6 ECTS credits
180 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4020470ENR for all students in the 1st semester at a (E) Master - advanced level.

Semester
1st semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Taught in
Dutch
Faculty
Faculty of Social Sciences & SolvayBusinessSchool
Department
Sociology
Educational team
Gerrit Loots (course titular)
Activities and contact hours

36 contact hours Lecture
144 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

This course has the objective to render master students in sociology the possibility of acquiring profound knowledge of the background, objectives and methods of qualitative research. The aim of this course is to render master students a strong basis in qualitative methods, which can find an immediate application in their own master research.

After an introductory lecture, the currently most important principles from a philosophy of science perspective, theoretical approaches and research traditions in qualitative social scientific research will be outlined.
Hereafter, the students will apply and excersise some of the most important research methodologies:

  1. (auto)-ethnography methods
  2. narrative research
  3. discourse analysis
  4. conversation analysis
  5. collaborative-relational research
  6. parcitipative action research.

These research methodologies are studied based on concrete research examples and “hands-on” practising sessions. Each studied research methodology is followed by an individual reflection paper (circa 2000 à 2500 words) on the theoretical assumptions, application posibilities and limitations of the approach for the student's own master research.  

 
Additional info
  • Slides of the (guest) lectures are available on Canvas.
  • Reader with relevant chapters and articles on each research methodology is available on Canvas.
Learning Outcomes

General results

Students are able:
  1. to situate historically different epistemological and philosophical approaches within qualitative research in psychology.
  2. to apply several research methods from the perspective of each epistemological and philosophical approach.
  3. to mention the criteria of valid qualitative scientific research.
  4. to reflect on the use and applicability of qualitative research methods of data-gathering and data-analyses.
 

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 50% of the final mark.
Other Exam determines 50% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Oram Exam with a relative weight of 50 which comprises 50% of the final mark.

Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Paper with a relative weight of 50 which comprises 50% of the final mark.

    Note: Individual paper

Additional info regarding evaluation

The exam is based on a discussion and evaluation of each of the 6 individual reflection tasks on the studied research methodologies.  

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Sociology: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)