Postgraduate Course: Introduction and Foundation of Qualitative Research (SHSS11005)
Course Outline
| School | School of Health in Social Science |
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 | The course is a foundational and introductory course in qualitative methodology that aims to support postgraduate research students to critically review and examine relevant and established key qualitative methodologies when developing social science research. Students will develop a critical understanding of qualitative research methodologies which will enable them to design a robust qualitative study in the social sciences. |
| Course description |
The course is a foundational and introductory course in qualitative methodology that aims at enabling postgraduate students to critically review and examine relevant and established key qualitative methodologies when developing social science research. Students will develop a critical understanding of key qualitative research methodologies to design a robust qualitative study in the social sciences. Throughout the course, students will be challenged to reflect, critique and discuss methodological choices in a reflexive manner to develop a feasible and robust qualitative research design.
On completion of this course, students are expected to have gained an in-depth insight to key qualitative methodologies, including philosophical underpinnings, data collection and analysis methods, rigour and ethics in practice. Students will gain confidence and skills in critiquing the qualitative research paradigm including some methods that will then enable them to design a robust research proposal in which methodological choices are critically justified.
This course offers postgraduate students flexibility of learning, including on-campus lectures and seminars as well as interactive exercises that will enable students to explore, discuss and reflect on the key learning outcomes for specific material. Students will have a weekly pattern of study to follow that is consisting of core material alongside ongoing interactive activities such as seminars and associated reading and visual materials. Students will be studying and researching independently and reflecting on their own learning.The course content will be delivered in a way that promotes students critical engagement with the materials, including lectures, readings, videos and tutorial discussions. Students will be introduced to qualitative methodologies, encouraging constant critique and reflexivity as essential components of rigorous research design.
This 20-credit course is available to all postgraduate research students. The course will not be available for auditing for PGR students out with the School of Health in Social Science.
PGR students from HiSS studying PhD by Distance and on Campus PhD students away on data collection in Year 2 can enrol and access the course materials online.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | This 20-credit course is available to all postgraduate research students. The course will not be available for auditing for PGR students out with the School of Health in Social Science.
PGR students from HiSS studying PhD by Distance and on Campus PhD students away on data collection in Year 2 can enrol and access the course materials online. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 35 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 10,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 4,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
172 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Summative assessment:
You will be provided with two qualitative research papers to review for this assessment. Write a critical appraisal on any one of the papers including the completion of a Critical Appraisal Skills Programme [CASP] checklist for your chosen paper [2800 - 3000 words]. |
| Feedback |
On campus seminars are distributed throughout the 10 weeks. Students will be required to undertake preparations for seminars and will receive ongoing verbal formative feedback during seminars.
Formative assessment: (LO1 and LO2)
500 - 800 word written methodological justification for the students qualitative research question - Students will have the opportunity to review and discuss the two qualitative papers along with the CASP checklist in small groups with verbal feedback provided by the CO as part of the preparation towards their summative assessment.
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of qualitative methodologies for social science research
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of philosophical underpinnings, reflexivity and positionality in qualitative research
- Develop a robustly justified research proposal to undertake a qualitative study, including the appreciation of alternative research approaches
- Demonstrate critical analysis of methodological choices when designing a qualitative study, drawing on rigour and ethical considerations.
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Reading List
1. Brinkmann, S (2018) Philosophies of qualitative research, Oxford University Press
2. Pope C & Mays N (2020) Qualitative research in health care, 4th edition, WileyBlackwell
3. Flick (2023) An introduction to qualitative research, SAGE
4. Saldana J (2015) Thinking qualitatively, SAGE
5. Saldana, J (2024) Developing theory through qualitative inquiry, SAGE (not yet published)
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
The course is set to significantly contribute to the development of a range of attributes and skills for students including:
The knowledge, understanding and ability in developing a qualitative research design that is feasible for empirical investigation.
The ability to demonstrate critical thinking and reasoning skills when developing a qualitative research proposal, demonstrating reflexive insight, rigour and ethical considerations when making methodological choices that are well justified.
The ability to connect academic knowledge to 'real world' research challenges and to question, reflect on and understand good practices in social science research.
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| Keywords | Qualitative research,Research design,Foundational course,Ethnography,Grounded Theory,IPA |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Ms Leah MacAden
Tel:
Email: leah.macaden@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr David Morris
Tel: (0131 6)51 3969
Email: dmorri14@exseed.ed.ac.uk |
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