| Unit name | Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods in the Social Sciences |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SOCIM0013 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Nelson |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important
This unit is critical for the active researcher invested in qualitative research methods. Qualitative methods entail a vast range of different interventions, including interviews, focus groups, document research, and creative approaches and it is critical for any research active individual to understand how, when, and why to operationalise this range of methods. This unit takes you through these decisions whilst also indicating the depth of philosophical and theoretical considerations that accompany any methodological choices such as; what are the ethical implications of these choices? How can I mitigate challenges in research methods? How do I manage sensitive areas of research? What do I do when it goes wrong?
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
This unit provides methodological training and provision which is essential for anyone intending to complete qualitative research over the course of their degrees. This unit presumes that the student is research-active, and adopts a quickly escalating approach to the material, which includes a reasonable introduction and grounding before escalating to a graduate level education in qualitative approaches. As a result, this course is essential for any students intending to complete qualitative research over the course of their degrees.
Importantly, this unit invites students to engage with methods from the perspective of their diverse disciplines and research interests. As a result, this unit invites rich collaborations and conversations amongst students from different perspectives, approaches, and topic areas. This facilitates fascinating discussions that really test methodological choices and approaches amongst the student cohort.
An Overview of Content
Students will be equipped with a wide range of methodological insight and training relative to particular methods, including: interviews, focus groups, ethnography, document analysis, creative methods, and more. Alongside the direct methodological training, students will be invited to tackle complex philosophical questions around the production of knowledge in a qualitative approach. More specifically, students will be invited to carefully consider their ethical approaches to the research, and how they should engage with participants over the course of the research process.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
Students will be equipped with strong methodological provision and clear understandings of how, when, and why to deploy methods. Alongside this, students will be equipped with reasonable ethical understandings to facilitate the gathering of data in a safe, responsible, and ethical way.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the unit students will:
The unit is taught through a mixture of, in-person lectures and seminars and online interactive structured learning activities that invite students to discuss how to engage with resources for secondary data analysis, to evaluate the use of visual methods, or identify research which demonstrate a critical epistemological approach. This wide range of activities will provide students with multiple opportunities to acquire a clear understanding of how, when, and why to deploy methods and how to gather data in a safe, responsible, and ethical way. The learning activities will also ensure students can meet the unit’s learning outcomes and effectively engage with the formative and summative assessments.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
In class individual presentation (formative)- this presentation will centre on the topics and themes of the weekly content to facilitate understanding and critique of the methods or ethical issues at hand.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
3000 word research design with accompanying reflection (100%) [ILO 1-4]
When assessment does not go to plan
You will normally complete the reassessment in the same formats as outlined above.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SOCIM0013).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
