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Qualitative Social Research

Overview

  • Credit value: 30 credits at Level 7
  • Tutor: Ben Worthy
  • Assessment: a 3500-word essay (35%), four online quizzes (10%) and a 5500-word research design (55%)

Module description

This module introduces you to the philosophies of science and the social sciences, epistemology, issues of research design, the operationalisation of research questions and a range of qualitative techniques. Part-time MRes students take this course in their first year and Quantitative Political Analysis in their second year.

The module introduces qualitative techniques and the epistemological issues surrounding them. You will learn research methods, which will prepare you to undertake further independent research in the political and social sciences. We will teach traditional philosophical and ethical issues at the heart of political and social research, as well as a range of qualitative approaches and techniques, including ethnography, discourse analysis, focus groups and interviewing.

Learning objectives

By the end of this module, you will:

  • be aware of a wide range of research resources available to social scientists
  • be able to perform qualitative analyses in a variety of settings in an intelligent and thoughtful manner
  • understand the philosophical, ethical and legal issues at the heart of political and social research, as well as a conception of some possible solutions to such problems
  • be cognisant of debates surrounding the application of quantitative and qualitative methods
  • be able to pick and apply research techniques that are suitable for the analysis of your own research problems.