Qualitative Research Methods

About this course: In this course you will be introduced to the basic ideas behind the qualitative research in social science. You will learn about data collection, description, analysis and interpretation in qualitative research. Qualitative research often involves an iterative process. We will focus on the ingredients required for this process: data collection and analysis. You won't learn how to use qualitative methods by just watching video's, so we put much stress on collecting data through observation and interviewing and on analysing and interpreting the collected data in other assignments. Obviously, the most important concepts in qualitative research will be discussed, just as we will discuss quality criteria, good practices, ethics, writing some methods of analysis, and mixing methods. We hope to take away some prejudice, and enthuse many students for qualitative research.

Created by:  University of Amsterdam

• Taught by:  Gerben Moerman, Dr.

  Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences

Basic Info Course 2 of 5 in the Methods and Statistics in Social Sciences Specialization Commitment 8 weeks of study, 4-6 hours/week Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.5 stars Average User Rating 4.5See what learners said Trabajo del curso

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University of Amsterdam A modern university with a rich history, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) traces its roots back to 1632, when the Golden Age school Athenaeum Illustre was established to train students in trade and philosophy. Today, with more than 30,000 students, 5,000 staff and 285 study programmes (Bachelor's and Master's), many of which are taught in English, and a budget of more than 600 million euros, it is one of the largest comprehensive universities in Europe. It is a member of the League of European Research Universities and also maintains intensive contact with other leading research universities around the world.

Syllabus


WEEK 1


Philosophy of Qualitative Research
Welcome to the first week of the course. We start with an introduction, followed by two lessons on the Philosophy of Qualitative Research.


8 videos, 12 readings expand

1. Leyendo: A very warm welcome to Qualitative Research Methods!
2. Video: 1.0 Introduction
3. Leyendo: Course description
4. Leyendo: Prerequisite knowledge needed
5. Leyendo: Course Structure
6. Leyendo: Standing on shoulders of giants
7. Leyendo: Team
8. Leyendo: On Elephants
9. Video: 1.1 On Elephants
10. Video: 1.2 Ontology for social actors
11. Video: 1.3 Ontology for social researchers
12. Video: 1.4 Epistemology
13. Leyendo: Slides
14. Leyendo: References
15. Leyendo: How to never emerge from the library again...
16. Video: 1.5 Hermeneutics
17. Video: 1.6 Phenomenology
18. Video: 1.7 Pragmatism
19. Leyendo: Slides
20. Leyendo: References

Graded: Assignment A: Is Silverman right?

WEEK 2


Observation



In the first module we discussed the philosophy of qualitative research, explaining some basic notions and general philosophical approaches. In this second module we'll discuss observation as an important method within qualitative research. What types of observation are there? How do we observe? And how do we analyse and describe our data?


9 videos, 10 readings expand

1. Leyendo: Background of observation as a method
2. Video: 2.1 Ethnography
3. Video: 2.2 Participant Observation
4. Video: 2.3 Views on Observation
5. Leyendo: Slides
6. Leyendo: References
7. Leyendo: Focus and the assignment
8. Video: 2.4 Observational Focus
9. Video: 2.5 Cyclists in Amsterdam
10. Video: 2.6 Privatizing Public Space
11. Leyendo: Slides
12. Leyendo: References
13. Leyendo: Note taking and Interpreting
14. Video: 2.7 Field Notes
15. Video: 2.8 Fieldwork organisation
16. Video: 2.9 Observation and Interpretation
17. Leyendo: Slides
18. Leyendo: References
19. Leyendo: Peer Review: Assignment B: instructions

Graded: Assignment B: Observing on waiting around the world: Privatising Public Space

WEEK 3


Good Practices & Criteria



What makes qualitative research 'good' is a rather difficult question. Different criteria are suggested, but within the field of qualitative research there is not much agreement on these criteria. However, there is quite some agreement on what good practices of qualitative research are. In this module we will start in lesson 1 with a discussion of good practices of qualitative research.


