2020/2021 BA-BSOCO1833U Qualitative Methods
English Title | |
Qualitative Methods |
Course information |
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Language | English |
Course ECTS | 7.5 ECTS |
Type | Mandatory |
Level | Bachelor |
Duration | One Semester |
Start time of the course | Autumn |
Timetable | Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk |
Study board |
Study Board for BSc in Business Administration and
Sociology
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Course coordinator | |
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Main academic disciplines | |
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Teaching methods | |
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Last updated on 25-06-2020 |
Relevant links |
Learning objectives | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
On successful completion of the course, the
student should be able to use different qualitative methods and
analytical strategies within organizational sociology and business
administration. Specifically, the student should be able to:
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Prerequisites for registering for the exam (activities during the teaching period) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of compulsory
activities which must be approved (see s. 13 of the Programme
Regulations): 2
Compulsory home
assignments
Number of compulsory activities which must be approved: 2 out of 3 assignments need to be approved to be able to attend the course's exam. The assignments are also the basis and the point of reference for the synopsis (final exam) and have to be attached as an appendix to the exam. All assignments must be handed in via Digital Exam (DE). |
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Examination | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Course content, structure and pedagogical approach | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The course explores the development and application of qualitative research designs and methods in organizational and social analysis. The aim is to facilitate, in an exploratory way, a first contact with qualitative methodology and the presentation of a rigorous and feasible research process within this paradigm.
The course has three distinctive modules: 1. Interviewing; 2. Observing; 3. Analysing qualitative data.
The course situates each methodology in context, it goes through classical examples of its usage and it discusses the application of the technique in practice. In the exercise classes of each method module, students will have the possibility to discuss their own use of each method, and develop a sense of the possibilities and limits of the methods.
The course is practice intensive and operates under the philosophy of ‘learning by doing’. That is, student groups will be required to design and conduct a brief qualitative research project. This will allow them to deal with the knowledge acquired and develop skills to present, explain and defend their research approach and results.
The research project will be discussed in class (last session of each module) and presented in the final oral exam under a conference-like setting. Brief individual commentaries are to be handed-in at the end of each module, with reflections on how the method of the particular module has been used in the student group research project.
In the autumn 2020 parts of the teaching will take place online. |
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Description of the teaching methods | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The course uses a combination of lectures, exercise classes and workshops. It is structured in three blocks — interviewing, observation of practices and analysis of qualitative material —all following the same logic. The first lecture in each block introduces and contextualizes the particular method (interviewing, observation and analysis). The second lecture looks at the theoretical roots of the respective concept/method focussing on an authoritative example of its application. Finally, the third session will introduce one of the practical “tool kits” used to conduct research using the methodology. Each block also has two exercise classes: one formulating the core aspects of the method and the second discussing an assignment in the method. The course concludes with a full day workshop during which assignments carried out by groups of students are discussed in a conference-like setting. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Feedback during the teaching period | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Individual feedback upon request related to the
three compulsory assignments and general feedback to the class on
the progress of the learning on the basis of the assignments
reflecting the three distinctive modules.
Oral feed-back both by the lecturer and peer to peer feedback on class presentations of group research projects. |
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Student workload | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Expected literature | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Texts include texts by Bourdieu, Hochschild, Elias, Geertz, Van Maanen and introductory writings on Qualitative Methods from Silverman, Charmaz and others. These can be accessed through links directly on the syllabus on CBS CANVAS. Students need to buy the book:
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