QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS

Module overview and supporting resources

Contents
1. Module Title 2. Attribution 3. Aims and learning outcomes 4. Resources summary 5. Context of resources 6. Design and operation 7. Accompanying links and references

Module Title
Qualitative Research Methods

Attribution
Author(s): Kevin Meethan and Alison Anderson Author(s) contact details: K.Meethan@plymouth.ac.uk; A.Anderson@plymouth.ac.uk School of Social Science and Social Work University of Plymouth Drake Circus Plymouth PL4 8AA

Aims and Learning Outcomes

Module Aims To provide participants with the opportunity to learn and practice a range of qualitative techniques appropriate to their work context To facilitate the development of a critical appreciation for the challenges and limitations of qualitative research

Module learning outcomes At the end of the module the learner will be expected to be able to: Discuss the key assumptions of qualitative research and the measurement of empirical phenomena Describe and evaluate a range of qualitative techniques suitable utilised in applied research Evaluate the validity, reliability and ethical implications of specific qualitative research strategies Select appropriate quantitative techniques for particular research questions

Module Level
Level 5, second year of a Bachelors Degree

Resources Summary
These resources are particularly intended for those who are learning at and from work. The resources, and the module on which they are based, are intended to support learners undertaking work-based research using qualitative methods.

Links to Resources
This module is supported by a package of resources, listed below with their links: 1. Introduction to the Process of Qualitative Research PowerPoint presentation http://hdl.handle.net/10293/1181 Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWb-M4rnxlY 2. Validity and Reliability PowerPoint presentation Video 3. Ethics 1 http://hdl.handle.net/10293/1224 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izaIWCWA5Rc

 PowerPoint presentation Video 4. Ethics 2 PowerPoint presentation Video 5. Case Studies PowerPoint presentation Video 6. Observation PowerPoint presentation Video 7. Ethnography PowerPoint presentation Video 8. Focus Groups PowerPoint presentation Video 9. Interviews PowerPoint presentation Video 10. Glossary Work document PDF document

http://hdl.handle.net/10293/1225 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMbRx6hiHak http://hdl.handle.net/10293/1226 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS-bFR0kqj0 http://hdl.handle.net/10293/1227 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOqwfxhT2Eo http://hdl.handle.net/10293/1228 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU3xEmCFcCo http://hdl.handle.net/10293/1229 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePOEmpwBvFo http://hdl.handle.net/10293/1230 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmePDLqZUFU http://hdl.handle.net/10293/1231 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSNq1Jc1rhk http://hdl.handle.net/10293/1232

Context of Resource
These resources are particularly intended for those who are learning at and from work. They support a University of Plymouth module, which can contribute to the Universitys Continual Professional Development (CPD) framework. Through this framework learners can achieve a Bachelors in Professional Development or a Masters in Professional Development.

Design and operation

Within the Universitys CPD programme the resources will be introduced and used by a tutor who will support and facilitate student learning. This will be through blended learning; a mixture of face to face and use of these on-line resources. Information in this document and the tutor notes included within the PowerPoint presentations are intended to support the wider use and reuse of these resources.

Accompanying URL links and references

Berg, B.L. (2008) Qualitative Research for the Social Sciences. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon. Bryman, A. (2008 3rd edition) Social Research Methods. Oxford University Press: Oxford

