Qualitative Methods in Political Research

2023/2024

Academic Year

ENG

Instruction in English

6

ECTS credits

Delivered at:

Department of Sociology

Course type:

Elective course

When:

1 year, 3, 4 module

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The goal of this course is to present the fundamentals of qualitative social research, as well as to develop students’ skills of using qualitative methods in their own empirical research. Students will learn how to plan, to organize and to implement qualitative research, how to collect data and how to analyze them afterwards. In the frame of this research seminar, the focus will be done on the development of practical skills. The main idea of the seminar: learning through experience. Students will learn qualitative research by doing it. They will develop their own research design, will conduct the interviews and participant observation, will analyze collected data.

Learning Objectives

• The goal of this course is to present the fundamentals of qualitative social research, as well as to develop students’ skills of using qualitative methods in their own empirical research.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Able to organize and to conduct qualitative research
• Able to use qualitative methods for collection and analysis of data
• Know basic strategies and methods of qualitative research
• Understand the principles of qualitative research

Course Contents

• Introduction of qualitative research. The methodological basis. Design of qualitative research.
• Ethnographic strategy and observation.
• Qualitative interview. Qualitative analysis of interview.
• Discourse analysis.
• The presentation of qualitative research results.

Assessment Elements

• In-class participation
• Research Design
• Data collection
• The analysis of the data

Interim Assessment

• 2023/2024 4th module
  0.3 * Data collection + 0.2 * In-class participation + 0.2 * Research Design + 0.3 * The analysis of the data

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Denzin, N. K., & Giardina, M. D. (2014). Qualitative Inquiry Outside the Academy. Walnut Creek: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=666131
• Leavy, P. (2014). The Oxford Handbook of Qualitative Research. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=779511

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Hesse-Biber, S. N., & Johnson, B. (2015). The Oxford Handbook of Multimethod and Mixed Methods Research Inquiry. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=989215
• Saldaña, J. (2011). Fundamentals of Qualitative Research. New York: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=355780
• Van Puyvelde, D. V. (DE-588)1138994839, (DE-576)492808287, aut. (2018). Qualitative research interviews and the study of national security intelligence / Damien Van Puyvelde, University of Glasgow. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.513894985