QUALITATIVE METHODOLOGY 1 - 2025/6

Module Overview

This taught unit focusses on qualitative research methods. Students will develop critical thinking of concepts and principles in inductive research inquiry. In addition, the unit will also develop students’ important applied practical research skills with regards to various qualitative methods. Students will also be expected to read, appraise and critically discuss journal articles that use qualitative methods. Class sessions will be highly interactive and students will be expected to undertake significant reading and preparation for all class contact sessions.

Module provider

Surrey Business School

Module Leader

BONINA Carla (SBS)

Number of Credits: 0

ECTS Credits: 0

Framework: FHEQ Level 8

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

Indicative content and topics include:

• Suitability of qualitative research approaches;


• Key considerations in qualitative study design/ sampling;


• Research philosophy and practical considerations;


• Ethical issues and debates in qualitative research;


• Evaluating rigour in qualitative research;


• Reflexivity and positionality in qualitative research;


• Researcher and researched relationships;


• Qualitative interviewing: types, approaches, considerations and practical applications;


• Qualitative ethnography, observation and case study research;


• Introduction to key considerations/ approaches for qualitative analysis and interpretation;


• Writing-up qualitative research;


• Regular critical evaluations and student-led reviews of specific readings to support class discussions and understanding of key topics/ issues (pre-session reading and preparation essential)

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

It is anticipated that where possible the original form of assessment would be replicated for any required reassessment. If reassessments are necessary (and where it may not be possible to re-assess in the same format as the original assessment), alternative assessment will be provided which will assess the same learning outcomes as the original assessment.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their learning and achievement of the learning outcomes.

The summative assessment consists of:

•             Individual Essay. 4,000 words.

 

This will assess the students’ understanding of qualitative research and their ability to critically discuss and put across a convincing written argument in line with the set assessment brief.

Feedback: Written feedback will be provided to students on the summative assessment.

Module aims

• Explore inductive research enquiry and critique qualitative methods and approaches.
• Critically evaluate qualitative research methods and appreciate when and how they can be used and applied in research.
• Examine the advantages and limitations of qualitative methods in order to effectively understand various research cases, situations and issues.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to support and achieve the learning outcomes. The learning and teaching methods include class contact sessions which are highly interactive in nature, class discussion, preparatory reading, verbal student presentations, student-led reviews of readings, practical activities, scenario discussion, and individual written assignments.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MAND029

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.