Course syllabus - Qualitative Research Methods I

Objectives

The aim of the course is for students to obtain a deeper knowledge of qualitative methods relevant to the health and welfare area and to develop their critical stance in the context of scientific work.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, students are expected to be able to:
1 critically assess and reflect upon different scientific perspectives
2 show their ability to relate to core aspects of qualitative research design, including aims and research questions, selection, data collection, analysis, results, ethics, and quality criteria
3 show their ability to formulate aims and research questions relevant to the health and welfare area, and to motivate their choice of qualitative research approach in response to these
4 carry out qualitative data collection and analysis
5 describe the similarities and differences between different qualitative methodological approaches

Course content

The course comprises three parts. It starts with an overview of scientific-theoretical perspectives of importance for understanding qualitative as well as quantitative methodological approaches. Secondly, general aspects of qualitative research design are considered. They will be discussed, among other things, in connection with an exercise in collecting and analyzing qualitative data. Finally, a number of qualitative methodological approaches of relevance to the health and welfare area will be presented. The objective of the latter is for students to be able to choose one of them in connection with their degree project.

Specific requirements

A completed bachelor’s degree from an institution of higher education of three years or more, equivalent to 180 credits in one of the following subject areas: Public Health Science, Caring Science with Specialisation in Nursing, Nursing science, Medical Science, Physiotherapy, Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, or the equivalent. In addition Swedish B/Swedish 3 and English B/English 6 are required. For courses given entirely in English exemption is made from the requirement in Swedish B/Swedish 3.

Examination

INL1, Hand-in assignment, 1.5 credits, corresponding to learning objectives 2 and 4; grades Fail (U) or Pass (G).
INL2, Hand-in assignment, 6 credits, corresponding to learning objectives 1-3 and 5; grades Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with distinction (VG).

For a Pass with distinction (VG) on the course as a whole, this grade needs to be earned on INL2. For more information, see the study guide.

A student who has a certificate from MDU regarding a disability has the opportunity to submit a request for supportive measures during written examinations or other forms of examination, in accordance with the Rules and Regulations for Examinations at First-cycle and Second-cycle Level at Mälardalen University (2020/1655). It is the examiner who takes decisions on any supportive measures, based on what kind of certificate is issued, and in that case which measures are to be applied.

Suspicions of attempting to deceive in examinations (cheating) are reported to the Vice-Chancellor, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, and are examined by the University’s Disciplinary Board. If the Disciplinary Board considers the student to be guilty of a disciplinary offence, the Board will take a decision on disciplinary action, which will be a warning or suspension.

Grade

Three-grade scale