Prospectus

nl en

Qualitative Methods II

Course
2017-2018

Admission requirements

Students need to have taken Qualitative Methods I.

Description

The aim of this course is to deepen students’ understanding of qualitative research methodology and methods. This course builds on techniques learned in Qualitative Methods 1, by focusing on how qualitative research could be used to generate theory. Students will be introduced to different qualitative research methodologies such as grounded theory and organizational ethnography, including different techniques of data collection and analysis, such as different forms of interviewing, participant observation, thematic analysis and narrative analysis. Students will exercise qualitative data coding using a qualitative analysis software program. Different standards of assessing the quality of qualitative research will be discussed. Particular attention will also be paid to ways of reporting qualitative research findings.

Course objectives

After taking this course, students will be able to:

∙ Show proficiency in critically reading, analyzing, evaluating and discussing scholarly contributions to qualitative political science and public administration; ∙ Identify the appropriate qualitative research technique to investigate a social science research question; ∙ Collect qualitative data to answer a research question, using one of the techniques discussed in the course; ∙ Analyze the collected data, using a qualitative analysis software program;
∙ Report the results of their data collection and analysis in line with writing and reporting conventions common to the qualitative social sciences.

Mode of instruction

Seminars and self-study

Course Load

Total course load is 140 hours

Assessment method

You will be evaluated on your attendance, active participation in class activities, and your performance on the assignments. Grades will be determined as follows:

  • Class participation (10%)

  • Three written assignments (each 30%)

Each assignment needs to be completed with a grade of 5.5 or higher to pass the course. The final grade for the course is established by determining the weighted average of the partial grades. Compensation of partial grades is not possible.

Blackboard

A Blackboard website for this course will be made available one week prior to the start of the course. Blackboard will be used for course communication, the distribution of course information (syllabus, readings, assignments) and for the submission of assignments.

Reading list

Course readings will consist of academic journal articles and book chapters. Readings will be announced on Blackboard one week prior to the start of the course.

Registration

See Preliminary Info

Contact

Nadine Raaphorst
n.j.raaphorst@fgga.leidenuniv.nl

Schedule

Timetable