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School for Cross-faculty Studies Liberal Arts

IP108 Qualitative Methods for Undergraduate Research

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Module Overview

On this module, we explore qualitative approaches to researching people, cultures, and societies, and reflect on the theories and practices of being qualitative researchers.

We examine ethical research practices, engage with different methods for analysing and interpreting qualitative data, and consider different approaches to communicating research findings.

By focusing on key skills, this module provides a valuable foundation for conducting ethical, effective, and engaging qualitative research throughout your undergraduate degree.

Module aims:

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

  • understand the value and necessity of being an ethical researcher
  • reflect on the strengths and limitations of a variety of qualitative research methods
  • mobilise a range of different methods of qualitative analysis and interpretation
  • draw on critical and theoretical perspectives to support your research
  • effectively communicate your research findings
  • reflect on your own research practices
Assessments:

There are three assessments on this module:

Assessment Weighting Description
Research Portfolio 45% 3 research tasks of 500 words each
Research Proposal 10% 500 words outline of the Wider Audience Project
Wider Audience Project 45% 1000 words or agreed equivalent

Example syllabus:

Please note that this syllabus is purely indicative, and actual module content may differ.

  1. Introduction to Qualitative Research
  2. Ethics and Positionality
  3. Visual Methods
  4. Visual Analysis
  5. Archival Research
  6. Using Sources
  7. Conducting Interviews
  8. Analysing Interviews
  9. Communicating Research Findings
  10. Assessment Support

Module Leader: Dr Kim Lockwood Clough

Core module

Term 1 | 10 weeks

15 CATS

Two workshop hours per week

Not available to students outside the School for Cross-Faculty Studies

Please note: Module availability and staffing may change year on year depending on availability and other operational factors. The School for Cross-Faculty Studies makes no guarantee that any modules will be offered in a particular year, or that they will necessarily be taught by the staff listed on these pages

Illustrative reading list:

  • Abrams, Lynn. 2010. Oral History Theory. Abingdon: Routledge.
  • Berger Gluck, Sherna, and Daphne Patai, eds. 1991. Women's Words: The Feminist Practice of Oral History. New York: Routledge.
  • Emmison, Michael, Philip Smith, and Margery Mayall, eds. 2012. Researching the Visual, 2nd edition. London, Thousand Oaks, CA, and New Delhi: SAGE Publications Ltd.
  • Hamilton, Paula, and Linda Shopes,eds.2008. Oral History and Public Memories. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.
  • Heywood, Ian, and Barry Sandywell, eds. 2017.The Handbook of Visual Culture.London: Bloomsbury.
  • Leaver, Tama, Tim Highfield, and Crystal Abidin. 2020. Instagram: Visual Social Media Cultures.Cambridge: Polity Press.
  • McGarry, Aidan, Itir Erhart, Hande Eslen-Ziya, Olu Jenzen, and Umut Korkut, eds. 2020. The Aesthetics of Global Protest: Visual Culture and Communication. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press.
  • Mahuika, Nēpia. 2019. Rethinking Oral History and Tradition: An Indigenous Perspective.Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Morris, Alan. 2015. A Practical Introduction to In-depth Interviewing. London: SAGE Publications Ltd.
  • Neumüller, Moritz, ed. 2018. The Routledge Companion to Photography and Visual Culture. New York: Routledge.
  • Pink, Sarah. 2021. Doing Visual Ethnography, 4th edition. Los Angeles and London: SAGE Publications, Inc.
  • Rose, Gillian. 2016. Visual Methodologies: An Introduction to Researching with Visual Materials. 4th edition. Los Angeles and London: SAGE Publications Ltd.
  • Roulston, Kathryn. 2010. Reflective Interviewing: A Guide to Theory and Practice. London and Los Angeles: SAGE.
  • Seale, Clive, ed. Researching Society and Culture, 4th edition. London: SAGE.
  • Sontag, Susan. 1973/2005. On Photography. New York: RosettaBooks.
  • Stanczak, Gregory C, ed. 2007. Visual Research Methods. Thousand Oaks, CA, and New Delhi: Sage Publications, Inc.