Research methods: Introduction to Qualitative Methods
Full course description
Qualitative research is concerned with developing (deep) understanding and explanations of social phenomena. In the field of European Studies Qualitative research methods are widely used in the humanities (history, philosophy) and in the social sciences (political science, international relations and public policy) to capture in-depth case dynamics, to incorporate the perspective of direct participants through interviews, or to analyse documents. This course aims to equip students with analytical tools to do so. This course focuses more specifically on small-n research designs. In addition, this course will introduce students to process of qualitative research and focus on the commonly used methods for data collection and data analysis such as process tracing, interviewing, document analysis, frame analysis and discourse analysis.
Course objectives
At the end of the course, students will demonstrate the ability to:
- Explain the difference and the limitations of qualitative and quantitative research methods
- Identify the appropriate situations where qualitative research methods can be used
- Describe the three main methods for data collection in (Qualitative) research: observation, interviewing and gathering of existing social artifacts (e.g. documents)
- Acquire a basic understanding of the main methods for data analysis in Qualitative research: the in-depth case study, process tracing, interviewing and frame/discourse analysis
- Critically reflect on and justify the various choices that researchers make while designing qualitative research
Prerequisites
Basic introduction to academic research and/or research design
Recommended reading
Grix, J. (2019). The Foundations of Research. (3rd ed.) London: Red Globe Press -Macmillan
Toshkov, D. (2016). Research Design in Political Science. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.