Advanced Qualitative Methods in the Social Sciences, 7.5 credits
(Kvalitativa forskningsmetoder i samhällsvetenskaper, 7,5 högskolepoäng)
| Course code | 43F1007 |
|---|---|
| Discipline for doctoral studies | Other subjects |
| Academic school | School of Social Sciences |
| Research area for doctoral studies | Politics, Economy and the Organization of Society |
| Grading scale | G |
| Education cycle | Doctoral studentship |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Valid from | First six months of 2015 |
Validation
This course syllabus was validated by the Committee for Research and Doctoral Education at Södertörn University on 2015-04-01 according to the stipulations in the Higher Education Ordinance
Entry requirements
Admitted to doctoral studentship
Learning outcomes
On completing the course, the student will have acquired:
- An advanced level of understanding of the objectives, logic and characteristics of various qualitative research methods that are used in the collection, analysis and interpretation of research data;
- A clear advance in his or her ability to to apply qualitative methods to practical research;
- An enhanced ability to understand and evaluate research that utilises qualitative methods;
- The ability to review, at an advanced level, the various strengths and limitations of qualitative methods;
- The ability to review critically academic debates on the pros and cons of various qualitative methods, and of qualitative methods in relation to other methods.
Course content, modules and examinations
The course will present a number of advanced methods and their use in the social sciences. The overall aim is that the student should acquire the ability to apply these methods in empirical research and interpret findings that are thus generated.
The course provides specialist instruction in areas such as intensive case-study research; text analysis; participant observation; and interviewing. In addition to imparting familiarity with the particular techniques (including the application of software programmes), the course also reviews their use in contemporary social science research.
Course design
A series of seminars, based on relevant social science literature and led by scholars from various disciplines within the social sciences.
Examination format
The examination has two components. One is active participation in seminars, which includes reasonable preparation, such as reading prescribed material before the seminars. The other component is a single-authored written paper.
The marks permitted are G (pass) or U (fail).
The grading criteria are distributed prior to the start of a course or module.
If a student has a certificate from Södertörn University for compensatory support, the examiner has the right to decide on an adapted examination or alternative form of examination in accordance with Södertörn University's regulations.
Restrictions on accreditation
The course may not be accredited as part of a degree if the contents are partly or wholly the same as a course previously taken in Sweden or elsewhere.
Other stipulations
The course may not be credited in a degree programme alongside a course completed inside or outside of Sweden, which has a content that wholly or partly corresponds to the content of this course.