SOCI58815: Qualitative Methods and Analysis

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• To equip students with advanced knowledge and skills to understand, conceptualise and critically appraise qualitative social sciences research, including different approaches to research and design and analysis of qualitative data.
• To contribute towards students' preparation for carrying out qualitative research projects.

• Introduction to qualitative research (explores what qualitative research is, its history and why it is important)
• An overview of a range of different specific methodological approaches and techniques. Choosing a research sample and gaining access (explores how researchers choose people and settings for research)
• Issues relating to specific methods such as conducting interviews (explores what interviews are and how to make them successful) and running successful focus groups (explores what focus groups are and how to make them successful)
• Qualitative analysis (supported by the practical sessions)
• Explore the potential for using computer software to manage qualitative data, including the potential benefits and limitations

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• At the end of the module, students will:
• Understand the underlying rationales for qualitative research in the social sciences.
• Be aware of practical and ethical issues that arise in the conduct of qualitative research in the social sciences.

Subject-specific Skills:

• At the end of the module, students will:
• Be able to critically assess the conduct and outcomes of qualitative research projects.
• Be prepared to undertake empirical qualitative research.
• Be able to analyse a set of qualitative data.

Key Skills:

• Communication skills (through seminar participation, written skills in assignments).
• Group work skills (through seminar participation and assignments).
• Time management (through working to deadlines).
• Data management (through handling empirical data for assignments).
• Independent study skills (through individual work for assignments).

• The module will be delivered through weekly lectures, seminars and practicals.
• Lectures will introduce students to the key theoretical bases and rationale for particular qualitative research methods. Lectures will draw on on-going and existing research to highlight the key challenges and opportunities in these methods. Lectures encourage students key skills in listening and active note-taking.
• Seminars will be structured around particular questions and/or tasks which students will be asked to work through in pairs or groups. These tasks will get students thinking about the practical ways in which to execute particular methods in practice. Seminars encourage collaborative working, communication and problem-solving skills.
• Assessment is via formative and summative essays. Formative assessment gives students an opportunity to reflect on specific methods in relation to data analysis. Summative assessment gives them an opportunity to develop this into a structured analysis and reflection.
• Students are offered individual written or verbal feedback on their formative and summative assignments and can seek additional one-to-one feedback in staff office hours if they require this.
• One practical session will run as an assessment workshop for students to discuss their summative assignments.

An optional qualitative analysis task. The submission will consist of a coding framework for a dataset provided by the module leader and a short reflection on this analysis exercise (500 words). The formative assignment will provide students with an opportunity to get written feedback on their qualitative analysis and critical reflection skills. This will aid with preparation for the summative assessment where they will undertake analysis of a larger dataset and provide a critical reflection on this process.

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