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XX50136: Qualitative methods 1

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2012/3
Follow this link for further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences
Follow this link for further information on credits Credits: 6
Follow this link for further information on unit levels Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Follow this link for further information on period slots Period: Semester 1
Follow this link for further information on unit assessment Assessment: CW100
Follow this link for further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Follow this link for further information on unit rules Requisites:
Follow this link for further information on unit content Description: Aims:
To equip students with an understanding of the rationale for and appropriate use of qualitative methods in social research, and the skills to conduct qualitative research.

Learning Outcomes:
Knowledge and Understanding:
* Appreciate the rationale for when to use qualitative methods, and where relevant the relationship between qualitative and quantitative methods;
* Understand the epistemological assumptions that underpin qualitative methodology. Intellectual skills:
* Be able to define researchable problems using qualitative methods;
* Be able to select appropriate qualitative methods for research questions;
* Understand how issues of measurement, validity, reliability and replicability are addressed within qualitative methods;
* Be able to conduct research using qualitative methods, including the use of recording techniques;
* Know how to approach the analysis of qualitative data;
* Recognise how tools for research are developed in response to a particular research question;
* Recognise the cultural context of the design, conduct, analysis and interpretation of qualitative material and the implications of this for formulating research designs.

Skills:
See above.

Content:
The unit will comprise 1. Core lectures on issues in qualitative research, such as the epistemological underpinnings of qualitative approaches, hermeneutic and semiotic questions, and key questions of context and culture. 2. Lectures that combine traditional lecturing with workshop activities to provide theoretical understanding and practical experience of methods of qualitative research in terms of collecting and eliciting data, and observational and textual data analysis: interviewing, focus groups, ethnography, participatory research, action research, grounded theory and discourse analysis. 3. Introduction to computer aided qualitative analysis using Nvivo. 4. Seminars in which students discuss set articles related to each lecture topic. Mres students only.
Follow this link for further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

XX50136 is a Designated Essential Unit on the following programmes:

Department of Economics Department of Education Department for Health Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
  • THXX-AFM50 : MRes Politics and International Studies (Full-time)
  • THXX-AFM51 : MRes Politics and International Studies (Full-time)
Department of Psychology Department of Social & Policy Sciences

XX50136 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Economics School of Management

XX50136 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Computer Science
  • RSCM-AFD02 : Doctor of Engineering (EngD) in Digital Media (Full-time)
Department of Social & Policy Sciences
  • THSP-AFM13 : MSc International Public Policy Analysis (Full-time)
  • THSP-APM13 : MSc International Public Policy Analysis (Part-time)

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2012/13 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2013/14 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2012/13.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.