goals, strengths and limitations of various analytical strategies.  

This course will be a collaborative learning experience where you will have the opportunity to discuss your own data, share interpretations and refine your analytical approach in an interactive and supportive environment. 

Course description for Spring 2026 can be found here: https://uit.no/utdanning/emner/emne/911174/svf-8070

Time	Tirsdag 24. februar 2026
10.00- 10.30	Welcome!   Presentation of participants and teachers  Introduction to the course by Professor Eva Josefsen, UiT
10.30- 11.15	Unpacking Qualitative Analysis: Foundations, Approaches, and Applications in Social Work and Child Welfare Research  Professor Eva Josefsen, UiT
11.30-12.15	Qualitative analysis – What and why? Examples from a researcher’s life   Professor Bengt Karlsson, USN
12.15- 13.15	Lunsj
13.15- 14.00	Constructivism and social realities  Professor Walter Schönfelder, UiT
14.15-17.00	Paper presentations and comments
19.00	Dinner (for NORWEL members covered by the school)

Time	Onsdag 25. februar 2026
09.00- 09.15	Welcome  Reflections from yesterday
9.15- 10.15	Analyzing discourse in social work research – two approaches.  Professor Walter Schönfelder, UiT
10.30- 11.30	Thematic Analysis in Action: Bridging Theory and Practice.   Professor Eva Josefsen,UiT
11.30- 12.30	Lunsj
12.30-13.30	A thematic analysis approach based on Systematic Text Condensation   Associate Professor Nina Schiøll Skjefstad, NTNU
13.45- 16.45	Paper presentations and comments

Time	Torsdag 26.februar 2026
09.00- 09.15	Welcome   Reflections from yesterday
9.15- 10.15	From Field to Interpretation: Analysing Power with Bourdieu   Professor Nina Schjøll Skjefstad, NTNU
10.30- 12.30	Workshop: Ethical dilemmas in qualitative analysis. Pitfalls and how to handle them.
12.30- 13.30	Lunsj
13.30- 14.30	Wrapping up the course – reflections and evaluation

Please note that if you are not a Ph.D. candidate at UiT, you must apply for single course admission to UiT by the application deadline of January 6, 2026. Information on how to apply for admission can be found here: https://uit.no/utdanning/opptaksinfo#innhold_711494
Remember to include the course code SVF-8070 in your application.