Last modified: 19 Sep 2025 12:16
Qualitative Sociology: Philosophy and Methods: This course introduces students to a range of methods used in qualitative social science research (such as participant observation, qualitative interviewing, focus groups, diaries, photography and film, and archived data sources). The emphasis will be on the research process, from project design to analysis and presentation, with methodological issues raised in the context of researchable questions. Issues of reliability, representativeness and validity, and the potential for combining methods will be addressed. Students use the course work to develop their research interests and reflect on their research practices.
| Study Type | Postgraduate | Level | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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Qualitative Sociology: Philosophy and Methods: This course introduces students to a range of methods used in qualitative social science research (such as participant observation, qualitative interviewing, focus groups, diaries, photography and film, and archived data sources). The emphasis will be on the research process, from project design to analysis and presentation, with methodological issues raised in the context of researchable questions. Issues of reliability, representativeness and validity, and the potential for combining methods will be addressed. Students use the course work to develop their research interests and reflect on their research practices.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Word Count: 1000 Written feedback will be provided for continuous assessment work, where appropriate. This will normally be provided within three weeks of the submission date. |
Word Count | 1000 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Knowledge and understanding of the philosophical and theoretical underpinnings of qualitative research and ethical issues as they affect qualitative research. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | The ability to draw on and synthesize evidence from a variety of qualitative sources, and to evaluate, analyse, and present evidence critically. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 20 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Duration: 10 minutes (max.) |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Knowledge and understanding of the philosophical and theoretical underpinnings of qualitative research and ethical issues as they affect qualitative research. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | The ability to draw on and synthesize evidence from a variety of qualitative sources, and to evaluate, analyse, and present evidence critically. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Word Count: 3000 |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural | Apply | Knowledge and understanding of key data collection and data analysis techniques in qualitative research and the ability to apply them in practice. |
| Procedural | Create | Knowledge and understanding of the principles of qualitative research design and the ability to create sound and implementable qualitative research designs. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback | ||||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Knowledge and understanding of the philosophical and theoretical underpinnings of qualitative research and ethical issues as they affect qualitative research. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | The ability to draw on and synthesize evidence from a variety of qualitative sources, and to evaluate, analyse, and present evidence critically. |
| Procedural | Apply | Knowledge and understanding of key data collection and data analysis techniques in qualitative research and the ability to apply them in practice. |
| Procedural | Create | Knowledge and understanding of the principles of qualitative research design and the ability to create sound and implementable qualitative research designs. |
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