Introduction to qualitative research methods

Mandatory elective course

Fall semester, 2015-16 academic year
2 credits – 4 ECTS

Instructor: Dr. Borbála Kovács

kovacsb@ceu.edu
Office: FT906
Office hours:
Tuesdays: 14.00-16.30
Thursdays: 14.00-16.30
and by appointment (kovacsb@ceu.edu)
Class: Tuesday 17.20-19.00
Thursday 17.20-19.00
Room: FT908
Course webpage: http://ceulearning.ceu.hu/course/view.php?id=4365

Course description and structure

This course is an introduction to qualitative research methods for students with some and
no experience with qualitative research design and qualitative primary data collection and
analysis. As such, the course aims to introduce students to the following:
- what qualitative social science is and what its generic objectives are, especially in
comparison to quantitative empirical research;
- what research puzzles and research questions are best tackled through a qualitative
research design;
- the range of qualitative primary data that can be used in (political) research and the
pros and cons of each for a range of research topics;
- the practicalities of preparing and doing qualitative primary data collection;
- the first steps of primary data analysis;
- writing up the research design and the findings of a qualitative study.
Thus, the course aims to help students understand the scientific applicability of qualitative
research in the social sciences (and political science more particularly) as well as identifying
the range of considerations made and the steps taken in preparing and carrying out a
qualitative empirical study, from thinking through research questions, choosing the most
appropriate method, planning and carrying out fieldwork, processing the collected primary
data, ‘kick-starting’ data analysis and writing up the results of this process as a research
design section and a findings section of a scholarly research report. The applied components
of the course comprise (i) crafting research questions for which a qualitative research design
is most fitting; (ii) justifying the choice for a particular qualitative research methodology; and
(iii) writing up a tentative research design section of a qualitative research report.

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Learning outcomes
Students will become familiar with a range of key concepts in qualitative research. More
importantly, they will form a clear understanding of the qualitative research cycle comprising (1)
the research design cycle; (2) the fieldwork cycle (or the ethnographic cycle) and (3) the analytic
cycle (see Hennink et al., 2011: 4); and the range of issues and steps that each of these cycles is
habitually predicated on in qualitative research practice. Finally, students will gain understanding
of how to write up a research design section and a findings section of a qualitative research
report.

In addition, classroom activities are aimed to help students develop a range of:
- transferable skills: presenting and critically discussing scholarly work by others; listening
critically; offering informed judgements in a concise fashion;
- study skills: especially note taking, summarising (orally and in written form), critical
reading comprehension, metacomprehension; constructive feedback and team work;
defining one’s own learning needs, planning progress and incorporating constructive
feedback received; manage a semester-long project in a successful way;
- critical thinking skills: especially deductive reasoning; hypothesising; structured
argumentation; the application of newly acquired knowledge to new situations.

Hennink, M., Hutter, I., and Bailey, A. (2011) Qualitative Research Methods, London: Sage.

Class structure
Most meetings consists of a 15-minute instructor- or student-led presentation and/or discussant’s
presentation of a key reading, followed by a structured discussion of key concepts; key arguments;
key theoretical and methodological approaches; puzzles & questions; the relevance of the subject
matter.

Structured discussions follow the results of reading key readings using the I.N.S.E.R.T. technique
(Estes and Vaughn, 1986). As such, discussions will focus on what students already knew when
reading the text; what they knew differently; what they did not know; and the issues they want
to find out more about.
 indicates a passage that confirms what students thought was true;
– indicates a passage that disconfirms something students thought was true;
+ indicates a passage that contains important information students had not anticipated;
? marks a passage containing something students want to know more about.

Estes, T. H. and Vaughn, J. L. (1986) Reading and Reasoning beyond the Primary Grades, Boston, MA:
Allyn & Bacon.

Class requirements and assessment

Students are expected to attend meetings regularly, to actively participate in class discussions and
submit independent work according to assignment descriptions on time.

