Description
This course is designed to teach students the essentials of qualitative research. It combines a theoretical with a practical approach and aims to (a) make students into thoughtful consumers of qualitative political science research; and (b) let students begin to design good qualitative research projects themselves. The course is divided into three parts. The first part of the course discusses inference in qualitative research. This part explores the various logics underlying qualitative research and discusses its strengths and weaknesses. The second part focuses on the most common qualitative research designs such as comparative case studies and in-depth process tracing. The final section is devoted to data collection and evidence in qualitative research. After this course, students will understand how qualitative research is designed and grasp the types of conclusions that can be drawn from qualitative research.
Course objectives
Students recognize the most common qualitative research designs and techniques used in political science.
Students understand the methodological choices of published qualitative scholarly work and can evaluate and assess the justifications given for the choices made.
Students can name the advantages and disadvantages of qualitative research and reflect on research suggestions from others.
Mode of instruction
(Interactive) lectures.
Assessment method
20% -- Participation in online activities during the block.
80% -- Final exam consisting of multiple-choice (70%) and open-ended (30%) questions.
Reading list
The reading list will be compiled from articles and book chapters available in our excellent library. The final reading list will be published with the syllabus on Brightspace in due course.
Registration
See 'Practical Information'
Timetable
See 'MyTimetable'