MEBn5045 Qualitative methods in social science

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Taught in person.
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Lukáš Lehotský, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Lukáš Lehotský, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Supplier department: Faculty of Social Studies
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course offers an introduction to qualitative methodology in social sciences. It's tailored for Master's students without prior experience in qualitative approaches. An elective, it's designed to help Master's students broaden their research method knowledge or find the right methodological approach for their thesis.
Learning outcomes
The course aims to equip students with the fundamentals of the qualitative approach. It will provide insights into designing qualitative research, discussions on data collection methods—such as qualitative interviews—and offer a brief introduction to selected methods for analyzing qualitative data. This foundation will empower students to formulate their own qualitative research designs with more confidence.
Syllabus
  • The course consists of six modules 1) Nature of qualitative research 2) Qualitative research designs 3) Qualitative research questions 4) Qualitative data collection 5) Selected approaches of qualitative data analysis 6) Ethical considerations over qualitative data
Literature
    recommended literature
  • GOERTZ, Gary and James MAHONEY. A tale of two cultures : qualitative and quantitative research in the social sciences. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 2012, viii, 238. ISBN 9780691149714. info
  • Case study research : principles and practices. Edited by John Gerring. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2007, x, 265. ISBN 9780521676564. URL info
  • VAN EVERA, Stephen. Guide to methods for students of political science. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1997, vi, 136. ISBN 080148457X. info
  • KING, Gary, Sidney VERBA and Robert O. KEOHANE. Designing social inquiry : scientific inference in qualitative research. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1994, xi, 247. ISBN 0691034710. info
Teaching methods
- Lectures. - Practical exercises under the supervision of the lecturer. - Compulsory readings extending and deepening students' knowledge.
Assessment methods
Written exam
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: in blocks.
Teacher's information
Teaching at FSS MU assumes that students are familiar with the study regulations and are committed to upholding academic integrity. This includes refraining from fraudulent activities such as copying during exams and engaging in plagiarism—presenting others' ideas as one's own or using other authors' work without proper attribution. Plagiarism stands as a grave ethical offense within academia, contradicting the core values of the university and the pursuit of knowledge. From a legal perspective, plagiarism is tantamount to the theft of intellectual property. At FSS MU, any form of academic misconduct will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Instances of such behavior will result into immediate and unconditional failure of the course and will also be submitted to the Disciplinary Committee of the Faculty of Social Studies. Students are strongly advised to thoroughly acquaint themselves with the concept of plagiarism and actively seek strategies to prevent its occurrence.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2023.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2024, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2024/MEBn5045