Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods
Introduktion till kvalitativa forskningsmetoder

GEM085F, 6 credits

Valid from: Autumn 2024
Decided by: Annika Mårtensson
Date of establishment: 2020-05-26

General Information

Division: Doctoral Research Training
Course type: Third-cycle course
Teaching language: English

Aim

The aim of the course is to provide an overview of qualitative research methods with a specific focus on interviews and observations. The course will thus improve the participants knowledge about qualitative methods mainly used in social sciences. The participants will enhance their ability to plan and carry out a study based on a qualitative method.

Goals

Knowledge and Understanding

For a passing grade the doctoral student must Demonstrate awareness of different qualitative methods and how they can be implemented in research

Competences and Skills

For a passing grade the doctoral student must

• Demonstrate the ability to select and justify the choice of a qualitative research approach in relation to alternative available methods based on a given research question
• Demonstrate the ability to collect and analyse qualitative empirical research material
• Be able to produce a report on a qualitative study and justify the selection of method based on a given research question
• Be able to critically examine a qualitative study, and discuss and reflect on the quality and ethical aspects of such research

Judgement and Approach

For a passing grade the doctoral student must Demonstrate ability to critically reflect on the experiences and consequences of collection and analysis of qualitative empirical material

Course Contents

The course introduces characteristics of qualitative research methods and the process of conducting a qualitative research study, including research aim, planning, conducting, analysing to reporting is covered. The practical use of different methods as well as the analysis are covered. Issues of quality of qualitative research are discussed, as well as ethical aspects.

Course Literature

Flick, U.: An introduction to qualitative research (7th edition, paperback). Freie University Berlin. ISBN: 9781529781328. Sage Publications (Los Angeles). 632 pp..

Instruction Details

Types of instruction: Lectures, seminars, exercises, project, self-study literature review, miscellaneous. Project turorials.

Examination Details

Examination formats: Written report, seminars given by participants. The assessment of the course is an individually written paper based on a small-scale individual project. The purpose is that the participant should gain personal experience from using one or more qualitative methods by conducting a minor investigation, preferably related to the participants own thesis work.
Grading scale: Failed, pass
Examiner:

Admission Details

Admission requirements: To be enrolled as a research student
Assumed prior knowledge: None, it is an introductory course.
Selection criteria: To be prioritized in the admission to the course, applicants have to be admitted to a PhD programme at LTH.

Further Information

The course is given at CEE by Docent Åsa Thelander, Department of Strategic Communication, Lund University

Course Occasion Information

Contact and Other Information

Course coordinators:
Web page: https://www.lth.se/english/cee/doctoral-education-support/faculty-wide-phd-courses/