Code:

BERMAMC001

Course type:

Advanced methodology course

Long name:

Advanced Qualitative Methods

Short name:

AQM

ECTS:

5

Language:

English

Lecturer(s):

dr. Pursey P.M.A.R. Heugens

Faculty:

RSM Erasmus University

Number of lectures:

10

Hours per lecture:

3

Goal:

The goal of this course is to equip students with the intellectual baggage necessary for the design, execution, and publication of truly excellent qualitative research studies.

Course contents:

The following topics are covered in this course in 10 consecutive weeks: (1) qualitative “versus” quantitative research; (2) measurement in qualitative research settings; (3) data collection: interviews, documents, observation, data bases, and more; (4) data analysis: data reduction and causal inference; (5) qualitative data analysis software; (6) writing up and publishing qualitative research; (7) advanced case study methods; (8) grounded theory methods; (9) content analytical methods; and (10) ethnography.

Assignment:

Central to this course is that students learn how to work with real qualitative data and how to integrate it into publishable research papers. Students whom have collected qualitative data of their own are free to use it; for others several qualitative data sets will be made available. Students are also expected to get acquainted with and learn how to use one of two qualitative data analysis programs, notably NVivo (www.qsrinternational.com) or Atlas.ti (www.atlasti.de). To pass this course, students must pass an oral mid-term exam and write a concise qualitative research paper.

Literature:

The literature for this course will consist of a reader, composed of carefully selected articles and book chapters. The materials will include original methodological contributions, as well as exemplary applied research articles.

Additional Information:

A prerequisite for this course is BERMMC002 (Research Methodology and Measurement). Students who wish to participate in this course but do not meet this entry requirement are kindly invited to contact the instructor in advance.