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Students’ final grade will consist of the following assignments:
i. class participation in structured discussions and in-class group activities – 30% of the final
grade;
ii. presenting the results of the I.N.S.E.R.T. reading technique for the key readings(s) assigned
for the session – 30% of final grade (15% written material and 15% oral presentation);
iii. final assignment: a 3000-word (without References) ‘Research design’ thesis chapter
detailing the envisaged research design for a tentative qualitative empirical study – 40% of
the final grade.
This course encourages the use of so-called rubrics or descriptions of standards of performance.
They are meant to help students reflect on their performance and identify aspects of their
academic performance where they can improve. Specific rubrics are also used to grade all
assignments. Rubrics are available online on the course website:
<http://ceulearning.ceu.hu/course/view.php?id=4365>.

Note on Citing and Referencing

You will be expected to use Harvard style referencing. Please find an extensive citation and
referencing guide on the course website: <http://ceulearning.ceu.hu/course/view.php?id=4365>.

Key texts of the course

Hennink, M., Hutter, I., and Bailey, A. (2011) Qualitative Research Methods, London: Sage.
Leavy, P. (ed.) (2014) The Oxford Handbook of Qualitative Research, New York: Oxford University
Press.
Ragin, C. C. (1994) Constructing social research: the unity and diversity of method, Thousand Oaks,
CA: Sage.
Silverman, D. (2013) Doing Qualitative Research, 4th edition, Los Angeles: Sage.

*********************************************************************
Penalties: in case of late submissions of independent work and plagiarism.
Departmental rules on plagiarism apply.

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I. WHAT IS QUALITATIVE EMPIRICAL RESEARCH AND WHAT IS IT FOR?
1. Practicalities & what is social science research and why do we do it?
This session introduces the course and details a number of practicalities: class structure,
assignments, grading etc.
In addition, building on discussions in the Scope and Methods course during the first half of the
semester, this session is a revisiting of what empirical research in the social sciences is generically
about. The discussion is aimed to introduce the different reasons we do empirically grounded
research.
Key reading:
Ragin, C. C. (1994) Constructing social research: the unity and diversity of method, Thousand Oaks,
CA: Sage. Especially: Chapter 2.
Additional reading:
Ragin, C. C. (1994) Constructing social research: the unity and diversity of method, Thousand Oaks,
CA: Sage. Especially: Chapters 1 and 3.

2. How do we do social science research?

The focus of this discussion is the different generic avenues we can take to generate what Charles
Ragin calls ‘evidence’. It locates qualitative empirical research in a broader context and compares
and contrasts qualitative research with other – usually quantitative – methods.
Key reading:
Ragin, C. C. (1994) Constructing social research: the unity and diversity of method, Thousand Oaks,
CA: Sage. Especially: pp. 83-85; 132-138.
Additional reading:
Bryman, A. (2004) ‘Quantitative and Qualitative Research: Further reflections on their integration’,
in Seale, C. (ed.) Social Research Methods: A reader, London: Routledge, pp. 505-509.

3. The history of qualitative research

The goal of this session is to revisit the epistemological and technical history of qualitative
research. It defines key theoretical concepts in the social sciences more generally, but the overall
goal of the discussion is to understand how thinking about and the use of qualitative methods
have come to be what they are today.
Key reading:
Brinkmann, S., Jacobsen, M. H. and Kristiansen, S. (2014) ‘Historical Overview of Qualitative
Research in the Social Sciences’, in Leavy, P. (ed.) The Oxford Handbook of Qualitative Research,
New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 17-42.

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4. Qualitative empirical research: what is it for?
This session takes a closer look at what qualitative research is best for (and not so good for). The
question it seeks to provide an answer for is: when is a qualitative research design most fitting?
Key readings:
Hennink, M., Hutter, I., and Bailey, A. (2011) Qualitative Research Methods, London: Sage.
Especially: Chapter 2. The Nature of Qualitative Research, pp. 8-23.
Silverman, D. (2013) Doing Qualitative Research, 4th edition, Los Angeles: Sage. Especially: Chapter
2. What You Can (and Can’t) Do with Qualitative Research, pp. 5-16.
Additional readings:
Bloor, M. (1997) ‘Addressing Social Problems through Qualitative Research’, in Silverman, D. (ed.)
Qualitative Research: Theory, Method and Practice, London: Sage.
Ragin, C. C. (1994) Constructing social research: the unity and diversity of method, Thousand Oaks,
CA: Sage. Especially: Chapter 4. Using Qualitative Methods to Study Commonalities.