David, M. and Sutton, C. (2004) Social Research the Basics. London: Sage, Ch 4. Festinger, L. Riecken, H.W and Schachter, S. (1956) When Prophecy Fails: A Social and Psychological Study of a Modern Group that Predicted the Destruction of the World. University of Minnesota Press: Minneapolis. Also published in 2008 by Pinter and Martin, London Flick, U. (2009) An Introduction to Qualitative Research. London: Sage. Foote Whyte, W. (1993) Street Corner Society: Social Structure of an Italian Slum. University of Chicago Press Hockey, J, Robinson V. and Meah, A. (2002) ''For Better or Worse?': Heterosexuality Reinvented' In Sociological Research Online, vol. 7, no. 2, http://www.socresonline.org.uk/7/2/hockey.html Innes, S. and McKie, L, (2006) 'Doing What is Right': Researching Intimacy, Work and Family Life in Glasgow, 1945-1960. In Sociological Research Online, Volume 11, Issue2 http://www.socresonline.org.uk/11/2/innes.html Kiely, R, McCrone, D, Bechhofer, F and Stewart, R. (2000) 'Debatable Land: National and Local Identity in a Border Town' In Sociological Research Online, vol. 5, no. 2, http://www.socresonline.org.uk/5/2/kiely.html Lincoln, Y. and Guba, E. (1985) Naturalistic Inquiry. Beverley Hills: Sage. Mason, J. (2002) Qualitative Researching. London: Sage. Merriam, S.B. (2009) Qualitative Research: A Guide to Design and Implementation. San Francisco: JosseyBass. Merryweather, D. (2010) Using Focus Group Research in Exploring the Relationships Between Youth, Risk and Social Position. In Sociological Research Online 15, (1) http://www.socresonline.org.uk/15/1/2.html Miller, D. and Slater, D. (2000) The Internet: An ethnographic approach. Berg: Oxford. Sade-Beck, L. (2004) Internet Ethnography: Online and Offline In International Journal of Qualitative Methods 3 (2). http://www.ualberta.ca/~iiqm/backissues/3_2/pdf/sadebeck.pdf Silverman, D. (2009) Doing Qualitative Research. London: Sage Weldes, J (1999) Constructing National Interests: The United States and the Cuban Missile Crisis. University of Minnesota Press: Minneapolis Wiles, R., Crow, G, Charles, V. and Heath, S. (2006) Informed Consent and the Research Process: Following Rules or Striking Balances? In Sociological Research Online, 12, (2) http://www.socresonline.org.uk/12/2/wiles.html Willmott, P. and Young, M. (2007) Family and Kinship in East London. Penguin Classic: London

For further information on the Data Protection Act see: http://www.ico.gov.uk/for_organisations/data_protection/the_guide.aspx For some examples of Ethical Codes see: British Psychological Association http://www.bps.org.uk/the-society/code-of-conduct/code-of-conduct_home.cfm British Sociological Association http://www.britsoc.co.uk/equality/Statement+Ethical+Practice.htm Market Research Society: http://www.mrs.org.uk/standards/codeconduct.htm

A recent example of an ethnographic study can be found on the British Museum website by following this link: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/research_projects/inca_ushnus/studying_ushnus/ethnography.a spx Social Research Association http://www.the-sra.org.uk/guidelines.htm#ethic About this Resource This resource was created by the University of Plymouth, Learning from WOeRK project and released as an open educational resource. The project is funded by HEFCE as part of the HEA/JISC OER release programme between August 2010-11. This resource (excluding logos) is licensed under the terms of the Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/). The resource, where specified below, contains other 3rd party materials under their own licenses: 1. This template was based on earlier work by the Educational Development Open Resources (EDOR) project http://edor.org.uk The name of the University of Plymouth and its logos are unregistered trade marks of the University. The University reserves all rights to use these items beyond their inclusion in these CC resources. The JISC logo, and the logo of the Higher Education Academy are licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution -non-commercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 UK England & Wales license. All reproductions must comply with the terms of that license.

Author Institution Title Description Date Created Educational Level

Kevin Meethan, Alison Anderson University of Plymouth Developing Coaching Skills: Module: overview and supporting resources Summary of module resources, with links 12/4/11 Level 4 UKOER, LFWOER, UOPCPDRM, Learning from WOeRK, WBL Work Base Learning, CPD, Continuous Professional Development, Qualitative Research, Research Methods

Keywords

If you have any thought s or feedback on this open education resource the authors and project would like to hear them. Learning from WOeRK. Email: learningfromwoerk@plymouth.ac.uk; website and blog: http://cpdoer.net .
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