Print Course syllabus
Course syllabus - Qualitative Research Methods I
Scope
7.5 credits
Course code
SOA408
Valid from
Autumn semester 2015
Education level
Second cycle
Progressive Specialisation
A1N (Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements).
Main area(s)
Work Life Studies, Science of Public Health, Physiotherapy, Social Work, Caring Science with Specialization in Nursing
School
School of Health, Care and Social Welfare
Ratified
2014-11-20
Literature lists
Course literature is preliminary up to 8 weeks before course start. Course literature can be valid over several semesters.
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Books
Qualitative inquiry & research design : choosing among five approaches
4th ed. : Los Angeles : Sage Publications, [2017] - xxv, 459 pages
ISBN: 978-1-5063-6117-8 LIBRIS-ID: 20024195
Philosophy of science : a very short introduction
2. ed. : Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2016 - 140 p.
ISBN: 9780198745587 LIBRIS-ID: 18713096
Articles
In addition to the two books the student reads twelve research articles according to the teachers instructions.
Akademin för hälsa, vård och välfärd,
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Books
An introduction to the philosophy of science
Cambridge : Polity, 2008 - xii, 199 s.
ISBN: 0-7456-3539-3 LIBRIS-ID: 11174436
Qualitative inquiry & research design : choosing among five approaches
4th ed. : Los Angeles : Sage Publications, [2017] - xxv, 459 pages
ISBN: 978-1-5063-6117-8 LIBRIS-ID: 20024195
Other Materials
In addition to the two books the student reads eight research articles according to the teachers instructions.
Akademin för hälsa, vård och välfärd,
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Books
Philosophy of social science : the philosophical foundations of social thought
2nd ed., 10th anniversary ed. : Houndsmill, Basingstoke, Hampshire : Palgrave Macmillan, 2011. - x, 260 p.
ISBN: 9780230242609 (alk. paper) LIBRIS-ID: 12199260
Qualitative inquiry and research design : choosing among five approaches
3., [updated] ed. : Thousand Oaks : SAGE Publications, cop. 2013 - xxi, 448 p.
ISBN: 1412995310 LIBRIS-ID: 12594489
Other Materials
In addition to the two books the student reads eight research articles according to the teachers instructions.
Akademin för hälsa, vård och välfärd,
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.
Tuition
Teaching and learning will take place in the form of lectures, seminars and/or exercises. These formats are intended for students to train individual, active searches for knowledge, cooperation, discussion, argumentation, and critical reflection. In the course, an educational (web-based) platform for the presentation of course materials, communication and discussion will be used.
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
Pass with distinction, Pass, Fail