| Unit name | Further Qualitative Methods |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SPOLM0017 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Corinne Squire |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
Qualitative Research: Design and Analysis |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School for Policy Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
This unit develops your understanding of qualitative methodologies further, building upon the Introduction to Qualitative Methods unit. In SPOLM0017, you learn directly from experienced researchers. You hear how they practice – and create –cutting-edge qualitative methodologies - from performance-based research, through inclusive co-research, to critical participatory action research; and how they analyse their data. You also learn about research media including music, theatre, poetry, and community action. You evaluate such methods critically, and explore how they can deliver results with policy and practice impact. Throughout, you evaluate the methods’ relevance and value for your own present and future work. The assignments can be personalised to match your interests and often, your dissertation. The unit is thus ideally structured to allow you to take forward your learning from it into the later phases of your Masters, and beyond.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
The innovative qualitative methods through which this unit guides you are increasingly part of social research in many different professional and academic fields, either as stand-alone research approaches, or as part of mixed-methods designs. The unit’s attention to participatory research and research co-production is particularly important in many contemporary policy arenas. You learn about the full research process, from planning through to dissemination. The assignments give you experience of research practices and outputs which are common aspects of academic and professional practice. The unit thus provides a significant added-value resource for all the programmes for which it is listed.
An overview of content
After an introduction that lays out the unit structure, SPOLM0017 begins with a consideration of the borders and limits of qualitative social research, before examining the range of ways in which qualitative methods can work alongside quantitative research.
You will then examine new methods for systematic review of qualitative studies and moves on to evaluate the use of existing qualitative data for re-analysis, either by itself or in combination with the collection of new data.
The next section of the unit focuses on data gathering: for instance, by innovative ethnographic and visual means, and the ethical requirements and challenges associated with such methods.
You will then examine a variety of analytic approaches, from reflexive thematic analysis, through conversation and critical discourse analysis, to narrative analysis.
How you write up, disseminate, and create impact, are consistent themes of the sessions.
Interspersed with these substantive sessions are sessions on assignment planning, critical assignment discussions, and an optional formative assessment of a presentation
How will students be different as a result of this unit?
After this unit, you will have strong knowledge of the potential for knowledge generation, creativity and policy change delivery that lies with contemporary qualitative research methods. You will also be equipped with an extremely useful and comprehensive critical approach to social and policy research generally.
Learning outcomes:
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
The course comprises 3 days of teaching (1 day per week) made up of 14 sessions of 1-1.5 hours, providing an intensive learning experience resembling qualitative methods ‘school’.
The learning and teaching methods will include presentations, lectures, experiential exercises, personal reflection and group work as well as lectures and seminar discussion. The sessions are all led by staff currently engaged in innovative qualitative research who will draw on their experience to discuss the practicalities and issues not usually presented in textbooks.
Students have the opportunity to use a formal ‘formative assessment’ deadline at the end of the unit, but may also engage in email and in-person discussion of their assignment ideas throughout the unit.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
The major formative assessment for this unit consists of:
Feedback on the formative assessment will be provided by the unit convenor.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Part 1 – Critical Review (2500 words maximum, 60%)
This assessment covers ILOs 1, 2 and 3.
Part 2 - Poster presentation EITHER 5-minute oral defence OR written defence (500 words maximum, 40%)
This assessment covers ILOs 1 and 2.
When assessment does not go to plan
Subject to the university regulations for taught programmes, you may be offered an opportunity for reassessment. If you are eligible to resubmit and where appropriate, you may submit a revised version of your previous assignment, or complete an alternative assessment in the same format as the original assessment.
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. SPOLM0017).
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 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.
