YRM-60806 Qualitative Data Analysis: Procedures and Strategies

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

YSS-20306, SDC-21306 (or SDC-33306) and/or YSS-20806 YSS-20306 Quantitative and Qualitative Research Techniques in the Social Sciences; SDC-21306 Methods, Techniques and Data Analysis for Field Research (or SDC-33306 Methodology for Field Research in the Social Sciences).

Contents:

This is an advanced course which is part of the Research Master Variant in the MSc programmes MID and MME. This course focuses on analysis of data like talk, text and visual images. The techniques covered are: Content analysis, Membership Categorization Analysis, Metaphor & Domain analysis, Conversation analysis and Discourse analysis. The theoretical knowledge and insights will be applied in practical's using SPSS and ATLAS.ti, where the emphasis is on the latter.

Learning outcomes:

By the end of this course you will be able to:
- understand the characteristics of qualitative data and qualitative data analysis techniques, including strengths and weaknesses;
- understand the principles and characteristics of the strategies discussed;
- judge whether these are useful for a particular research question given the characteristics of the collected data;
- apply these techniques using ATLAS.ti software;
- interpret the results;
- reflect critically upon the use and interpretation of the discussed methods.

Activities:

- plenary meetings consist of lectures on theory;
- workshops and discussion meetings.
In addition, time is reserved for self study, and computer practicals using ATLAS.ti and (additionally) SPSS.

Examination:

Two assignments (1/3 each) and exam (1/3). To pass this course, two out of the three grades have to be over 5.5 and none less than 5.

Literature:

Silverman D. (2006). Interpreting qualitative data. 3rd ed. London, Thousand Oaks, New Delhi: Sage Publications. ISBN 13: 978141292245.
Course guide and additional literature will be made available.