Welcome to the online version of Qualitative Methods for Public Engagement, a resource which I developed to help the fine people at Environment and Climate Change Canada navigate the world of qualitative methods. This resource is designed to enhance capacity for conducting and understanding the data collected in the course of public engagements and public consultations.

There is a PDF version of this handbook, you may access it here:_Methods for Public Opinion Research.

This online resource is an enhanced interactive version of the handbook. In addition to the information contained in the PDF, it includes enhanced supplementary content such as videos, weblinks and useful online presentations.

Use the table of contents below to access sections of the handbook. How you engage with this resource is up to you. Feel free to go through the entire handbook in order – like an online course OR you may dip in and out as needed – accessing the sections of most interest to you when you need them.

Table of Contents:

1. Methods Overview
   • Public Opinion Research Overview
   • Strengths and Challenges of Different Approaches
2. Conducting Research: Practical Considerations
   • Sample Size
   • Sampling Strategies
   • Time and Location
   • Goals and Research Question
3. Methods for Collecting Data
   • Surveys
   • Focus Groups
   • World Café
   • Appreciative Inquiry
   • Indigenous Methods
   • Interviewing
   • Mixed or Multi Methods
   • Note Taking Best Practices
   • Choosing Your Direction
4. Analyzing Qualitative (or Unstructured) Data
   • What is Unstructured Data?
   • Text Analysis
   • Developing a Coding Guide
   • Interpretive Theming
   • Deductive Theming
   • Participatory Theming

>>Next: 1. Methods OVerview