ASOK05404U Qualitative Methods: From Theory to Practice

Volume 2013/2014
Education
MA Method course

BA-undergraduates from foreign countries can sign up for this course.
Content

The course focuses on the discipline and practice of Qualitative Research and its challenges in relation the following issues: ontology, epistemology, theory, research design, methods, analysis and interpretation. The course examines different approaches to qualitative research, qualitative research designs and methods as well as and analytical and interpretation tools and approaches. Special focus will be on methodological strategies combining observation, semi-structured interviews and/or biographical methods.

TENTATIVE OUTLINE

The course consists of the following fourteen units.

Unit 1: Course Overview

Unit 2: Qualitative Research and Social Research Strategies

Unit 3: The Discipline and practice of Qualitative Research

Unit 4:Theoretical approaches in Qualitative Research

Unit 5: Discussing empirical research based on contrasting theoretical approaches: realism and constructivism

Unit 6: Research Designs and research questions in Qualitative research

Unit 7: Defining Research Questions in Qualitative Research

Unit 8: Ethnography and participant observation

Unit 9: Interviewing as research: overview

Unit 10: Narrative and episodic interviewing

Unit 11: Group interviewing and focus groups

Unit 12: Qualitative analysis and interpretation

Unit 13: Qualitative analysis and interpretation

Unit 14: Writing Research Reports

Learning Outcome

The primary goal of the course is to provide each student with knowledge of the discipline and practice of Qualitative Research and its challenges (ontology, epistemology, theory, research design and methods, and analysis and interpretation) and develop personal experience in conducting qualitative research on a topic of his own interest.

The requirement in the course will be for each student to design and carry out a small-scale research study during the semester. Readings and class discussions are designed to help students in this work. Discussion will focus on the readings, but also on the class members' on-going work.
Students should work in group (two or three) with the following objectives:

1) Define a research problem for which qualitative research is especially appropriate and justify it; Design a Research Plan including background and statement of the problem, literature Review (need only 2-3 qualitative studies related to your problem) and methodological strategy (appending draft of interview questions when appropriate);

2) Carry out fieldwork completing a minimum of five one-hour observations/interviews, documented by field notes (data from observations, systematic as well as informal interviewing, and documents whenever available and relevant).

3) Write an essay (report) presenting and discussing the results of the field work against the background of the research problem and highlighting methodological issues.
MA-level
Not for undergraduates from our own Department of Sociology
Not for undergraduates from other Danish departments
BA-Undergraduates from foreign countries can sign up for this course.

Kurset fungerer også som liniefag for specialiseringsretningen: Metode

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  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Instruction
  • 28
  • Exam
  • 123,5
  • Preparation
  • 123,5
  • Total
  • 275,0
Credit
10 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Size: A written take-home essay of maximum 15 pages of 2400 characters each page (incl. spaces). If written by a group, the essay may be 50 % of 2400 characters each page longer per additional student.
Attention: When handing in as a group, the contribution of each student must be pointed out
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Internal examiners
Exam period
Handing in of papers: 12.00 o’clock in the secretariat (16.1.34) Submission dates will be available on Absalon.
Criteria for exam assesment
See course objectives