Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences, 7.5 credits
The course is discontinued
Contents
Module 1: Qualitative Methods History and Paradigm 1.5 ECTS credits Module 2: Practices of Qualitative Research 2 ECTS credits (seminars run in collaboration with lecturers of different traditions within qualitative research) Module 3: Optional exercises and elaboration of research paper 4 ECTS credits (run in collaboration with lecturers of different traditions within qualitative research) Module 1: Qualitative Methods History and Paradigm: During the first part of the course the participants are introduced to the historical background and recent developments within the broad field of qualitative research methods in the social sciences. The practices of qualitative research within different paradigms and theoretical perspectives are discussed. During the introduction participants will be assigned specific reading/preparation tasks for each of the subsequent seminars. Every participant will be required to prepare questions to at least one of the sessions, which means that on each seminar there will be a group of participants responsible for questions and for initiating discussions. Instructions for the examination paper will also be given during the introductory part. Module 2: Practices of Qualitative Research: During the second part of the course focus will be on certain methodological specializations in order to gain more in-depth understandings of different practices of qualitative research. These specializations will depend on the participating lecturers who will represent different fields such as for example narrative analysis, discourse analysis, grounded theory etc. Each specialization will thus be presented by researchers who use them in their own work at the faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at Umeå University. During each thematic seminar a group of students will be responsible for questions and for initiating discussions. Module 3: Optional exercises and elaboration of research paper The third part of the course is dedicated to optional exercises and elaboration of examination papers to be presented and discussed at the final seminar. Students will be required to reflect on methodological choices and/or to practice qualitative analyses in a written exercise related to one or more of the specializations that have been presented during the course. Participants will be able to work independently with optional exercises provided to them by the lecturers. The examination will consist in a written paper (5-10 pages) which may either a) discuss and compare two or more of the different approaches presented during the course; b) describe and motivate the design of a qualitative research approach applied to the participants own research interest; or c) present and discuss one of the qualitative research approaches together with a practical exercise using the approach. During the third part of the part, participants are required to present their papers in a final seminar. Each participant is also required to be discussant on one of the examination papers at the final seminar.
Expected learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, the student is expected to: - Have knowledge of the historical background and recent developments within the field of qualitative research methods - Have knowledge of the terminology within qualitative research - Have knowledge of how qualitative research methods have been practiced within different paradigms and theoretical perspectives - Be able to understand differences between major methodological traditions within qualitative research - Be able to understand and critically evaluate different approaches within qualitative research - Be able to practice an optional qualitative analysis in accordance with one of the specializations presented during the course - Be able to present a written examination paper in the final seminar - Be able to be discussant on an examination paper
Required Knowledge
University: Courses of the amount of 90 ECTS credits in social sciences. English course A at Swedish gymnasium or equivalent.
Form of instruction
Lectures, seminars, computer assignments, and problem solving in group with supervision (see Content section above). All teaching will be in English.
Examination modes
Participants are required to present and submit a written examination paper at the final seminar. Examination also includes responsibility for questions and discussion at one of the thematic sessions and to be discussant on a paper at the final seminar. Academic credit transfer Academic credit transfers are reviewed individually. For more information, please see the Universitys set of rules and academic credit transfer regulations.
Literature
Valid from: 2009 week 39
Callaghan Helen
Insiders, Outsiders, and the Politics of Corporate Governance
: How Ownership Structure Shapes Party Positions in Britain, Germany, and France
Included in:
Comparative political studies
Beverly Hills :
Sage publ. :
1968- :
Vol. 1- :
733-762 pages
Charmaz Kathleen
Grounded Theory: Methodology and Theory Construction
Included in:
International encyclopedia of the social&behavioral sciences. Vol. 5, [Cr-Deu].
xii s., s. 2883-3555 :
6396-6399 pages
Dunsire Andrew
The Rise of Comparative Administration
Included in:
Administration
London,c 1973 :
1973 :
262 s. :
134-152 pages
Ethnography
: principles in practice.
Hammersley Martyn, Atkinson Paul
2. ed. :
London :
Routledge :
1995 :
323 s. :
ISBN: 0-415-08664-7
Search the University Library catalogue
Doing qualitative research differently
: free association, narrative and the interview method
Hollway Wendy, Jefferson Tony
London :
SAGE :
2000 :
166 s. :
ISBN: 0-7619-6425-8 (inb.)
Search the University Library catalogue
A Grounded Theory Exploration of the First Visit to a Cancer Clinic – Strategies for achieving Acceptance
Jakobsson Sofie, Horvath Gyorgy, Alhberg Karin
Included in:
European journal of oncology nursing.
Edinburgh ;a London :
Churchill Livingstone :
2000- :
v. :
248-257 pages
Pointdexter Cynthia Cannon
Meaning from Methods: Re-presenting Narratives of an HIV-affected Caregiver
Included in:
Qualitative social work
London :
Sage :
2002- :
59-78 pages
Qualitative research practice : a guide for social science students and researchers
Ritchie Jane, Lewis Jane
London :
SAGE :
2003 :
xv, 336 s. :
ISBN: 0-7619-7109-2
Search the University Library catalogue
Riessman Catherine Kohler
Narrative methods for the human sciences
London :
SAGE :
2008 :
x, 251 s.b ill. :
ISBN: 0-7619-2998-3 (pbk.)
Search the University Library catalogue
Seaman Jayson
Adopting a Grounded Theory Approach to Cultural-Historical Research: Conflicting Methodologies or Complementary Methods?
Included in:
International journal of qualitative methods
[Edmonton] :
International Institute for Qualitative Methodology :
1-17 pages
Toulmin Stephen
"Introduction" and "Interlude: Evolution and the Human Science"
Included in:
Human understanding
Princeton, N.J. :
Princeton U.P. :
1977 :
520 s. :
134-144, 319-363 pages
Wetherell Margaret
Debates in Discourse Research
Included in:
Discourse theory and practice
London :
Sage :
2001 :
ix, 406 s. :
380-399 pages
Unfolding Discourse Analysis
Wetherell Margaret, Potter Jonathan
Included in:
Discourse theory and practice
London :
Sage :
2001 :
ix, 406 s. :
198-209 pages
Wetherell Margaret
Themes in Discourse Research: The Case of Diana
Included in:
Discourse theory and practice
London :
Sage :
2001 :
ix, 406 s. :
14-28 pages