General description

An introduction into methodology of qualitative research and ways of analysing qualitative data. Deeper understanding about one specific qualitative research method and practices of analysing data.

Learning outcomes

This course focuses on qualitative research methods in general, and on specified methods such as ethnografy, discourse analysis and narrative analysis. The methodology and the practices of qualitative research methods are discussed. The aim is to enable the students to reflect and use qualitative research methods.

Students will be able
o to understand the methodology of qualitative research methods
o to identify different qualitative research methods
o to analyse data with one specified method for example discourse analysis or narrative analysis

Contents

The course has three parts:
1) Introduction focuses on the methodology of qualitative research. Different ways to interpret the reality and understand knowledge are discussed. Students learn how the research questions and findings are related to the scientific assumptions on which the research methods are based.
2) Students will examine one specific, established qualitative research method (discourse analysis/ narrative analysis/ ethnografy etc.). The focus will be on the methodological basis, the forms of data and the ways of analysing the data. The selection of the covered qualitative methods will be based on the interests of the students.
3) The analysis of the data will be exercised. Basic rules of qualitative research method are practiced with a data by step-by-step process. The end result will be a well-grounded argument based on the analysis.

Teaching methods

Introduction during the Intensive Program in Tampere, afterwards workshops and pair work supported by moodle.
Attendance obligatory.

Teaching language

English

Evaluation and evaluation criteria

Numeric 1-5.
Participation of the students in the discussions and debates, preparation of the pair work (10 pages; part 2) and preparation of an analysis paper (5 pages; part 3).

Belongs to following study modules