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Syllabus:

Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences, 7.5 Credits

Swedish name: Kvalitativ metod för samhällsvetenskaperna

This syllabus is valid: 2015-08-31 valid to 2019-02-17 (newer version of the syllabus exists)

Course code: 2SO145

Credit points: 7.5

Education level: Second cycle

Main Field of Study and progress level: Sociology: Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements

Grading scale: Three-grade scale

Responsible department: Department of Sociology

Established by: Head of Department of Sociology, 2015-09-23

Contents

The course is divided in three modules:
Module 1: Qualitative Methods – History and Paradigms, 1.5 ECTS credits
Module 2: Practices of Qualitative Research, 4,5 ECTS credits
Module 3: Elaboration of research paper, 1,5 ECTS credits

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. During this part the basis of methodology and epistemology are discussed, as well as overarching questions regarding research ethics, analysis of empirical material, portability and presentation of results.

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 etnography, narrative analysis, discourse analysis, grounded theory etc. Each specialization will
thus be presented by researchers who use them in their own work .

Module 3: Optional exercises and elaboration of research paper
The third part of the course is dedicated elaboration of an examination paper 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.
 

Expected learning outcomes

To pass the course, the student should in respect of knowledge and understanding demonstrate:
- knowledge of the historical background and recent developments within the field of
qualitative research methods
- knowledge of methodological and epistemological assumptions of qualitative research
- be able to understand differences between major methodological traditions within
qualitative research
- knowledge of research ethics

To pass the course, the student should in respect of skills and ability be able to:
- apply the relevant terminology within qualitative research
- motivate and discuss the methodological choices in accordance with the appropriate methodological approaches

To pass the course, the student should in respect of assessment skills and approach be able to:
- independently evaluate different methodological approaches within qualitative
research
- independently review and assess the presentation of results in qualitative studies
- problematize the ethical dilemmas in qualitative research
 

Required Knowledge

Univ: Courses of the amount of 90 ECTS credits in Social Sciences (Social Work 90 ECTS, Sociology 90 ECTS, Social Policy 90 ECTS, Social Administration 90 ECTS, Social Care 90 ECTS, Education 90 ECTS, Political Science 90 ECTS, Peace and Conflict Studies 90 ECTS, Cultural Geography 90 ECTS, Economics 90 ECTS) or equivalent eligibility.

Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English A (IELTS (Academic) with a minimum overall score of 5.5 and no individual score below 5.0. TOEFL PBT (Paper-based Test) with a minimun total score of 530 and a minimum TWE score of 4. TOEFL iBT (Internet-based Test) with a minimum total score of 72 and a minimum score of 17 on the Writing Section).

Form of instruction

The course content is delivered through lectures, seminars, and individual work. Compulsory attendence is required at the seminars. All lectures and seminars are held in English.
 

Examination modes

The examination includes active participation in seminars, implementation of assigned tasks for the seminars (individual or group) and an individual written examination paper. Seminar participation and implementation of assigned tasks for the seminars is assessed on whether they are Rejected or Approved. If a student misses mandatory seminars, or assigned tasks, completion of designated completing tasks requires. The individual examination paper is judged on it's Fail, Pass or Pass with Distinction. The examination paper forms the basis of the overall course grade. International students are assessed based on the ECTS scale.

The examination paper (5-10 pages) 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 participant’s own research interest; or c) present and discuss one of the qualitative research approaches together with a practical exercise using the approach. More detailed information about the paper is provided at the introduction of the course.

Other regulations

Academic credit transfers are reviewed individually. For more information, please see the University’s set of rules and academic credit transfer regulations.

Literature

  • Valid from: 2017 week 40

    Main Textbook

    Qualitative research practice : a guide for social science students and researchers
    Ritchie Jane, Lewis Jane, McNaughton Nicholls Carol, Ormston Rachel
    2. ed. : xxiv, 430 pages :
    ISBN: 9781446209110 (hbk.) :
    Mandatory
    Search the University Library catalogue

    Grounded Theory

    Bryant A.
    Grounded Theory and Pragmatism: The Curious Case of Anselm Strauss
    Included in:
    Forum, qualitative social research
    Berlin : K. Mruck : 10 : pages Art. 2 :
    Mandatory

    Charmaz Kathy
    Constructing grounded theory
    2nd edition. : Thousand Oaks, CA : Sage Publications : cop. 2014 : xxi, 388 s. :
    ISBN: 978-0-85702-913-3
    Mandatory
    Search the University Library catalogue

    Charmaz Kathy
    The Power and Potential of Grounded Theory
    Medical Sociology Online : 2012 :
    http://www.medicalsociologyonline.org/NewArchive/NewArchiveMSo/msonewarchivemso.html
    Mandatory

    A Personal Experience of Working with Classical Grounded Theory : From Beginner to Experienced Grounded Theorist
    Giske Tove, Artinian Barbara
    Included in:
    International journal of qualitative methods
    [Edmonton] : International Institute for Qualitative Methodology : 6 : pages 67-80 :
    Mandatory

    My place through my eyes : A social constructionist approach to researching the relationships between socioeconomic living contexts and physical activity
    Carroll Julie-Anne, Adkins Barbara, Foth Marcus, Parker Elizabeth, Jamali Soad
    Included in:
    International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being
    Basingstoke : Taylor & Francis : 2006- : 3 : pages 204-218 :
    Fulltext
    Mandatory

    Thematic Analysis

    Using Thematic Analysis in Psychology
    Braun V., Clarke V.
    Included in:
    Qualitative research in psychology
    Colchester : Taylor & Francis Group : 2004- : 3 : pages 77-101 :
    Mandatory

    Thematic Analysis
    Braun Virginia, Clarke Victoria
    Included in:
    APA handbook of research methods in psychology
    Washington : American Psychological Association : 2012 : Onlineresurs (701 s.) : pages 57-71 :
    Mandatory

