Qualitative Research Methods

Description:

Qualitative Research Methods

The purpose of this course is to equip students to sensitively and critically design, carry out, report, read, and evaluate qualitative research projects. It is taught by a team of qualitative research experts, who regularly use the methods which they teach, making the course particularly practical and realistic. It covers the full cycle of a qualitative research project, from design, to data collection, analysis, reporting and disseminating. The course has the dual aims of equipping students with both conceptual understandings of current academic debates regarding different methods, and the practical skills to put those methods into practice.

Who is this course aimed at?
This course is ideal for postgraduates, academics and professionals with an interest in using qualitative methods to undertake social research.  

Course benefits
This course will provide students with:

• a solid understanding of the core methods of qualitative data collection and analysis
• critical skills in interpreting and evaluating reports of qualitative studies
• experience in putting qualitative skills into practice
• realistic and practical teaching from established researchers who put these tools to use in their ongoing research projects 

Course outline
This course presents the fundamentals of qualitative research methods. It covers the classic sources of qualitative data: interviews, focus groups, participant observation and documentary and historical work. It also discusses the challenges and opportunities of new media including visual images and Internet research. Three widely-used data analysis methods are covered: thematic analysis, content analysis and discourse analysis. In addition, issues including quality indicators, research design, ethics, writing up and disseminating are also addressed.

The course is taught through a combination of lectures and seminars. Lectures are interactive and introduce the key conceptual issues of each method, as well as giving practical guidance. Lectures also incorporate critical discussion of sample papers from the peer-reviewed literature, developing students’ skills in critically evaluating reports of qualitative research. Seminars provide hands-on experience of the core methods.

Assessment is through a two-hour (optional) exam on the final day. A sample exam paper is available, and a revision session is offered the previous day.

This course is offered as part of the LSE Methods Summer Programme, a summer school of intensive short courses in social science research methods for students, researchers and professionals. A number of social events will be held throughout the programme. Participants will be provided with a transcript and certificate upon completion of the course. For more information on the Methods Summer Programme, please visit our website at lse.ac.uk/methods. 

Cost:

Students: £1435
Academic/charity staff: £1930
Professionals: £2425

Website and registration:

http://www.lse.ac.uk/study/summerSchools/Methods/Qualitative_&_Mixed/ME105.aspx

Region:

Greater London

Keywords:

Data Collection, Qualitative Interviewing, Observation, Visual Methods, Qualitative Data Handling and Data Analysis, Writing Skills, Writing for publications, Disseminating with social media, Interviewer skills and training

Related publications and presentations:

Data Collection
Qualitative Interviewing
Observation
Visual Methods
Qualitative Data Handling and Data Analysis
Writing Skills
Writing for publications
Disseminating with social media
Interviewer skills and training

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