| Learning objectives |
- To describe the difference between an interview, an
observational study and a document analysis and reflect upon how
the three methods generate different data
- To discuss qualitative methods in relation to philosophy of
science perspectives
- To discuss qualitative methods in relation to evaluation
criteria
- To develop a coherent and case-specific qualitative study
design including research question, method description, and
philosophy of science perspective.
- To understand, explain and apply significant theoretical and
methodological concepts from the curriculum
|
| Examination |
|
Qualitative
Methods:
|
| Exam
ECTS |
7,5 |
| Examination form |
Oral exam based on written product
In order to participate in the oral exam, the written product
must be handed in before the oral exam; by the set deadline. The
grade is based on an overall assessment of the written product and
the individual oral performance. |
| Individual or group exam |
Individual oral exam based on written group
product |
| Number of people in the group |
3-5 |
| Size of written product |
Max. 5 pages |
|
A 5 page synopsis in which the students present a
case-specific, coherent and analytically informe qualitative study
design. The synopsis is written in groups of 3-5 students. It
should include research question, method description, reflections
about data collection and a discussion of philosophy of science
perspective. All methodological choices must be properly explained
and discussed using the course curriculum. |
| Assignment type |
Synopsis |
| Duration |
Written product to be submitted on specified date and
time.
20 min. per student, including examiners' discussion of grade,
and informing plus explaining the grade |
| Grading scale |
7-point grading scale |
| Examiner(s) |
Internal examiner and second internal
examiner |
| Exam period |
Winter |
| Make-up exam/re-exam |
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
If a student is absent from the oral
exam due to documented illness but has handed in the written group
product, she/he does not have to submit a new product for the
re-take. However, the group product must be uploaded once again on
Digital Exam before the deadline.
If a student has not participated in the written group product due
to documented illness, he or she can attend the oral retake by
handing in an individual synopsis before deadline.
If a student does not pass the regular exam, he or she can hand a
new, revised or the same project by the submission date for the
re-exam.
|
Description of the exam
procedure
The grade is based on an overall assessment of the written
product and the individual oral performance.
The oral exam begins with an approx. 3 minutes’ presentation
based on the written synopsis. After this, the student will be
examined based themes from the synopsis and the whole curriculum of
the course.
|
|
| Course content, structure and pedagogical
approach |
|
This course introduces the students to the task of writing
academic projects, planning study designs, conducting qualitative
inquiries and reflecting upon the study’s philosophy of science
perspective and evaluation criteria. The course is particularly
relevant for students who wish to use qualitative methods in their
academic projects. However, knowledge of qualitative methodology
specifically, and the development of study designs more generally,
is also of more common importance in organizations today where, for
instance, business strategy, introduction of management systems,
and organizational change processes are often based on prior
qualitative investigations.
The overall purpose of the course is to enable students to work
systematically and analytically informed with qualitative methods
such as observational studies, interviews and document analysis as
well as to reflect upon the appropriateness of these methods for
different areas of research and types of research questions. The
students will further be presented with some basic philosophy of
science perspectives in order to make informed decisions about how
to develop coherent study designs and connect perspectives and
methods accordingly. The students will also get to discuss
challenges of data collection and analysis as well as how to assess
the rigor, trustworthiness and ethics of qualitative studies.
During exercises and in the final synopsis, the students will work
in groups with a self-chosen case in order to practice the use of
the presented methodological tools and theories.
|
| Description of the teaching methods |
| The teaching is a combination of lectures,
discussions, group-work and exercises. The course is generally
oriented towards making room for practicing and experimenting with
the use of the presented methodological tools and theories though
case-based exercises. |
| Feedback during the teaching period |
| Continuous feedback is part of group-work,
exercises and student presentations. |
| Student workload |
| Participation in course |
36 hours |
| Reading of curriculum |
84 hours |
| Writing and working on synopsis |
50 hours |
| Exam preparation |
36 hours |
|
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