Postgraduate Module Descriptor


POLM063: Qualitative Methods in Social Research

This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 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
221280

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

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity2211x 2 hour seminars (lectures and student presentations)
Guided independent study40Directed readings
Guided independent study20Preparation of presentation
Guided independent study68Coursework 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

 

Other Learning Resources

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
Essay603000 words1-17Written feedback
In-class group presentation (groups of 2 or 3) 2015 minutes1-17Written feedback
Written critical appraisal of empirical example study 201000 words1-17Written feedback

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 (3000 words)Essay (3000 words)1-17August/September reassessment period
In-class group presentation (groups of 2 or 3)Individual oral presentation to module convenor (15 minutes)1-17May/ June
Written critical appraisal of empirical example studyWritten critical appraisal of empirical example study (1000 words)1-17May/ June