In-house qualitative methods training for doctoral training centres, research teams and entire departments — built around the research you’re involved in and the career stages of students and professional researchers.

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For universities and organisations

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Training for universities and organisations

In-house qualitative methods training for doctoral training centres, research teams and entire departments — built around the research you’re involved in and the career stages of students and professional researchers.

Get in touch

Request a quotation

Why in-house delivery

Better value than sending several people to open sessions
Examples and exercises built around your discipline, research contexts and questions, the methods you are using, data you are collecting, the participants you are working with, and the concerns that your researchers or students frequently come to you with
Delivered online at a time that suits your cohort or team
Everyone learns the same method/principle/approach at the same time, which matters for teams working on shared projects
I have 22+ years’ experience of bespoke course and training delivery and design for a range of universities, research organisations, NHS and public sector

What I can deliver

Masterclasses, delivered in-house

Any of the open masterclasses, run for your group and adapted to your context. Half a day, online or in person.

Multi-day training programmes

Where a single session is not enough. For example a full introduction to qualitative analysis for a new doctoral cohort. Or, book my Reflexive Thematic Analysis Bootcamp for a small research team to work live on their analysis and receive the best of both worlds – training, with mentoring and expert consultancy advice on your analysis progress.

Bespoke courses

Designed around a specific participant group or research team need. Recent examples have included trauma-informed research design, and qualitative work with neurodivergent participants.

Webinars and guest sessions

One-off sessions for a seminar series, methods training programme or away day.

Consultancy

Methodological advice on study design, analysis strategy or research quality, where a team needs a second opinion and guidance, rather than training or a course.

Who I work with

Doctoral training centres and graduate schools. University departments and research institutes. NHS trusts and public health teams. Charities and third sector research units. Public bodies and government research teams. Market and user research teams in industry.
I work across the UK and internationally, including with institutions in Europe and further afield.

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.

Why me

More than 22 years’ experience using and teaching qualitative methods, most of it in universities before I left to do this work independently. I have supervised doctoral researchers, run methods training for the Social Research Association, research councils and professional bodies, and published on qualitative methodology. I’ve been delivering these services independently as a consultant, via my Qualitative Training business, since 2018. I also have a commitment to providing an inclusive, accessible experience for all participants on training.

How it works

1. Get in touch

Tell me roughly what you need, who it is for and when. A short email or enquiry form is enough to start.

2. A conversation

Usually 15-30mins, to work out what would actually help. Sometimes that turns out to be different from the original request, which is fine. Or, if I don’t feel I’m the right person to help, I’ll be honest with you.

3. A written proposal and quotation

Setting out content, format, dates and cost, in a form your procurement department can work with. I can supply formal quotations, invoices against purchase orders, and whatever supplier documentation you need.

4. Delivery and the day of training

Contact ahead of time – as agreed with you. Provision of materials for every participant, and a recording if you want one and this is contracted in. A commitment to providing an inclusive, accessible experience for all participants on training.

Get in touch

Tell me what you are thinking about and we can work out whether I am the right person for it. Currently taking bookings for spring and summer 2027.

Email me at karen@qualitativetraining.com or use the enquiry form by clicking the button below.

Send an enquiry

Common questions

What does it cost?

It depends on format, length and how much tailoring is involved. I will give you a firm written quotation before anything is committed. I will also work to your budgets where possible. For example, if a full day of training is too expensive, we can see what can be delivered in a shorter timeframe (i.e. mini-lecture / webinar, or masterclass).

How far ahead do we need to book?

The further the better. I’m currently taking bookings for spring and summer 2027. That said, do ask about earlier dates, as things occasionally move and spaces can come up.

Can you work with our procurement system?

Yes. Formal quotations, purchase order references, supplier registration and invoicing are all straightforward. I have worked with UK and international institutions and I am VAT registered.

How many people can attend?

It depends on the format. Interactive sessions work best up to around twenty-five; lecture-style webinars can be much larger. Small group work (i.e. up to sixteen people) if often best if we’re working on i.e. focus group moderation practice or interview skills. But we can talk it through and I can advise and be flexible.

Comments on Training

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."