Unit name | Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods in the Social Sciences |
---|---|
Unit code | EFIMM0102 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | M/7 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
Unit director | Professor. Andrijasevic |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School of Management - Business School |
Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
The unit offers graduate level grounding in the rationale, strengths and limitations of a selection of key research methods most commonly utilised in contemporary qualitative social research. The training covers topics that may include the reasons why qualitative research methods are adopted; a range of the most common methods used; the ethics and problems associated with conducting qualitative research; the use of observation, ethnography, interviews and focus groups as research methods; the use of archives and documents; visual research; techniques in e-research; research design; the use of covert and overt research; data protection; intellectual property rights; plus practical sessions on information retrieval, and the ethics and governance of data protection. Aims:
1.Capacity to design qualitative research on substantive area of interest to social science, using appropriate methodological tools
2.Ability to evaluate the research practice, data and interpretations of others
3.Sensitivity to ethical dimensions of social research
4.Appreciation of a reflexive approach to social research
5.Capacity to work as part of a team, as well as individually
The main method of teaching will be weekly face-to-face seminar sessions which will involve a combination of lecturing, group discussion and student presentations.
Each of the learning outcomes will be assessed both formatively and summatively:
Summative assessment will have two elements:
A). Research Design (maximum 1500 words, 25% of total assessment)
Research Design involves the following: students will be asked to design a qualitative research project which will incorporate identifying research question, aims and objectives, methodology (including ethical and political issues raised) and rationale for chosen methodology. It will test ILOs 1, 2 and 5.
B.) 1 assessed essay (1 question from choice of 8) (2500 words, 75% of total assessment). It will test ILOs 2, 3 and 4.
· Berg, B.L., 2004. Methods for the social sciences. Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences. Boston: Pearson Education.
· Bryman, A. 2016 Social Research Methods, 5th edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press
· Bloor, M. 2001 Focus Groups in Social Research, Oxford University Press
· Esterberg, K. 2002 Qualitative Methods in Social Research, McGraw Hill
· Gilbert, G. N. (ed.) 2008 Researching Social Life, 3rd edition, Sage.