7YYDN040: Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods

MODULE CODE AND NAME:
7YYDN040: Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods

MODULE CONVENOR:
Dr Angus McNelly

MODULE ASSESSMENT PATTERN (Term 1):

Component(s) Duration/length: % of final grade Due Date:
Formative Practical Exercise and report 1,500 words 0 Monday 11th
November 2024
Summative Final Paper 1,500 words 100 Monday 6th January 2025

*Please note that these questions have now been confirmed by an External Examiner.

ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS

Formative Assignment (0%): Practical Exercises (1,500 words):

Students should choose a topic of their interest and conduct one of the following practical exercises: interview OR observation (see more below).
Upon completion of the exercise, students should submit a report of 1,500 words. Reports must include: an introduction to the chosen theme; a description of the rationale for their choice; a reflection on the process of implementing the chosen method; ethical considerations and; a summary of main findings.

Students should post their selected themes and methods on Keats by Friday 25 October 2024 as the lecturer will need to assess risk level and ethical concerns. For ethical reasons, only minimum-risk themes will be accepted.

Option 1: Interview and report
Design and conduct 2-3 (semi-structured or unstructured) interviews, in person or remotely, on the topic of your choice.
You may record the interview (using a phone or other device) if and only if your interviewee consents. You may take notes during the interview — these will be especially relevant if your participant does not consent to being recorded.
Reports should summarise the content of the interviews and provide a summary of the main topics and themes. They should also include the interview outline/questions and describe the procedures for obtaining informed consent, which should be obtained prior to the interview. Basic information about your interviewees should also be included alongside the rationale behind the choice of participants. The report should not be reduced to transcription of your interviews, although some quotes can be included.
The report should also reflect on your positionality and on your experience conducting the interviews. Could your interviewee understand your questions? Were there non-verbal cues that indicated they were excited, bored or uneasy about the questions? Did you affect the answers from your interviewees and, if so, in what ways?

Option 2: Observation, fieldwork diary/notes and report
Conduct an ethnographic observation and take field notes. Spend at least two hours conducting your observation (could be conducted on different days). Write detailed notes on what you observe. Pay attention to the details and what can be inferred from your descriptions. How do you extrapolate from what you see and what you apprehend from the context?
Introduce your fieldnotes with a brief overview of the theme, method and ethical considerations. Fieldnotes should include a detailed description of where you were; when and for how long you were there, who and what you saw; and how you evaluated the interactions you observed. How do you know (or interpret) what you saw? Include reflections about your positionality, making sure you do not write as ‘a voice from nowhere’. Did your presence affect the settings and in what ways? Did people interact with you

Final assignment (100%). Methodological Notes: Theme-Focused OR Methods-Focused Paper (1,500 words):

Criteria for assessment will be same as the department assessment criteria for a research paper. Nevertheless, the following criteria will also be applied in assessment:
• Students MUST chose research papers/articles/books whose topics are relevant to their degree.
• Literature reviews will not be accepted as examples of applied qualitative research for the purpose of this assessment.
• Textbook chapters will not be accepted as examples of applied qualitative research for the purpose of this assessment.
• Applied research papers that only employ quantitative methods, including quantitative analysis of surveys (structured interviews) are not examples of qualitative research. Mixed-methods papers will be accepted, but analysis should focus on the qualitative methods employed.
• A mere description of articles/books will not get marks above 60. The goal is to provide a critical analysis of the use of qualitative research methods.

Option 1: Theme-Focused.

1. Select a theme linked to international development for your analysis (e.g. poverty, inequality, empowerment, growth).
2. Choose two or three examples of applied research (i.e.: peer-reviewed articles, books) on this topic that employ qualitative research methods. These articles do not need to employ the same research method. At least one of the pieces of academic research should come from the module reading list.
3. Identify the methods that were used and look closely at their adequacy to how they were employed, the advantages and limitations of the method, and their adequacy to the topic. The aim is to ‘work backwards’, starting from a finished research product to reveal the fit between methodology and research questions.
4. In conducting this exercise, you will need to critically engage with the articles’: 1) main argument; 2) sources employed in the literature review; 3) selection of cases and data collection processes; 4) qualitative analysis of data.
5. For each article, your paper should critically assess if the evidence provided was able to satisfactorily answer the research questions (and what these were).

Suggested structure:

1. Introduction: in this section, you should introduce the theme of your paper. It is highly recommended that you include additional references (beyond the two/three selected papers) in your discussion to give further support to your analytical section.
2. Discussion of the articles: in this section you should briefly introduce and discuss the articles you will be analysing in this paper. There is no suggested format for this section, but you must engage with: a) the article’s research question/main argument; b) the use of sources employed in the literature review; and c) the methods for data collection and analysis. A summary of the articles will not get you past a 60 mark: you must provide a critical analysis of the articles.
3. Final remarks/Main take-aways: provide a critical assessment of how the methods employed in these articles have contributed to the overall discussion/understanding of the theme comparing the different approaches.
4. Reference list.

OR

Option 2: Methods-Focused.

Select a qualitative research method for your analysis.

1. Select at least three examples of applied research (i.e.: peer-reviewed articles and books) that employ this qualitative research method. You can select research on a single theme linked to international development, but this is not necessary. We recommend looking into several articles to get a better overview of how the method can be/is employed. At least one of the pieces of academic research should come from the module reading list.
2. Write a methodological note detailing: the reasons for your choice, how and with what purposes this method can be employed in international development research, and select research examples (papers, articles, books) to illustrate its use. In your methodological note, critically reflect on the potential and limitations of this method and the type of questions that it can address based upon? your assessment of the selected material.

Suggested structure:

1. Introduction: in this section, you should introduce your chosen research method. This includes a general overview of how the method is employed, its potential and limitations.
2. Discussion of the articles: in this section you should provide an in-depth discussion of how the method has been applied in research. Consider its mains strengths and contributions, as well as the limitations you find in the material you selected. There is no particular format for this section, but you must provide a critical analysis of the method.
3. Final remarks/Main take-aways: provide a critical assessment of how the methods employed in these articles have contributed to the overall discussion/understanding of the theme.
4. Reference list

Here is a suggested list of qualitative research methods and methodologies you can explore: oral history, participatory (action) research, arts-based methods, policy analysis, archival research, critical discourse analysis, grounded theory, focus groups and interviews, (virtual) ethnography, creative mapping, photo voice, and diaries. You are also encouraged to look at qualitative research methods handbooks and readers to find other methods that you might be curious to learn more about and/or use in your research.

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