6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1021096BER for all students in the 2nd semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester
2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Possible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Enrollment Requirements
Students who want to enroll for this course, must have passed for ‘Introduction to SPC Methodology’ and must have obtained at least 30 ECTS-credits on bachelor level
Taught in
English
Partnership Agreement
Under interuniversity agreement for degree program
Faculty
Faculty of Social Sciences & SolvayBusinessSchool
Department
Sociology
External partners
Universiteit Gent
Educational team
Peter Stevens (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
16 contact hours Lecture
32 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
102 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

The course ' Qualitative Research' is taught to students in the 2nd year of the Bachelor programme of Political and Social Sciences. This course functions as the foundation for students who want to apply qualitative research for their BScSS (and if applicale later: MA) thesis. 

The main goal of this course is to introduce to students the basic principles and techniques of qualitative research as applied in the social sciences so that they can critically evaluate qualitative research and adequately develop and carry out basic qualitative research projects. Through lecturers, guided exercises and a group assignment students will develop insight into the process of qualitative research. The following themes are central to this course: epistemological principles of qualitative research, sampling, negotiating access to settings and sources of data, ethical issues, the main data-collection (the qualitative interview, focusgroup interviews and (participant) observation), and analysis techniques (such as Grounded Theory approach, Narrative Analysis, Qualitative Content Analysis and/or Thematic Analysis) and the process of writing qualitative research. A key goal of this course is to acquire and to some extent apply knowledge and skills that are essential in doing qualitative research in practice.

Course material
Digital course material (Required) : Students will be offered exercises with solutions, detailed PP presentation slides and selected chapters
Additional info

There will be no English language handbook this year for this course, but students will be offered detailed PP presentation slides and selected chapters.

The following subjects will be covered:

  • Theoretical, historical and philosophical characteristics of qualitative research;
  • Preparing and setting up of qualitative research, including: developing a qualitative sample, negotiating access to settings, choosing the appropriate data-collection and analysis techniques and planning of qualitative research;
  • Thorough introduction in carrying out different qualitative data-collection techniques, including the qualitative interview, focus-groups and (participant) observation;
  • Thorough introduction in terms of the key features of different qualitative data-analysis techniques, such as Grounded Theory, Qualitative Content Analysis, Thematic Analysis and/or Narrative Analysis;
Learning Outcomes

General competences

  1. Can formulate a valid scientific research question on a topic that relates to the social sciences.
  2. Can identify, gather and critically process the relevant sources and literature on a specific social sciences research topic.
  3. Knows how to set up a scientific and methodologically correct research design.
  4. Possesses the methodological knowledge and skills of data selection and data processing that prevail within the domains of the social sciences.
  5. Masters the techniques of good and accurate research reporting in oral and written form.
  6. Reflects and evaluates his or her learning process and results critically.
  7. Acts in a professional and responsible manner.
  8. Is able to perform teamwork, he or she possesses good communicative skills and is solution-oriented.
  9. Prioritises scientific integrity and honesty in his or her scientific research activities.

Grading

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

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

  • Written Exam with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 50% of the final mark.

    Note: .

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

  • Group Assignment with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 50% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

A written (closed book, MC) exam (50%) and a group assignment (50%).

In the written exam (multiple choice), students will be asked to test their knowledge of different approaches to qualitative data-analysis and particular forms of data-collection. Through a group assignment, students will learn to develop appropriate research questions in qualitative research, select a theoretically relevant sample, develop appropriate interview questions and conduct and evaluate their own interview practice and that of their peers and evaluate their own and their peers' functioning in a group.

Every student will obtain an individual evaluation for this course based on their score on their written exam (50%) and their group assignment (50%). In relationship to the group assignment, each group will receive a group-score based on the submitted assignments and documentation. Students' final score for their group assignment can be changed based on the outcome of students' confidential peer evaluations of their group members, which have to be submitted electronically after the submission of the group assignment.

Students have to pass for both the group assignment and the MC exam to pass this course. Students who fail either the exam or the group assignment, will have to take this again in the retake exam period. If they pass the exam, but not the group assignment, they only have to retake the group assignment. If they pass the group assignment, but not the exam, they only have to retake the exam.

(!) Students who fail to register for the group assignment before the start of week 24 (VUB Academic Calendar) cannot enroll in a group and will have a score of 0 for the group assignment. These students will have to make an individual/group assignment to be submitted during the retake examination period; the format and timing of which can vary and will be communicated by the lecturer / TA.

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:
Bachelor of Social Sciences: Communication Studies
Bachelor of Social Sciences: Political Sciences
Bachelor of Social Sciences: Sociology
Bachelor of Social Sciences: Startplan