    Clothing and Embodiment : Men Managing Body Image and Appearance
    Frith Hannah, Gleeson Kate
    Included in:
    Psychology of men & masculinity [Elektronisk resurs].
    Washington : American Psychological Association : 2000- : 5 : pages 40-48 :
    Mandatory

    Mental health and individual experience of unemployed young adults in Japan
    Kito Aiko, Ueno Takeji
    Included in:
    Industrial health [Elektronisk resurs].
    [Kawasaki, Japan] : National Institute of Industrial Health. : 54 : pages 20-31 :
    https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/indhealth/54/1/54_2015-0035/_article
    Mandatory

    Narrative Analysis

    Pointdexter Cynthia Cannon
    Meaning from Methods: Re-presenting Narratives of an HIV-affected Caregiver
    Included in:
    Qualitative social work
    London : Sage : 2002- : pages 59-78 :
    Mandatory

    Riessman Catherine Kohler
    Narrative methods for the human sciences
    London : SAGE : 2008 : x, 251 s.b ill. :
    ISBN: 0-7619-2998-3 (pbk.)
    Mandatory
    Search the University Library catalogue

    Additional literature will be recommended for this part of the course.

    Discourse Analysis

    Fairclough N.
    Critical Discourse Analysis as a Method in Social Scientific Research
    Included in:
    Methods of critical discourse analysis
    London : SAGE : 2001. : viii, 200 p. :
    Mandatory

    Howarth David
    Applying Discourse Theory: the Method of Articulation
    Included in:
    Discourse theory in European politics
    Basingstoke : Palgrave Macmillan : 2005 : xvii, 364 s. : pages 316-349 :
    Mandatory

    Johansson Anna
    Constituting "Real" Cutters : A Discourse Theoretical Analysis of Self-harm and Identity
    Included in:
    Tracking discourses
    Lund : Nordic Academic Press : 2011 : 342 s. : pages 197-224 :
    Mandatory

    Analyzing discourse
    Potter J., Wetherell M.
    Included in:
    Analyzing Qualitative Data
    Routledge : 1994 : pages 47-68 :
    Mandatory

    Van Dijk T. A.
    Principles of critical discourse analysis
    Included in:
    Discourse & society.
    London : SAGE : 1990- : 4 : pages 249-283 :
    Mandatory

    Please note the course lecturers may also ask you to read additional literature.

  • Valid from: 2015 week 36

    A Grounded Theory Exploration of the First Visit to a Cancer Clinic – Strategies for Achieving Acceptance
    Alhberg Karin, Horvath Gyorgy, Jakobsson Sofie
    Ingår i: European journal of oncology nursing.[Elektronisk resurs] Edinburgh ;a London : Churchill Livingstone, 2000- - v. LIBRIS-ID:9019665 :
    http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/14623889
    Mandatory
    Reading instructions: 9 (2000) s. 248-257

    Bryant A.
    Grounded Theory and Pragmatism: The Curious Case of Anselm Strauss
    Included in:
    Forum, qualitative social research
    Berlin : K. Mruck : 10 : pages Art. 2 :
    Mandatory

    Béland Daniel
    The Politics of Social Policy Language
    Included in:
    Social policy & administration.
    Oxford : Blackwell : 1979- : 45 : pages 1-18 :
    http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-9515.2010.00750.x/pdf
    Mandatory

    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 : pages 6396-6399 :
    Mandatory

    Fairclough N.
    Critical Discourse Analysis as a Method in Social Scientific Research
    Included in:
    Methods of critical discourse analysis
    London : SAGE : 2001. : viii, 200 p. :
    Mandatory

    School of Nursing A Personal Experience of Working with Classical Grounded Theory: From Beginner to Experienced Grounded Theorist
    Giske T., Artinian B.
    Included in:
    International journal of qualitative methods
    [Edmonton] : International Institute for Qualitative Methodology : 6 :
    Mandatory

    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. : pages 248-257 :
    Mandatory

    MacIntyre Alasdair
    Is a Science fo Comparative Politics Possible?
    Included in:
    Against the self-images of the age
    Notre Dame, Ind : Univ. of Notre Dame Press : 1978 : 284 s. :
    Mandatory

    Pentland Brian T.
    Building Process Theory with Narrative: From Description to Explanation
    Included in:
    The Academy of Management review.
    Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. : Academy of Management : 1976- : 24 : pages 711-724 :
    Mandatory

    Pointdexter Cynthia Cannon
    Meaning from Methods: Re-presenting Narratives of an HIV-affected Caregiver
    Included in:
    Qualitative social work
    London : Sage : 2002- : pages 59-78 :
    Mandatory

    Analyzing discourse
    Potter J., Wetherell M.
    Included in:
    Analyzing Qualitative Data
    Routledge : 1994 : pages 47-68 :
    Mandatory

    Schiffin Deborah
    Narrative as Self-Portait: Sociolingustic Construction of Identity
    Included in:
    Language in society
    Cambridge : Cambridge University Press : 25 : pages 167-203 :
    Mandatory

    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 : pages 1-17 :
    Mandatory

    Intercultural Learning Arising from Pan-European Collaboration: a Community of Practice with a ´Hole in the Middle'
    Somekh Bridget, Pearson Matthew
    Included in:
    British educational research journal
    New York . : JSTOR : 2000- : 28 : pages 485-502 :
    http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-9515.2010.00750.x/pdf
    Mandatory

    Van Dijk T. A.
    Principles of critical discourse analysis
    Included in:
    Discourse & society.
    London : SAGE : 1990- : 4 : pages 249-283 :
    Mandatory

    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
    Mandatory
    Search the University Library catalogue