I'm applying for a postdoc in the UK, the application gives a list of 'Essential criteria' and requires that I detail "point-by-point how you meet the essential criteria". Fine so far. But I'm running into problems with a few of them. For example, one criterion is that I have experience in the "practical application of qualitative research methods including qualitative data analysis", then the next on the list is that I have experience in the "practical application of qualitative research", I really don't know how these are different! If I have experience in using qualitative research methods, then surely I have experience in doing qualitative research? Or am I missing something? It goes on. The next criterion is that I have experience in the "practical application of focus group research and qualitative data analysis". Help! Any advice on what to do here?

just fill the form focusing on the area that they ask on the specified filled even though it might be experience gained from one project.

I'm sorry but I still don't understand how to fill this in. I don't understand how I can give a diifferent answer for my experience of:
"practical application of qualitative research methods"
and
"practical application of qualitative research".
It looks to me that I should give exactly the same answer for these. Should I? Should I copy and paste?

Could practical application of qualitative research mean experience of taking findings from qualitative research and applying them in a practical situation?

Yes. Yes it does.

Thanks AislingB, that's what I think "practical application of qualitative research" means too. But what then does "practical application of qualitative research methods" mean?

I don't see how I can give different answers for application of qualitative research methods and application of qualitative research.

I have to, by default, use qualitative research methods to do qualitative research.

Hi Shoulder,

Maybe you could start your response to one of the points in question in that manner. Another option could be to group the related/duplicated responses together. I.e. 'practical application of qualitative research/practical application of qualitative research methods including qualitative data analysis', and then give a really detailed response that covers each of these aspects.

Thanks, that's a good idea, I suspect what happened here was a bit of over-eager copying and pasting and a lack of proofreading by HR.

Thanks again to everyone who gave advice on this. I had a huge rush to get it submitted in time. I'll tell you why, because it may serve as a note and a warning to others submitting applications. I was using an online application form, if you've ever used one of these you'll know that typing large amounts of text into those boxes is fiddly. So I wrote my text in a word document, and planned to copy and paste it into the little online text box. However, when I came to do the copying and pasting, a message appeared telling me:
"20563 characters entered (max 7500).
You have exceeded the maximum number of characters allowed. Please revise your answer"
So I had to (very quickly, I was approaching the deadline) cut two-thirds of my text away!
So guys, take it from me, check if there is a word / character count on your online forms!