1M Qualitative Research: Ppractical Principles
Katy Wheeler, University of Essex
Bethany Morgan Brett, University of Essex
8 - 19 July (two week course / 35 hrs)
Detailed Course Outline [PDF]
Course Content
This course aims to introduce participants to a variety of qualitative methods and gives them opportunities to practically apply them. The course will focus on four key methods - in-depth interviewing, focus groups, participant observation and secondary analysis. We will discuss the key features of each of these methods and participants will gain experience of using them first-hand. The course will start with an introduction to qualitative research and will move on to practical considerations when planning a research project, including the important issues of research ethics and consent. Participants will be asked to conduct an in-depth interview, a focus group and an observation and they will be encouraged to reflect upon this process. They will then be introduced to different approaches to data analysis. Many funding bodies now ask that publicly-funded research data is deposited within an archive and this course will conclude with tips on how to prepare data for re-use, as well as an overview of secondary data analysis.
Course Objectives
The aim of this course is to equip participants with the skills and confidence to conduct their own research projects using qualitative methods. The course is particularly well-suited for participants who are at the beginning of their research, but it will also appeal to those who are already using qualitative methods and seeking to deepen their knowledge and skills of the key methods covered (in-depth interviews, focus groups, participant observation and secondary analysis). By the end of the course, participants should understand the principles behind and practicalities of doing qualitative research.
Course Prerequisites
No prior knowledge or experience of using qualitative methods is assumed.
We request that participants register with The UK Data Archive in advance of the course: http://data-archive.ac.uk/sign-up
We recommend bringing a digital camera to the course
Representative Background Reading
Barbour, S. and Eley, S. (eds.) (2007) 'Refereed special section: reusing qualitative data', Sociological Research Online, 12(3), www.socresonline.org.uk/12/3/contents.html.
Bloor, M., Frankland, J., Thomas, M., and Robson, K. (2001) Focus Groups in Social Research. London: Sage.
Corti, L., Witzel, A. and Bishop, L. (eds.) (2005) 'Secondary analysis of qualitative data', Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung/Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 6(1), qualitative-research.net/fqs/fqs-e/inhalt1-05-e.htm.
Kvale, S., (1996) InterViews: An Introduction to Qualitative Research Interviewing. London: Sage.
Lofland, J., Snow, D., Anderson, L. and Lofland, L. (2006) Analysing social settings: A guide to qualitative observation and analysis, London: Wadsworth.
Lyon, D., Morgan-Brett, B. and Crow, G. (2012) ' Working with material from the Sheppey archive', International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 15(4) [Special Issue: Perspectives on working with archived textual and visual material in social research], pp.301-309.
Mason, J. (2002) Qualitative Researching. 2nd edition Sage
Required Reading
All essential reading will be provided; however, students will benefit from reading these books ahead of the class.
Ritchie, J., and Lewis, J. (2003) Qualitative Research Practice. London: Sage.
Seale, C., et al. (eds.) (2003) Qualitative Research Practice, Concise Paperback Edition. London: Sage.