Postgraduate Module Descriptor


POLM140: Qualitative Methods in Social Research

This module descriptor refers to the 2017/8 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
  • Case selection and the comparative method
  • Process tracing
  • Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA)
  • Historicism and Interpretivism
  • Discourse and content analysis
  • Interviews
  • Focus groups
  • Participatory research
  • Ethnography

 

 

 

 

Learning and Teaching

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

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
222780

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

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities2211x 2 hour seminars (lectures and student presentations)
Guided independent study100Directed readings
Guided independent study42Preparation of presentation
Guided independent study136Coursework completion - conducting research, analysing data, writing the finished product

Online Resources

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

 

http://www.compasss.org/about.htm

 

http://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs

 

https://www.maxwell.syr.edu/moynihan/cqrm/APSA_s_Qualitative_and_Multi-Method_Research_Section/

 

http://methods.sagepub.com/cases?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_content=SAGE%20Research%20Methods%20Cases&ut%20m_campaign=7LA066B&utm_term

 

More links:

http://www.compasss.org/links.htm

Other Learning Resources

Politics Essay Writing Guide:

http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=168656/ 

You can find lots of advice relating to essay writing at:

http://www.services.ex.ac.uk/cas/employability/askills/essay/index.htm

You can also find other useful advice related to general study skills at: http://www.services.ex.ac.uk/edu/student-learning-skills/resources.shtml

How this Module is Assessed

In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.

Formative Assessment

A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Essay plan 500 words1-11Either orally or in writing, as preferred by student

Summative Assessment

A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
60040

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Essay606,000 words1-17Written feedback
In-class group presentation (groups of 2 or 3)2030 minutes1-17Written feedback
Written critical appraisal of empirical example study201000 words1-17Written feedback
0
0
0
0
0
0

Re-assessment

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Essay (6,000 words)Essay (6,000 words)1-17August/September reassessment period
In-class group presentation (groups of 2 or 3)Individual oral presentation to module convenor (30 minutes)1-17May/ June
Written critical appraisal of empirical example studyWritten critical appraisal of empirical example study (1000 words)1-17May/ June

Re-assessment notes

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.