| Unit name | Advanced Qualitative Research Methods |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SSLFM0004 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Nelson |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
FSSL Introduction to Research Methods in the Social Sciences or recognition of prior learning |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Social Sciences and Law Faculty Office |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
This unit is important for any student intending to undertake qualitative research at a postgraduate level. This course will involve engaging with a range of topics designed to equip students with the skills and critical insight into how to conduct qualitative research effectively, ethically, and appropriately.
The unit surveys a range of different approaches, including creative methodological approaches as well as different analytic approaches. Students will develop their expertise to enter the foray of philosophical and methodological considerations required when conducting independent research projects. Students will also focus on topics outside of conventional methodological training, which includes critical methodological perspectives not commonly taught on canonical and conventional research methods training courses.
This unit is hosted by the Faculty of Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences, meaning that students will engage with interdisciplinary conversations involving peers from across the faculty. As a result, students’ epistemological, ontological, and methodological perspectives may be broadened or challenged through engaging in diverse conversations. This unit is integral for anyone engaged in Qualitative Research at a postgraduate research level.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit is part of the core South West Doctoral Training Partnership training and Faculty-level training in research methods for postgraduate research students. This research methods training is designed to develop students’ research skills, so that they can design and conduct high-quality research in their area of interest. The core understanding developed in this unit builds on Introduction to Research Methods in the Social Sciences, and gives researchers who choose it a more in-depth and broader knowledge of qualitative methods. As a result, this unit will facilitate a deeper engagement with questions, complexities, and methodological issues arising from engaging with research areas via qualitative research methods.
An overview of content
This unit will cover a range of advanced qualitative research topics including: creative approaches to qualitative methods; critical methodologies (e.g. feminist, queer, indigenous); qualitative analytic approaches (e.g. discourse, framework, content, thematic); participatory action research; qualitative data analysis software (e.g. NVivo). At all stages of the unit, students will grapple with ethical issues pertaining to the conduct of qualitative methods.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
Through taking this unit, students will obtain methodological and skills-related knowledge, as well as a deeper understanding of how to measure and approach methodological quality in qualitative research. Students will be able to effectively conduct qualitative research, with particular attention to critical philosophical and epistemological positions, as well as learn how to analyse qualitative data and consider the ethical implications of their research approaches.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the unit, students will be able to:
Learning will take place through a mixture of lectures and seminars with discussions and practical group tasks. This suits the subject material by developing conceptual understanding during the lectures and considering practical application through seminar activities.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
When assessment does not go to plan
The students will be asked to submit an individual recorded presentation 5-7 minutes (80%) and a 500-word reflection (20%)
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SSLFM0004).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
