Qualitative Methods

Study Board of Political Science, Journalism, Sociology, and European Studies

Teaching language: English
EKA: B340031302
Censorship: Second examiner: None
Grading: 7-point grading scale
Offered in: Esbjerg
Offered in: Summer school (spring)
Level: Bachelor

Course ID: B340031301
ECTS value: 5

Date of Approval: 17-09-2019


Duration: Intensive course

Course ID

B340031301

Course Title

Qualitative Methods

Teaching language

English

ECTS value

5

Responsible study board

Study Board of Political Science, Journalism, Sociology, and European Studies

Date of Approval

17-09-2019

Course Responsible

Name Email Department
Martin Lindhardt lind@sam.sdu.dk

Offered in

Esbjerg

Level

Bachelor

Offered in

Summer school (spring)

Duration

Intensive course

Mandatory prerequisites

None.

Recommended prerequisites

None.

Aim and purpose

The objective of this course is to give the student a thorough introduction to the use of qualitative methods in sociological research. Emphasis will be on the acquisition of skills in using concrete methods (individual interviews, focus group interviews, observation) and on data analysis. 
The course provides the prerequisites for Advanced Qualitative Methods.

Content

The following topics are addressed in order to achieve the objectives of the course:
  • Research design
  • Framing a research question
  • Sampling
  • Validity in qualitative research
  • Individual interviews
  • Focus group interviews
  • Participant observation
  • Data analysis
  • Coding and grounded theory
  • The use of computer programs for the handling of qualitative data.  

Learning goals

The student should be able to:

Description of outcome - Knowledge

  • Demonstrate knowledge of a variety of qualitative methods for data collection and of their applicability in empirical research
  • Demonstrate knowledge of different approaches to data analysis

Description of outcome - Skills

  • Demonstrate skills in applying different qualitative methods
  • Demonstrate skills in analyzing data, drawing on different approaches

Description of outcome - Competences

  • Demonstrate competencies in framing a research project that should shed light on a particular empirical problem through the use of qualitative methods

Literature

Richard Krueger and Mary Anne Casey. Focus Groups. A practical guide for applied research 4th edition. Sage 2009
A reading list will be made available on Blackboard no later than two weeks before the course starts.

Total amount of pages to be read: approximately 600-700.

Teaching Method

5 x 4 hours in week ?? in August 2020 (exact time will be informed in April 2020)

As the course will be quite intensive, students are strongly adviced to have read some of the literature before hand.

Workload

The course amounts to 5 ECTS. 1 ECTS equals 27 student working hours. The course will be estimated to require an effort of 135 hours distributed as follows:
- Reading the literature (80 hours)
- Lectures (20 hours)
- Exam (35 hours)

Examination regulations

Exam

Name

Exam

Timing

The student will automatically be enrolled for exam in August 2020 right after the time of the scheduled classes. It will not be possible to unregister from the exam. If the student does not participate in the exam, it will cost an examination attempt. 

If the ordinary exam is failed, the student will automatically be enrolled for the reexamination later in August (week ??) 2020. 

The time of reexamination will be announced later, and the exact date will be informed after the ordinary exam.

Examination form at the reexam can be changed. 

There are two exam attempts: Ordinary exam and the reexam in the same month.

Tests

Exam

Name

Exam

Form of examination

Take-home assignment

Censorship

Second examiner: None

Grading

7-point grading scale

Identification

Student Identification Card - Exam number

Language

English

Duration

72 hours according to the examplan.

Length

Length of the individual assignment: 7-12 pages (2400 signs per page, incl. spaces). The number of pages does not include front page, table of contents, references and appendices. A figure or table counts for 400 signs.

Examination aids

Internet access is necessary.

Assignment handover

Will be handed out in the course in Blackboard.

Assignment handin

Via SDU Assignment in Blackboard. Handwritten enclosures cannot be submitted as part of the examination paper.

ECTS value

5

Additional information

The examination consists of a take home written assignment. The student has 72 hours to write an individual essay. 

EKA

B340031302

External comment

NOTE - This course is identical with the former course 8416101 Qualitative Methods.
Used examination attempts in the former identical course will be transferred.
Courses that are identical with former courses that are passed according to applied rules cannot be retaken.

The student is automatically registered for the first examination attempt when the student is registered for a course or course element with which one or more examinations are associated. Withdrawal of registration is not possible, and students who fail to participate in an examination have used one examination attempt, unless the University has made an exemption due to special circumstances. 

Courses offered

Offer period Offer type Profile Education Semester

URL for Skemaplan