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XX50136: Qualitative methods 1

[Page last updated: 15 October 2020]

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2020/1
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences (units for MRes programmes)
Further information on credits Credits: 6      [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Further information on notional study hours Notional Study Hours: 120
Further information on unit levels Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Further information on teaching periods Period:
Semester 1
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: CW100
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Assessment detail data for this unit is currently being updated as a change has been approved. Updated assessment information will be published here shortly.
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
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.
3. Introduction to computer aided qualitative analysis using Nvivo.
4. Workshops in which students learn and practice skills in qualitative research. Mres students only.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

XX50136 is a Designated Essential Unit on the following programmes:

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

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2020/21 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2021/22 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2020/21.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change 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.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.