- Academic Registry
Programme & Unit Catalogues


MN50552: Qualitative methods for management 1

[Page last updated: 05 August 2021]

Academic Year: 2021/2
Owning Department/School: School of Management
Credits: 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 120
Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Period:
Semester 1
Assessment Summary: CW 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • Coursework (CW 100%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
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: 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.

Programme availability:

MN50552 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

School of Management

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2021/22 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2022/23 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2021/22.
  • 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.