The Centre for Critical Qualitative Health Research (known as ‘CQ’) is
a teaching and research hub at the University of Toronto. CQ, and its
predecessor “QUIG” (from which it recently emerged, re-named) is a
widely-used intellectual ‘home’ and resource for qualitative
researchers in the broader health research community at University of
Toronto, its affiliated research institutes, and in other research
settings in Canada and internationally.
CQ strives to advance the teaching and practice of qualitative
research in the health field through the promotion of a critical and
theoretically-informed perspective on method and substance. By
‘critical’ is meant the capacity to inquire ‘against the grain’: to
question the conceptual and theoretical bases of knowledge and method,
to ask questions that go beyond prevailing assumptions and
understandings of phenomena, to acknowledge the socio-political
dimensions of health and health research. By ‘theoretically-informed’
is meant the reflexive, competent and creative application to the
research process of social theory and theory from other disciplines.
By ‘health research’ is meant both basic and applied research inquiry
into health, ill-health and health care in their broadest senses,
ranging from micro-level examination of bodily and social experience
to macro-level exploration of professional, institutional and
societal-level influences on health and health care.
In 2009, the Qualitative Inquiry Group (‘QUIG’), was transformed into
the Centre for Critical Qualitative Health Research (CCQHR). The CCQHR
functions primarily as a teaching and research hub, and network at the
University of Toronto for faculty, students, and researchers, doing
health-related research across the University of Toronto and
affiliated health teaching/research units. It also includes
qualitative health researchers/methodologists in other academic
settings in Ontario, Canada and internationally. The core goal of the
CCQHR is to raise the bar on the teaching and practice of qualitative
research in the health field through the promotion of a critical and
theoretically-informed perspective on method and substance.
Goals of CQ
To build local, national and international capacity in critical,
theoretically-informed qualitative health research, scholarship and
teaching
To provide superior graduate education in qualitative research methodology
To promote innovation, knowledge development, and critical reflection
at the leading edge of the field of qualitative methodology
To be a ‘go-to’ site of expertise in the particular challenges of
practicing and teaching qualitative research in the health field
To anchor, connect, challenge and inspire qualitative researchers
across health-related disciplines and institutional units
Activities
The Centre for Critical Qualitative Health Research encompasses a
number of activities and initiatives related to the methodological
advancement of critical qualitative research, particularly in the
health sciences. Each of the following is described in more detail in
the appropriate sections of the website, and can be accessed through
the homepage links above.
Website that provides access to its various activities, resources and links
Inventory of qualitative research methodology courses offered at U of
T (see Methods Courses)
Inventory of U of T and associated research institutes’ faculty who
are engaged in or teach qualitative research (see Faculty Resources)
Essentials of Qualitative Research (EQR) course series, a coordinated,
sequential and comprehensive set of courses designed primarily for
doctoral-level research education (see Essentials of Qualitative
Research Course Series)
Seminar series offered periodically to address general issues of
qualitative research practice and methodology (listings of past
seminars available and seminar podcasts after May 2009) (see Seminars)
Teaching Qualitative Research activities, including the Educate the
Educators program (national/international visiting professorship
program) and the national teaching workshop hosted at the University
of Toronto (see Teaching Fellowship)
Postdoctoral Fellowship opportunities exist for work in qualitative
research and teaching with faculty or research groups within the
Centre’s community (see Postdoctoral Training)
An internet-based ListServ of those interested in qualitative research
that is managed by the Co-ordinator and used to circulate information
of common, general interest to this research community (see ListServ)
Links to selected qualitative research websites, resources,
publications and organizations (see External Links)
Links to upcoming conferences and workshops (see Conferences and Workshops)
Limited ad hoc listings of research job opportunities (see Job Postings)
Membership
CCQHR has four types of members:
Collaborating sponsor members
The Dalla Lana School of Public Health and the Lawrence S. Bloomberg
Faculty of Nursing are the core collaborating members that sponsor and
house CCQHR.
Contributing institutional members
These are University of Toronto faculties/divisions who make a
financial or in-kind contribution to CCQHR (teaching of EQR courses or
other forms of support) to ensure priority for their students in the
educational activities of the Centre and to support the research
resources the Centre provides.
Academic Fellows
Academic Fellows are those who currently make, or have made in the
past, sustained and significant contributions to the mission of the
Centre. Members are invited to be Fellows by the Directors of the
Centre in consultation with the Steering Committee.
Individual members
Individual members are those on the Listserv, including faculty,
students, alumni, independent researchers, and those interested in
qualitative research, at the University of Toronto, its affiliated
teaching and research units and beyond.
|
