Postgraduate Course: Qualitative Methodologies in Psychological Research (PSYL11113)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course provides a conceptual and practical introduction to some core qualitative methodologies used in Psychology, namely Discursive Psychology-Conversation Analysis, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Thematic Analysis, and Foucauldian Discourse Analysis. We will also discuss a variety of mixed methods approaches, and provide an introduction to how to use NVivo software to code and analyse qualitative data. |
| Course description |
The course presents the rationale for the various qualitative approaches and their underlying epistemologies, and engages students in current debates regarding ethics, epistemology, and evaluation of qualitative research within Psychology. It introduces different ways of collecting qualitative data, including interviews, social media data and recording naturally occurring interactions. It demonstrates and compares several ways of analysing qualitative data, including discursive psychological (DP) analysis, Foucauldian discourse analysis (FDA), interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) and thematic analysis (TA) using NVivo, and provides extended practical experience in conducting and reporting a DP analysis. It will also discuss the combination of quantitative and qualitative data and analysis in mixed methods research. The course includes a substantial hands-on component, with regular exercises to practice different aspects of qualitative methodologies, including how to use NVivo software, and provides students with the opportunity to design, conduct, analyse and report their own DP research.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2025/26, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
166 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
5 Test quizzes - 30%
Final Report - 70% |
| Feedback |
Formative feedback is provided through regular online activities with model answers and through tutorial tasks. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the rationale underlying qualitative methodologies
- collect qualitative data and understand related practical and conceptual issues, and design and report their own discursive psychology research project
- demonstrate basic skills in doing discursive psychology and conversation analysis
- understand the underlying rationale and process of interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) and conduct IPA interviews
- understand the process of undertaking qualitative data analysis with NVivo software
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Reading List
Wiggins, S. (2017). Discursive psychology: Theory, method and applications. Los Angeles: Sage.
Willig, C. (2017). Introducing Qualitative Research in Psychology. Berkshire: McGraw Hill-Education.
Larkin, M., Watts, S., & Clifton, E. (2006). Giving voice and making sense in interpretative phenomenological analysis. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 102-120.
Braun, V. & Clarke, V. (2013). Successful qualitative research: A practical guide for beginners. London: Sage. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Research and intellectual skills: Gaining significant research and analytic skills as well as an appreciation of qualitative research and methodologies.
Communication skills: Engaging effectively in group activities and discussions, including written discussions; individual academic writing.
Personal management skills: Establishing group and individual goals to effectively complete the different tutorial tasks, and assessments; using resources effectively to achieve the different goals. |
| Keywords | qualitative methodologies,discursive,interpretative,thematic,analysis |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Cristina Da Silva Marinho
Tel:
Email: cristina.marinho@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Mollie Fordyce
Tel:
Email: mfordyc2@ed.ac.uk |
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