II. THINKING QUALITATIVELY

5. Deciding on a qualitative research design
Through building on the previous discussion, this session introduces both theoretical and
pragmatic considerations in choosing a specific qualitative research design. At the same time, the
discussion also outlines the steps one should take when deciding on one’s research design –
qualitative of quantitative.
Key reading:
Silverman, D. (2013) Doing Qualitative Research, 4th edition, Los Angeles: Sage. Especially: Chapter
8. Choosing a Methodology, pp. 120-140.
Additional reading:
Hennink, M., Hutter, I., and Bailey, A. (2011) Qualitative Research Methods, London: Sage.
Especially: Chapter 3. The Design Cycle, pp. 31-40.

6. Varieties of qualitative primary data

This session identifies the range of primary data – or ‘evidence’ – that can form the stuff of what
one might generically call a ‘qualitative study’. Building on the considerations discussed in session
5, here we talk about the range of primary data and the ways in which one can decide whether the
research design chosen is really the most fitting for the research questions asked.
Key reading:
Silverman, D. (2013) Doing Qualitative Research, 4th edition, Los Angeles: Sage. Especially: Chapter
4. Issues in Research Design, pp. 43-68.
Additional reading:
Hennink, M., Hutter, I., and Bailey, A. (2011) Qualitative Research Methods, London: Sage.
Especially: Chapter 3. The Design Cycle, pp. 45-60.

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III. PRIMARY DATA GENERATION
7. Technical issues in qualitative primary data collections
This session hones in on a number of issues to consider prior to setting out to collect qualitative
data: sampling and the number of cases; recruitment (for methods relying on human participants);
data collection instruments (topic guides and other materials used to interact with study
participants to generate data); and the data collection process itself (piloting the instrument,
creating rapport in interview situations, techniques to generate richer data through interaction);
and research ethics.
Key reading:
Hennink, M., Hutter, I., and Bailey, A. (2011) Qualitative Research Methods, London: Sage.
Especially: Chapter 7. Focus group discussions, pp. 135-154; and Chapter 4. Ethical Issues in
Qualitative Research, pp. 63-70.
Additional reading:
Sampling
Emmel, N. (2013) Sampling and Choosing Cases in Qualitative Research: A realist approach,
London: Sage. Especially: Chapter 2. Purposeful sampling, pp. 33-43.
Hennink, M., Hutter, I., and Bailey, A. (2011) Qualitative Research Methods, London: Sage.
Especially: Chapter 5. Participant recruitment, pp. 85-91.

Recruitment
Hennink, M., Hutter, I., and Bailey, A. (2011) Qualitative Research Methods, London: Sage.
Especially: Chapter 5. Participant recruitment, pp. 84-85; 91-107.
Milne, G. R. and Rohm, A. J. (2000) ‘Consumer Privacy and Name Removal Across Direct Marketing
Channels: Exploring Opt-In and Opt-Out Alternatives’, Journal of Public Policy and Marketing, 19
(2), pp. 238-249.

Research ethics
Hennink, M., Hutter, I., and Bailey, A. (2011) Qualitative Research Methods, London: Sage.
Especially: Chapter 4. Ethical Issues in Qualitative Research, pp. 61-79.

8. Collecting primary data

This session engages with the actual experience of being in the field gathering focus group data.
The discussion expands on how to prep the focus group situation, how to conduct it, what to pay
attention to when eliciting reactions from participants which will constitute the primary data
(asking questions, probing for more elaborate answers) and how to finalise the process. The aim is
to familiarise students with what needs thinking about and paying attention to during the actual
data gathering encounters.
Key readings:
Hennink, M., Hutter, I., and Bailey, A. (2011) Qualitative Research Methods, London: Sage.
Especially: Chapter 7. Focus group discussions, pp. 136; 138; 140; 154-168.
Silverman, D. (2013) Doing Qualitative Research, 4th edition, Los Angeles: Sage. Especially: Chapter
12. Collecting Your Data, pp. 211-213.

