Sylabus
Course Objectives:
The seminar will introduce students to qualitative methods, which are those research techniques concerned broadly with non-mathematical, naturally occurring and non-experimental research practices that look to uncover the meanings and significance of the wide variety of evidence that social researchers collect. Qualitative research includes a broad range of approaches and research techniques. The purpose of the course is to introduce students to a number of the most commonly used approaches and techniques.
Upon completing the course students will acquire a basic overview of qualitative methods, how to utilise these methods, the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. Students will understand the relevance of methodology for academic writing and the relationship between methodology and theory. Students will conclude the course by putting their knowledge to action, in the creation of their research project.
Assessments:
Grading: excellent (A) 100-90%, very good (B) 89-80%, good (C) 79-70%, satisfactory (D) 69-60%, (E) 59-50%, unsatisfactory (F) < 50%
Type of Assessment
Description
Percentage of Final Grade active participation in seminars
-students are expected to attend each seminar[1]
-during the seminar students should actively input thoughts from personal reflections and reading material 20% short presentation
-the topics are provided
-the presentations will be done in groups of two
-presentations should be between 10-15 minutes in length –students should present the assigned reading and clearly explain why it is a good example of the research method used 15% topic for research project
Due November 15th
-please send a single e-mail briefly outlining your topic and stating your research question to both of the course instructors 0% preliminary literature review
-the review should be between 1000-1500 words
-it should not only be a summary, but it should also include critical analysis
-the review is due: November 29th 15% presentation of your research project
-the project involves 2 parts: 1 - the presentation of your project (10-12 minutes of presentation, followed by 5 minutes of questions)
Sign up for: December 6th/13th/20th 2 - a written research project (approximately 1500-words) due on January 4th
-The research project should follow the ‘Thesis Proposal’ outline provided
-this is an opportunity to ‘try-out’ your first ideas for your MA thesis and receive constructive feedback 25% for the presentation of the research project 25% for the written research project
Course Programme:
Session
Date
Topic
Presentations
Required Readings 1
October 4th, 2018
Course Introduction none none 2
October 11th, 2018
Electronic Databases none none 3
October 18th, 2018
Nature of social research and conducting a literature review
Haldén (focus on the literature review)
Bryman (Chapters 1 and 5)
Haldén, P. (2011) The past, present and future(s) of environmental security studies. Cooperation and Conflict 46(3): 406-414. 4
October 25th, 2018
Research Problem and Design
Eidlin (focus on the research problem and design)
Bryman (Chapters 3 and 4)
Eidlin, F. (2011) The Method of Problems versus the Method of Topics. PS: Political Science and Politics 44(4): 758-761. 5
November 1st, 2018
Concepts and Variables
Brubaker and Cooper (focus on the concepts and variables)
Bryman (Chapters 7 and 17)
Brubaker, R. and Cooper, F. (2000) Beyond “identity”. Theory and Society 29: 1-4 6
November 8th, 2018
Case Studies
Lewis (focus on the case study)
Selections from: Blatter, J., & Haverland, M. (2012). Designing case studies: Explanatory approaches in small-N research. Palgrave Macmillan.
Lewis, J (2005) The Janus Face of Brussels: Socialization and Everyday Decision Making in the European Union. International Organization 59: 937-978. 7
November 15th, 2018
Content analysis
Discourse analysis
*topic due
Graham et al. (focus on discourse analysis)
Bryman (Chapter 22)
Graham, P. et al. (2004) A Call to Arms at the End of History: A Discourse–Historical Analysis of George W. Bush’s Declaration of War on Terror. Discourse & Society 15 (2-3): 199-211. 8
November 22nd, 2018
Elite Interviews and Focus Groups
Saldaña (focus on coding interviews)
Bryman (Chapter 20 and 21)
Saldaña 2013 pp. 1-40 9
November 29th, 2018
Ethnography
*preliminary literature review due
Densely (covert ethnography)
Bryman (Chapter 19)
Densley (2012) Street Gang Recruitment: Signaling, Screening, and Selection." Social Problems 59, no. 3 301-21. 10
December 6th, 2018
Student Presentations n/a none 11
December 13th, 2018
Student Presentations n/a none
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Anotace
The seminar will introduce students to qualitative methods, which are those research techniques concerned broadly with non-mathematical, naturally occurring and non-experimental research practices that look to uncover the meanings and significance of the wide variety of evidence that social researchers collect. Qualitative research includes a broad range of approaches and research techniques. The purpose of the course is to introduce students to a number of the most commonly used approaches and techniques.
Upon completing the course students will acquire a basic overview of qualitative methods, how to utilise these methods, the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. Students will understand the relevance of methodology for academic writing and the relationship between methodology and theory. Students will conclude the course by putting their knowledge to action, in the creation of their research project.