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MN50552: Qualitative methods for management 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: School of Management
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: CW 100%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Coursework (CW 100%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
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:
During the unit students are expected to develop their skills in the following areas:
* Understand the relationships between, and the rationale for, qualitative and quantitative research methods (T, F, A)
* Appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of different qualitative methods (T, F, A)
* Appreciate cross-cultural issues in qualitative research (T, F)
* Be able to define a researchable problem and formulate research questions (T, F, A)
* Be able to design a short interview protocol (T, F)
* Learn to read critically published qualitative research and be able to debate the appropriateness of different fieldwork methods (F)
* Be able to carry out qualitative analysis (T, F, A)
Professional practice skills:
* Understand ethical issues in relation to qualitative research (T, F, A)
* Acquire computing skills for qualitative research (T, F).

Content:
The unit will comprise:
1. Lectures provide theoretical understanding and practical experience of methods of Qualitative Research. Topics covered include: action research; ethnography; observation; grounded theory; discourse analyses; the use of video in research; life histories; interviews; ethics and the politics of research.
2. Introduction to computer aided qualitative analysis using Nvivo.
3. Seminars in which students discuss set articles related to each lecture topic.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

MN50552 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

School of Management

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.