Postgraduate Module Descriptor

POLM140: Qualitative Methods in Social Research

This module descriptor refers to the 2016/7 academic year.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

-Introduction

-Ethics

-Normative Analysis

-Ontology

-Political Ethnography

-Interviews

-Discourse Analysis

-Qualitative Comparative Analysis

-Document Analysis

-Advantages and Disadvantages of qualitative and quantitative research

-How to write a research proposal

Weekly sessions will mix lecture and seminar, the latter consisting of student presentations, critical discussion and, if appropriate, exercises to familiarise students with particular methods. Thus issues and methods will be explored through appropriate practical work, incorporating seminars, group work and independent practical exercises. Students will also have the opportunity to present their own research proposal and to discuss with the group which method(s) to apply and how to do so.

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
22	278	0

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	22	11 x 2 hour seminars
Guided indepenent study	100	Reading, thinking and preparing for seminars
Guided independent study	20	Preparation of presentation
Guided independent study	140	Preparation and writing of assignments
Guided independent study	18	Preparation of being a discussant

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).