Unit information: Further Qualitative Methods in 2021/22

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
Pre-requisites	Please note that Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods is a requirement for undertaking this unit.
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School for Policy Studies
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

This unit is intended to further develop your understanding of qualitative methodologies and methods and build upon Introduction to Qualitative Methods. In this unit you will explore a range of methodological approaches and develop a critical understanding of their use. You will also be introduced to participatory and emancipatory approaches as well as exploring qualitative approaches that utilise methods from a range of arts based practice.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should:

• Be familiar with a range of qualitative research methods and have a critical appreciation of their use in researching policy and practice.
• Be able to demonstrate a detailed appreciation of the link between different theoretical positions within qualitative research and the methods adopted.
• Have gained greater understanding and experience of the practical aspects of various methods of qualitative research and data analysis.

The summative assessment tests all of the ILOs and accounts for 100% of the unit mark.

Teaching Information

The learning and teaching methods will include experiential exercises, personal reflection and group work as well as formal presentations and discussion. The sessions are all led by staff currently engaged in qualitative research who will draw on their experience to discuss the practicalities and issues not usually presented in the text books.

The course comprises 3 days of teaching (1 day per week) made up of many sessions of 1-1.5 hours.

Assessment Information

Assessment for this unit will comprise:

Part 1 Reflective account based on EITHER a life history interview or an observation activity;

Part 2 – Poster presentation that documents a research design to address a qualitative research question.

Each part comprises 50% of the marks available for the unit

Resources

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 Faculty 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. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.