QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS

Course Title:     QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

Credit Hours:   3

 

Course Description:

This course is developed to help social science students in understanding different traditions, methodologies and methods that apprise qualitative research. This course provides help in accessing complexity and richness of social life through wide range of qualitative research methods. This course deals with ground rules of qualitative research methods. It entails definitive sources of qualitative data: interviews, focus groups, participant observation and documentary research. In addition, topics including quality indicators, research design, research tools, ethics, writing up and disseminating research are also addressed. This course also explores the synthesis of qualitative research through thematic analysis, discourse analysis, ethnography.

Learning Outcomes:

  • It will be helpful in developing student’s skills for interviewing, running focus groups, conducting ethnographic observation, and qualitative data analysis
  • Will Equip students with understanding of core methodological approaches to qualitative research
  • Will develop students expertise in linking research methods to questions in a manner that facilitates robust research practice.

 

Suggested Readings:

1.          Babbie, Earl. 2004. The Practice of Social Research. 10th Edition. Belmont: CA Words Worth Publishing.

2.         Bridge Semekh & Culhy. 2005. Research Methods in the Social Science. New Delhi: Vistaar Publisher.

3.         Christopher Winship, 2003, Sociological Methods and Research. London: Sage Publications.

4.         Monette, Duane R., Sullivan, Thomas J. and Dejong, Cornell R. 1998 Applied Social Research: Tool for the Human Services (4th Edition) New York: Harcout Brace College Publishers.

5.         Nachimas, Chava Frankfort and David Nachmias (1997) Research Methods in the Social Sciences (5th Edition)  New York: St. Martin’s Press Inc.

6.         Neuman William Lawerence. (2000) Social Research Methods 4thed.  Allyn and Eacon., Boston

7.         Sadman, Symour, Norman M. Bradhurn (1991) Asking Questions. San Francisco: Jossey – Bass Publisher.

8.         Somekh & Lewin, 2005, Research methods in Social Sciences, Vistaar, Publication, New Delhi.

9.         William Dragon and Steve Duck, 2005, Understanding Research in Personal Relationship Sage London.

10.        Neuman, W. Lawrence (2000). “Social Research Methods”. New York: Allyn and Bacon.

11.        Baker, Therese L. (1989). “Doing Social Research”. McGraw-Hill.

12.        Babbie, Earl (2005). “The Practice of Social Research”. Belmont, California: Wordsworth.

13.        Juliet Corbin & Anselm C Strauss, Basics of Qualitative Research 3rd Edition (2008)  Sage Publications New Delhi;

14.        Marcus Banks, (2008) Using Visual Data in Qualitative Research. Sage Publications New Delhi;

15.        Norman K Denzin & Yvonnal Lincoin, (2008) Collecting and Interpreting

16.        Qualitative Materials Sage Publications New Delhi

17.        Rosaline Barbour (2008) “Doing Focus Groups” New Delhi: Sage Publications

18.        Tim Rapley, (2008) Doing Conversation Discourse and Document analysis. Sage Publications New Delhi

19.        Uwe Flick, (2008) Designing Qualitative Research. Sage Publications New Delhi

 

WEEKLY COURSE SCHEDULE

Week

Course Contents

WEEK 1

Week 1

Main Theme: Philosophical and Methodological Foundations of Qualitative Research

Sub Themes to be covered:

Ontological and Epistemological Standpoint of Qualitative Research

Different Interpretive Traditions in Qualitative Research

  •  

WEEK 2

Week 2

Main Theme: Philosophical and Methodological Foundations of Qualitative Research

Sub Themes to be covered

Phenomenology

Hermeneutics

Symbolic Interaction

Constructionists

WEEK 3

Week 3

Main Theme: Planning, Designing, and Data Collection in Qualitative Research

Sub Themes to be covered:

  Qualitative Research Design: Definition,

  Characteristics, and Components of Qualitative research

 The Main Assumptions, Orientations, and Issues in Qualitative Research Design

WEEK 4

Week 4

Main Theme: Planning, Designing, and Data Collection in Qualitative Research

Sub Themes to be covered:

  Major Research Designs

  Grounded Theory

  Ethnography

WEEK 5

Week 5

Main Theme: Planning, Designing, and Data Collection in Qualitative Research

Sub Themes to be covered:

Case Studies

Historical

WEEK 6

Week 6

Main Theme: Planning, Designing, and Data Collection in Qualitative Research

Sub Themes to be covered:

 Strategy for Entering Research Site and Conducting Fieldwork

 Choosing a Site and Gaining Access

 Negotiation, Rapport building, and Disclosure

 Gatekeeping 

 Leaving Research Site

WEEK 7

Week 7

Main Theme: Planning, Designing, and Data Collection in Qualitative Research

Sub Themes to be covered:

Data Sources

Sampling Types and Techniques

WEEK 8

Week 8

Main Theme: Planning, Designing, and Data Collection in Qualitative Research

Sub Themes to be covered:

Methods of Data Collection

Qualitative Methods

Quantitative Methods

WEEK 9

Week 9

Main Theme: Planning, Designing, and Data Collection in Qualitative Research

Sub Themes to be covered:

Focus Group Discussion

Observations

Designing Interview Guides

WEEK 10

Week 10

Main Theme: Planning, Designing, and Data Collection in Qualitative Research

Sub Themes to be covered:        

Data collection Tools

Tools Developments

Types, importance, advantages and disadvantages

WEEK 11

Week 11

Main Theme: Planning, Designing, and Data Collection in Qualitative Research

Sub Themes to be covered:

Importance of Achieving Saturation in Data Collection

Importance of Reflexivity in Qualitative Research

Ethics in Qualitative Research

WEEK 12

Week 12

Main Theme: Data Transcribing and Analyzing

Sub Themes to be covered:

Data Transcribing and Translating

Coding, Concepts, and Themes in Qualitative Research

WEEK 13

Week 13

Main Theme: Data Transcribing and Analyzing

Sub Themes to be covered:

Data Analysis Techniques in Qualitative Research

Use of Software for Analyzing Qualitative Data 

WEEK 14

Week 14

Main Theme: Report Writing in Qualitative Research

Sub Themes to be covered:

  Report Writing

 Styles and Techniques of Report Writing

WEEK 15

Week 15

Main Theme: Qualitative Research as Applied Research

Sub Themes to be covered:

Participatory Rapid Appraisal Techniques

Feasibility Studies

Impact assessment techniques

WEEK 16

Week 16

Main Theme: Combined Research Methods and Methodologies

Sub Themes to be covered:

Importance of Triangulation

Combination of Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

Combination of Methods and Designs of Qualitative and Quantitative Research

 

Evaluation Criteria:

Mid & Final term written exam with open questions 

Mid Term Exam = 30 Marks

Final Term Exam; 50 Marks

Sessional :20

Group discussion & active class participation


 

 

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