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There are 8 modules in this course
In this course you will be introduced to the basic ideas behind the qualitative research in social science. You will learn about data collection, description, analysis and interpretation in qualitative research. Qualitative research often involves an iterative process. We will focus on the ingredients required for this process: data collection and analysis.
You won't learn how to use qualitative methods by just watching video's, so we put much stress on collecting data through observation and interviewing and on analysing and interpreting the collected data in other assignments.
Obviously, the most important concepts in qualitative research will be discussed, just as we will discuss quality criteria, good practices, ethics, writing some methods of analysis, and mixing methods.
We hope to take away some prejudice, and enthuse many students for qualitative research.
Welcome to the first week of the course. We start with an introduction, followed by two lessons on the Philosophy of Qualitative Research.
What's included
8 videos12 readings1 peer review
Show info about module content
8 videos•Total 61 minutes
1.0 Introduction•6 minutes
1.1 On Elephants•10 minutes
1.2 Ontology for social actors•7 minutes
1.3 Ontology for social researchers•5 minutes
1.4 Epistemology•9 minutes
1.5 Hermeneutics•8 minutes
1.6 Phenomenology•11 minutes
1.7 Pragmatism•6 minutes
12 readings•Total 120 minutes
A very warm welcome to Qualitative Research Methods!•10 minutes
Course description•10 minutes
Prerequisite knowledge needed•10 minutes
Course Structure•10 minutes
Standing on shoulders of giants•10 minutes
Team•10 minutes
On Elephants•10 minutes
Slides•10 minutes
References•10 minutes
How to never emerge from the library again...•10 minutes
Slides•10 minutes
References•10 minutes
1 peer review•Total 120 minutes
Assignment A: Is Silverman right?•120 minutes
Observation
Module 2•5 hours to complete
Module details
In the first module we discussed the philosophy of qualitative research, explaining some basic notions and general philosophical approaches. In this second module we'll discuss observation as an important method within qualitative research. What types of observation are there? How do we observe? And how do we analyse and describe our data?
Assignment B: Observing on waiting around the world: Privatising Public Space•120 minutes
Good Practices & Criteria
Module 3•4 hours to complete
Module details
What makes qualitative research 'good' is a rather difficult question. Different criteria are suggested, but within the field of qualitative research there is not much agreement on these criteria. However, there is quite some agreement on what good practices of qualitative research are. In this module we will start in lesson 1 with a discussion of good practices of qualitative research.
What's included
9 videos9 readings2 assignments
Show info about module content
9 videos•Total 89 minutes
3.1 Flexibility•11 minutes
3.2 Triangulation•9 minutes
3.3 Abduction•25 minutes
3.4 Focus on Details and Context•6 minutes
3.5 Look for Contradiction•6 minutes
3.6 Reflexivity•7 minutes
3.7 How Many Cases Are Enough•5 minutes
3.8 Theoretical Saturation•8 minutes
3.9 Criteria For Research Quality•13 minutes
9 readings•Total 90 minutes
Good practices•10 minutes
Slides•10 minutes
References•10 minutes
Selecting Cases•10 minutes
Slides•10 minutes
References•10 minutes
Criteria for Research Quality•10 minutes
Slides•10 minutes
References•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 66 minutes
Practice quiz•6 minutes
Midterm exam•60 minutes
Qualitative Interviewing
Module 4•4 hours to complete
Module details
In this module we'll look at what a qualitative interview entails by trying to define it and by discussing different forms of interviewing behaviour.
What's included
7 videos9 readings1 peer review
Show info about module content
7 videos•Total 62 minutes
4.1 Visions of Interviewing•13 minutes
4.2 Typologies of Interviews•10 minutes
4.3 Rapport in interviewing•6 minutes
4.4 Powergame or Roleplaying•10 minutes
4.5 Probing and prompting•11 minutes
4.6 Probing tactics•8 minutes
4.7 Interviewing, a final thought•5 minutes
9 readings•Total 90 minutes
What is a qualitative interview?•10 minutes
Slides•10 minutes
References•10 minutes
Interviewing Behaviour•10 minutes
Slides•10 minutes
References•10 minutes
Probing•10 minutes
Slides•10 minutes
References•10 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
Assignment C Interviewing about Happiness around the world•60 minutes
Qualitative Analysis
Module 5•4 hours to complete
Module details
In previous modules we discussed how you should observe a social situation or conduct a qualitative interview. Now we will focus on what to do with your data, by discussing qualitative analysis. In this module you will try to do a qualitative analysis by interpreting your observed data and try to code it.
What's included
6 videos10 readings1 peer review
Show info about module content
6 videos•Total 54 minutes
5.1 Qualitative Analysis•5 minutes
5.2 Code and Retrieve•8 minutes
5.3 Framework Analysis•7 minutes
5.4 Analytic Induction•10 minutes
5.5 Grounded Theory•13 minutes
5.6 Versions of Grounded Theory•11 minutes
10 readings•Total 100 minutes
Qualitative Analysis•10 minutes
Slides•10 minutes
References•10 minutes
Deductive Approaches•10 minutes
Slides•10 minutes
References•10 minutes
Inductive Approaches•10 minutes
Slides•10 minutes
References•10 minutes
Optional: Interview with Kathy Charmaz•10 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
Assignment D: Analysis of Privatising Public Space around the world•60 minutes
Writing, mixing & ethics
Module 6•5 hours to complete
Module details
In this module I will discuss ideas on writing in qualitative research, I will discuss mixing methods and talk about the ethical issues you should consider.
Assignment E: Writing about Happiness around the world•120 minutes
Catch up week
Module 7•10 minutes to complete
Module details
In this module there's no new material. The only requirement in this module is that you finish up the final peer review assignment.
What's included
1 reading
Show info about module content
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Catch up? Or do some more!•10 minutes
Exam week
Module 8•1 hour to complete
Module details
This is the final module, where you can apply everything you've learned up until now in the final exam. Please note that you can only take the final exam once every day, so make sure you are fully prepared to take the test. Please follow the honor code and do not communicate or confer with others taking this exam. Good luck! Once you've taken the exam, please consider doing the other courses in our specialisation track. I hope it was an enjoyable experience. If it was, please consider joining in with the Massive Open Online Research by my colleague Christian Bröer. Thanks for all your hard work, feedback and interpretations, the course team and your fellow learners really appreciate it!
What's included
1 assignment
Show info about module content
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Final Exam•30 minutes
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Learner reviews
4.6
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4 stars
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3 stars
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A
AW
5·
Reviewed on Aug 30, 2019
Really enjoyed this course. The lectures were engaging, the assignments applicable. I really enjoyed being able to review other classmates' assignments from around the world. Very cool concept.
S
SK
4·
Reviewed on Jul 23, 2017
Good Course and provide me basic understanding of Qualitative Research Methods.I will be great if course PDF Transcript will be provided as in Quantitative course instead of Presentation Slides.
K
KB
5·
Reviewed on Aug 9, 2016
Excellent introduction to qualitative research methods. Loved the lecturers enthusiastic style and quirky sense of humour. Very engaging.Assessments were practical and supported the course material.
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