Qualitative research methods

The study unit will present an overview of a range of qualitative approaches to research. The study unit consists of two parts, 4 ECTS each. Dr Pirjo Nikander's intensive course focuses on discursive and narrative approaches and Lic.Soc.Sci. Satu Liimakka's lecture course on qualitative methods more broadly.
ECTS credits: 8

Teacher

Docent Pirjo Nikander and Lic.Soc.Sci. Satu Liimakka

Compensations

Study units SP 53 or alternatively SP61 in Social Psychology. Only register for one.

This course is part of the REMS-Master´s Programme.

Target group/Course level

Maximum 20 students will be admitted to the study unit.

Priority is given to those students who participate in REMS- and ERI-programs, and the students of sociology, social psychology and social policy.

Content

PART I :

LECTURE COURSE ON QUALITATIVE METHODS by Lic.Soc.Sci. Satu Liimakka

This course (20 h) consists of lectures, reading and writing tasks, hands on exercises, and writing a learning diary. Through lectures and student exercises, the course introduces two common ways to collect research material, interviews and focus groups, and two approaches for analyzing research material, grounded theory and interpretative phenomenological analysis. These methods for analysis are discussed in relation to more constructionist approaches, such as discourse analysis. The course begins with a short introduction to the field of qualitative research. A list of readings for this course will be given out during the first meeting.

PROGRAM:

  • Tue 30.3.14-16 introduction to qualitative methods
  • Tue 6.4. 14-16 semi-structured interview and focus group
  • Fri 9.4. 12-16 semi-structured interview and focus group
  • Tue 27.4. 14-16 grounded theory
  • Fri 30.4. 12-16 grounded theory
  • Tue 11.5. 14-16 interpretative phenomenological analysis
  • Fri 14.5. 12-16 interpretative phenomenological analysis

The first lecture will be held at Unioninkatu 38, room A205.

All subsequent lectures will be held at Unioninkatu 37, seminar room 1.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

PART II:

SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIONISM AND DISCOURSE ANALYSIS by Dr. Pirjo Nikander

Dates: Thursday & Friday 15.-16.4.2010 & 22.-23.4.2010

Time: 11.15-16.00

This seminar (20 h) consists of lectures, hands on exercises and a final exam on Fri 23.4. 2010.

During the course, students will:

  • Develop an understanding of social constructionist epistemology and discursive research as an analytic and theoretical approach within social sciences and social psychology
  • Become familiar with key concepts in DA
  • Learn to differentiate in between the variety of analytic and theoretical approaches that go with discursive perspectives
  • Do hands-on practical exercises

The course covers issues like: What is constructionism? What kinds of theoretical and empirical traditions fit under the broad concept of discourse analysis? What are the typical data sets and research questions within the DA-field? What is DA good for and what are the ongoing debates within the field?

The course is built around concrete examples from a variety of recent empirical studies and deals with questions like: How are factual descriptions discursive drafted, how do we deal with and construct delicate and moral issues in our talk, how are categories (like sex, age, or race) used in spoken language and texts to create order in our social worlds, and how is membership in a variety of categories accomplished.

A list of readings for this course will be given out during the first meeting. Before the course, please read a chapter on Constructionism and Discourse Analysis by Pirjo Nikander at http://www.valt.helsinki.fi/sospsyk/Nikander.pdf

The venue for this course will be Siltavuorenpenger 10. Please not the different halls:

  • 15.4. Siltavuorenpenger 10, hall 225
  • 16.4. Siltavuorenpenger 10, hall 208
  • 22. and 23. 4. both: Siltavuorenpenger 10, hall 115
Admin