Qualitative Methods

ECTS Credits

10 ECTS

Level of Study

Master

Teaching semester

Fall

Objectives and Content

The aim of this course is to provide students with advanced skills in the most important techniques and recent developments within qualitative methods in the social sciences. Through a combination of introductory lectures and practice workshops, the course will enable students to carry out qualitative research and make sound methods choices when writing their MA thesis. The course will provide students with an advanced practical introduction to collecting and analyzing textual and interview data, including the use of qualitative data analysis software. Students will practice qualitative research for selected research questions from their field of study, by conducting, transcribing, and coding some interviews, or by sampling and coding official documents. This involves knowledge of software packages used for qualitative data analysis, such as NVivo or MaxQDA. The course also addresses ethical considerations in qualitative research, such as interviewing people in vulnerable positions.

Learning Outcomes

A student who has completed the course should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence.

Knowledge

The student has advanced knowledge of

• methods used in qualitative research
• justifications for and limitations of qualitative method choices
• software packages for the analysis of qualitative data
• key design choices, ethical standards and quality criteria in qualitative research

Skills

The student can

• justify the choice of qualitative methods within a research design
• collect, code, analyze and present qualitative data
• apply and integrate different qualitative methods in empirical analyses

General competence

The student can

• recognize and critically discuss the advantages and limits of qualitative designs
• identify and manage ethical and scientific standards of qualitative research
• present and defend their qualitative research projects orally and give constructive feedback on other students´ projects

Required Previous Knowledge

GOV351, GOV352

Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap

None

Access to the Course

The course is open for students who have been accepted to the Master's program in Politics and Governance of Global Challenges and Master i politikk og forvaltning. Exchange students may be accepted upon application.

Teaching and learning methods

6-7 introductory lectures and 6-7 practice workshops where students learn to apply qualitative methods; self-organised student meetings to progress with group work; a seminar for presentation of student research projects.

Compulsory Assignments and Attendance

Group presentation of a joint research project using qualitative methods in a seminar (including submission of draft written project report of approx. 4.000 words) and discussion of one other group´s qualitative study. Participation in the seminars is compulsory.

The compulsory assignment must be approved in order to take the exam. Approved compulsory assignments are valid in the current semester.

Forms of Assessment

Group project report on a qualitative study conducted by students, approximately 8.000 words. All group members must confirm with signature that they contributed equally to the report.

Grading Scale

Graded A-F

Assessment Semester

Assessment in teaching semester.

Reading List

The reading list will be ready before 1 July for the autumn semester and 1 December for the spring semester.

Course Evaluation

All courses are evaluated according to UiB's system for quality assurance of education.

Programme Committee

The Programme Committee is responsible for the content, structure and quality of the study programme and courses. 

Course Coordinator

Course coordinator and administrative contact person can be found on Mitt UiB. 

Course Administrator

The Department of Government at the Faculty of Social Sciences has the administrative responsibility for the course and the study programme.