Live courses, coaching and on-demand learning across the full range of qualitative research: design, fieldwork, analysis and write-up. This is support for researchers who want to do their qualitative research well, with rigour, and be proud of their work, not just get it finished.

Explore the training

For universities and organisations

Explore the training

For universities and organisations

Qualitative research training rooted in human judgement, not shortcuts.

Live courses, coaching and on-demand learning across the full range of qualitative research: design, fieldwork, analysis and write-up. This is support for researchers who want to do their qualitative research well, with rigour, and be proud of their work, not just get it finished.

Explore the training

For universities and organisations

Wherever you are in your research

Most people arrive here in one of a few situations.

You are designing a study and are not sure your qualitative approach will is the right one – perhaps you are experienced in quantitative work, but new to qualitative research and feel you are now starting from scratch.

You are collecting data, or have just finished, and are not sure what to do with the material in front of you.

You have started analysing and something feels wrong, you lack confidence, or feel overwhelmed (i.e. by the number of codes you have).

Or you can do the work but cannot defend your decisions when a supervisor or reviewer pushes back (don’t worry – we’ve all had to deal with reviewer 2 who is not familiar with qualitative work!).

All of these are normal, and none of them mean you are bad at qualitative research. Qualitative research is genuinely difficult at every stage, and most of us were taught the methods, approaches, or steps without the depth, care, or consideration required for how to do qualitative research well, with empathy and also keeping the important human aspect intact (in the age of AI).

Which is right for me?

Three ways to learn, mapped on to the stage you are at in your journey

Start wherever suits you. Most people begin with an on-demand course and move along as they need more but you can dip in and out as necessary.

1. On-demand courses

Self-paced and available whenever you need them. The place to start if you want to build understanding in your own time, around fieldwork, teaching or a full-time job.

Browse on-demand courses

2. Live masterclasses

Half-day virtual sessions on a specific method, approach, or problem, taught live with time for your questions and your own project. More advanced, and scheduled through the year.

See upcoming masterclasses

3. Bootcamps

Four weeks of live training and group coaching, working on your own project with support while you do it. The option to choose when you need to get things moving – no more procrastination by reading other people’s studies or more textbooks on analysis. It’s your data – and you need to carve out your own approach, which our bootcamps guide you through.

Find out about bootcamps

Not sure which is right?

There is a short guide on the training page that walks through the most common (“help, I’m stuck”) scenarios and what tends to help in each of these. It takes a couple of minutes to read though to get your answer.

Which is right for me?

Training for your doctoral centre, research team or department

If you are commissioning on behalf of a university, research institute, charity or public body, in-house delivery is usually better value than sending several people to open sessions — and the examples can be built around the data and projects your team actually works on.
Every masterclass can be delivered in-house, online or in person, and I design bespoke courses across the qualitative research process — from design through to analysis — where there is a specific need.

Explore in-house delivery

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You do not have to do this on your own

Qualitative research can be a solitary business, particularly if you are the only person in your department doing it. Two communities sit alongside the training, open to anyone.

Women in Qual

A free community for women (transgender and non-binary) researchers using qualitative methods, at every career stage and across all fields and sectors. Monthly virtual networking, free webinars and a newsletter. More than 900 members since launching in March 2026.

Visit Women in Qual

QT Community

A space for people taking the courses and bootcamps to keep talking between sessions — sharing problems, resources and small victories.

Find out more

About Dr Karen Lumsden - white woman with strawberry blonde hair, wearing greeny-blue top, sitting at a kitchen table with a blue mug in her hands.

Who is teaching this

I’m Dr Karen Lumsden, a social scientist with more than 22 years’ experience using and teaching qualitative research methods. I spent most of my career in universities before leaving to do this independently, and I now train researchers across the UK and internationally — in universities, the public sector, charities and industry, and for the Social Research Association.

I work across the qualitative research process — from design and fieldwork through to analysis and write-up — with particular specialism in reflexive thematic analysis (as per Braun and Clarke’s approach), trauma-informed qualitative research, and autoethnography, alongside the design and use of various qualitative methods. I’ve also published on qualitative methods, reflexivity, and autoethnography (amongst my other areas of expertise). I’ve sat on the editorial boards of various journals and was previously Chair of the Editorial Board of Sociological Research Online. As well as an award winning author, I’m also a qualified coach with advanced training in neurodiversity in coaching and trauma-informed approaches.

More about me

Previous Clients

Over the years, I have led research projects and trained thousands of individuals in qualitative research methods across academic institutions, corporations, and large-scale public sector organisations.

Researchers I have worked with

Sonto Gugu Madonsela

PhD candidate, University of Galway

"I attended the trauma-informed qualitative research training with Dr Lumsden. I found this training useful not only for the research participants I will be interacting with, but also for providing clear guidelines for me as a researcher conducting this kind of research. The workshop was very interactive and practical, which I appreciated. I would highly recommend Dr Lumsden; she is knowledgeable in this area and can relate to various types of qualitative research."

Mark Napier

Managing Director at Centre for Public Innovation

“I have just had some excellent training today on Trauma Informed Qualitative Research delivered by Karen Lumsden. I would highly recommend it as it has given me a lot of food for thought and will definitely shape how I approach my work."

Avgi Christodoulou,

PhD student

“After attending one of Dr Karen Lumsden’s courses, I sought her help for private one-to-one sessions to expand my qualitative research skills and gain confidence in my PhD journey. Dr Lumsden is an exceptional mentor whose extensive expertise, personalised approach, and unwavering support exceeded all my expectations. Her ability to tailor each session to my specific needs not only deepened my understanding of qualitative methodologies but also gave me the confidence to approach my research with clarity and focus. Dr Lumsden’s unique blend of academic rigour and compassionate guidance made a profound difference in my PhD experience. I highly recommend her sessions to anyone seeking outstanding, bespoke mentorship in qualitative research.''

Zoe Anderson

Knowledge and Learning Manager at The National Community Fund

“I really enjoyed Dr Lumsden's Thematic Analysis training. Her teaching is clear, engaging and well structured. Dr Lumsden tailored the class to the needs of the group, making space to address specific questions and offer support for each student's level of experience. As someone fairly new to this field, I didn’t ever feel left behind. Along with the sessions, course materials and further resources were accessible and useful.”