Module POLM140 for 2020/1
Postgraduate Module Descriptor
POLM140: Qualitative Methods in Social Research
This module descriptor refers to the 2020/1 academic year.
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 assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay plan | 500 words | 1-11 | Either 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.
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | 0 | 40 |
...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 60 | 6,000 words | 1-17 | Written feedback |
| In-class group presentation (groups of 2 or 3) | 20 | 30 minutes | 1-17 | Written feedback |
| Written critical appraisal of empirical example study | 20 | 1000 words | 1-17 | Written 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 assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay (6,000 words) | Essay (6,000 words) | 1-17 | August/September reassessment period |
| In-class group presentation (groups of 2 or 3) | Individual oral presentation to module convenor (30 minutes) | 1-17 | May/ June |
| Written critical appraisal of empirical example study | Written critical appraisal of empirical example study (1000 words) | 1-17 | May/ 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.
