Postgraduate course
2026/2027
Qualitative Research Methods in Education
Type:
Elective course
Delivered by:
Department of Educational Programmes
Where:
Institute of Education
When:
1 year, 1 semester
Open to:
students of one campus
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
4
Contact hours:
36
Course Syllabus
Abstract
The course is designed to help students to develop an intellectual stance - or way of thinking - about qualitative research, as well as to learn specific skills that will support them in enacting this stance in their research. The central goals of the course are a) to enable the student to become a critical reader of qualitative research; b) to assist the student in developing an understanding of the purposes, tools, theoretical assumptions and limitations of the key strands of qualitative research; and c) to prepare the student for further study of, engagement in and use of qualitative research. By the end of the course, the students will familiarise themselves with key approaches to qualitative research, examine and learn to critically engage with qualitative research studies as well as carry out independent qualitative research. Having examined key characteristics of qualitative research, the course will investigate the main approaches to qualitative research , including case study, ethnography, discourse analysis, frame analysis, grounded theory, digital ethnographies and others. In addition to familiarising themselves with key qualitative methods and approaches, the students will develop hands on understanding of basic data handling techniques, such as data storage, coding and presentation. The course does not aim to provide a comprehensive overview of all or most qualitative methods, instead, it provides an in-depth coverage of a few selected methods and approaches in order to illustrate the advantages and limitations of qualitative inquiry as well as to allow students to master some of the basic analytical tools, such as thematic coding and analysis, generalisability, drawing implications, mixed designs and research ethics.
Learning Objectives
- Getting skills in collecting and analysis qualitative data through observation, interviews, focus groups, analysis of documents for educational research and development
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Able to demonstrate the knowledge of methods of analysis in qualitative researches
- Able to understand and to discuss central themes of qualitative research
- Able to use concepts, logic, and ideas of analysis methods as well as to implicate them in practice
- Organize and analyse the output from the focus groups
Course Contents
- Strategy of qualitative research. Research field. Preparation of qualitative research instruments
- Qualitative Analysis
- Educational ethnography
- Focus groups and group discussions
Assessment Elements
- Final Report and Reflection
- Research Questions and Consent Form
- Data Analysis and Reflection
- Interview protocol and transcripts
Interim Assessment
- 2026/2027 1st semester0.25 * Interview protocol and transcripts + 0.25 * Research Questions and Consent Form + 0.25 * Data Analysis and Reflection + 0.25 * Final Report and Reflection
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- Constructing grounded theory : a practical guide through qualitative analysis, Charmaz, K., 2006
- Ethnography : principles in practice, Hammersley, M., 2007
- Ethnography : step-by-step, Fetterman, D. M., 2010
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- Качественные методы. Полевые социологические исследования, Штейнберг, И. Е., 2009
- Метод интервью в социологии и маркетинге : учеб. пособие для вузов, Семина, М. В., 2010