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 Additional reading:
Silverman, D. (2013) Doing Qualitative Research, 4th edition, Los Angeles: Sage. Especially: Chapter
12. Collecting Your Data, pp. 199-229.

IV. PRIMARY DATA MANAGEMENT AND ANALYSIS

9. Data analysis – step 1: Prepping data for analysis & CAQDAS
With data now gathered, where does one start the analysis? This discussion focuses on the steps
one is recommended to take in preparing the actual substantive analysis part, from transcription
to importing textual material into data analysis software and starting to ‘process’ primary data
through code development and coding. The discussion is also meant to expand on the benefits
(and possible drawbacks) of computer-assisted qualitative data analysis (CAQDAS) and briefly
introduce one software package.
Key reading:
Hennink, M., Hutter, I., and Bailey, A. (2011) Qualitative Research Methods, London: Sage.
Especially: Chapter 9. Data preparation and developing codes, pp. 204-206 [up to ‘Our approach
to analysis’]; 210-229.
Additional readings:
CAQDAS
Kelle, U. (2004) ‘Theory building in qualitative research and computer programs for the
management of textual data’, in Seale, C. (ed.) Social Research Methods: A reader, London:
Routledge, pp. 312-317.
Seale, C. (2013) ‘14. Using Computers to Analyse Qualitative Data’, in Silverman, D. (2013) Doing
Qualitative Research, 4th edition, Los Angeles: Sage, pp. 264-278.
Silver, C. and Lewins, A. (2014) Using Software in Qualitative Research: A step-by-step guide,
London: Sage. Especially: Chapter 1. Qualitative Data Analysis and CAQDAS, pp. 9-34.

10. Data analysis – step 2: Where to start the analysis

The goal of this section is to present strategic and conceptual issues related to how to start
primary data analysis. Without detailing the different ways of analysing textual data (including
‘text’ generated through oral interaction), this discussion is aimed at helping students develop a
clear picture of how to proceed in the early stages of primary data analysis for a variety of primary
data types, incl. in-depth interviews, fieldnotes from ethnographic work or visual data.
Key reading:
Silverman, D. (2013) Doing Qualitative Research, 4th edition, Los Angeles: Sage. Especially: Chapter
13. Developing Data Analysis, pp. 230-263.
Additional readings:
Hennink, M., Hutter, I., and Bailey, A. (2011) Qualitative Research Methods, London: Sage.
Especially: Chapter 10. Textual Data Analysis, pp. 233-266.
Perakyla, A. and Ruusuvuori, J (2011) ‘Analyzing Talk and Text’, in Denzin, N. K. and Lincoln, Y. S.
(eds.) The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research, London: Sage, pp. 529-543.

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11. Writing up qualitative research
This session centres on how to go about planning and structuring the study you are writing using
the qualitative data you will have collected and analysed. The discussion outlines important
pointers for a successful writing up process and for comprehensive methodology and data analysis
chapters in your study.
Key readings:
Hennink, M., Hutter, I., and Bailey, A. (2011) Qualitative Research Methods, London: Sage.
Especially: Chapter 11. Writing Qualitative Research, pp. 271-282; 288-291.
Silverman, D. (2013) Doing Qualitative Research, 4th edition, Los Angeles: Sage. Especially: Chapter
21. Writing Your Data Chapters, pp. 360-372.

12. What is qualitative about qualitative research then?

This session brings to a close discussions about qualitative research and what it is for by asking:
what is qualitative about qualitative research and how it is different from other approaches? This
session builds on students’ knowledge and puzzles and aims to consolidate knowledge about (1)
the differences between qualitative and other methods in terms of social phenomena studied;
research objectives; units of analysis; and type of scientific knowledge generated; (2) the types of
puzzles that are best served by qualitative research designs.