Postgraduate Course: Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods (GLHE11017)
Course Outline
| School | School of Molecular, Genetic and Population Health Sciences |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Course type | Online Distance Learning |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 10 |
| Home subject area | Global Health |
Other subject area | Public Health Research |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | Qualitative research is concerned with developing explanations of social phenomena, it aims to help us to understand the world in which we live and why things are the way they are. It is concerned with the social aspects of our world and seeks to answer questions about:
¿ Why people behave the way they do
¿ How opinions and attitudes are formed
¿ How people are affected by the events that go on around them
¿ How and why cultures have developed in the way they have
¿ The differences between social groups.
This course provides an introduction to qualitative research methods. Underlying approaches will be examined and then different methods will be looked at in more detail. Practical components will be incorporated into the course, such as carrying out in-depth interviews and participating in class exercises and discussions. Students will be expected to do background reading on the topics. Students will also learn how to analyse qualitative data, what some of the challenges of mixing methods are and how to appraise published qualitative research.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | Students are responsible for meeting their own computing and internet access costs. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | No |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course students should be able to:
¿ Understand the underlying approaches to qualitative research, the differences between quantitative and qualitative research and the challenges of mixing methods.
¿ Identify some of the different ways in which qualitative research may be used.
¿ Compare and contrast focus groups, individual interviews and participant observation. Understand techniques for making sense of unstructured data.
¿ Be confident about all aspects of the research process and be reflexive researchers.
¿ Be able to appraise critically publish qualitative research.
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Assessment Information
| Formal summative written assessment will constitute 60% of the student's grade. Online assessment will incorporate a variety of activities and will constitute 40% of the overall course grade and is taken to represent a formative assessment of learning throughout the programme |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
This course will be taught entirely by distance learning, using the virtual learning environment Learn as the delivery platform. Course materials are protected by secure username and password access that will be made available to registered users. Students will be responsible for their computer equipment and internet access. |
| Keywords | qualitative research, qualitative data, research methods |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Ruth Mcquillan
Tel: (0131 6)50 9238
Email: Ruth.McQuillan@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Cristina Matthews
Tel: (0131 6)51 4152
Email: Cristina.Matthews@ed.ac.uk |
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