9 videos, 9 readings, 1 practice quiz expand

1. Leyendo: Good practices
2. Video: 3.1 Flexibility
3. Video: 3.2 Triangulation
4. Video: 3.3 Abduction
5. Video: 3.4 Focus on Details and Context
6. Video: 3.5 Look for Contradiction
7. Video: 3.6 Reflexivity
8. Leyendo: Slides
9. Leyendo: References
10. Leyendo: Selecting Cases
11. Video: 3.7 How Many Cases Are Enough
12. Video: 3.8 Theoretical Saturation
13. Leyendo: Slides
14. Leyendo: References
15. Leyendo: Criteria for Research Quality
16. Video: 3.9 Criteria For Research Quality
17. Leyendo: Slides
18. Leyendo: References
19. Cuestionario de práctica: Practice quiz

Graded: Midterm exam

WEEK 4


Qualitative Interviewing
In this module we'll look at what a qualitative interview entails by trying to define it and by discussing different forms of interviewing behaviour.


7 videos, 9 readings expand

1. Leyendo: What is a qualitative interview?
2. Video: 4.1 Visions of Interviewing
3. Video: 4.2 Typologies of Interviews
4. Leyendo: Slides
5. Leyendo: References
6. Leyendo: Interviewing Behaviour
7. Video: 4.3 Rapport in interviewing
8. Video: 4.4 Powergame or Roleplaying
9. Leyendo: Slides
10. Leyendo: References
11. Leyendo: Probing
12. Video: 4.5 Probing and prompting
13. Video: 4.6 Probing tactics
14. Video: 4.7 Interviewing, a final thought
15. Leyendo: Slides
16. Leyendo: References

Graded: Assignment C Interviewing about Happiness around the world

WEEK 5


Qualitative Analysis



In previous modules we discussed how you should observe a social situation or conduct a qualitative interview. Now we will focus on what to do with your data, by discussing qualitative analysis. In this module you will try to do a qualitative analysis by interpreting your observed data and try to code it.


6 videos, 10 readings expand

1. Leyendo: Qualitative Analysis
2. Video: 5.1 Qualitative Analysis
3. Leyendo: Slides
4. Leyendo: References
5. Leyendo: Deductive Approaches
6. Video: 5.2 Code and Retrieve
7. Video: 5.3 Framework Analysis
8. Leyendo: Slides
9. Leyendo: References
10. Leyendo: Inductive Approaches
11. Video: 5.4 Analytic Induction
12. Video: 5.5 Grounded Theory
13. Video: 5.6 Versions of Grounded Theory
14. Leyendo: Slides
15. Leyendo: References
16. Leyendo: Optional: Interview with Kathy Charmaz

Graded: Assignment D: Analysis of Privatising Public Space around the world

WEEK 6


Writing, mixing & ethics
In this module I will discuss ideas on writing in qualitative research, I will discuss mixing methods and talk about the ethical issues you should consider.


7 videos, 12 readings expand

1. Leyendo: Writing
2. Video: 6.1 Qualitative writing
3. Leyendo: Slides
4. Leyendo: References
5. Leyendo: Mixing
6. Video: 6.2 Mixing Methods
7. Video: 6.3 How to mix
8. Leyendo: Slides
9. Leyendo: References
10. Leyendo: Ethics
11. Video: 6.4 Five Focal Points in Ethics
12. Video: 6.5 Ethics - Visions & Practices
13. Video: 6.6 Ethical Boards & Qualitative Research
14. Leyendo: Slides
15. Leyendo: References
16. Leyendo: Fraud
17. Video: 6.7 Fraud
18. Leyendo: Slides
19. Leyendo: References

Graded: Assignment E: Writing about Happiness around the world

WEEK 7


Catch up week
In this module there's no new material. The only requirement in this module is that you finish up the final peer review assignment.


1 reading expand

1. Leyendo: Catch up? Or do some more!

WEEK 8


Exam week



This is the final module, where you can apply everything you've learned up until now in the final exam. Please note that you can only take the final exam once every day, so make sure you are fully prepared to take the test. Please follow the honor code and do not communicate or confer with others taking this exam. Good luck! Once you've taken the exam, please consider doing the other courses in our specialisation track. I hope it was an enjoyable experience. If it was, please consider joining in with the Massive Open Online Research by my colleague Christian Bröer. Thanks for all your hard work, feedback and interpretations, the course team and your fellow learners really appreciate it!

Graded: Final Exam