SIW4220 Qualitative Methods and Research Design Course description

This course is dedicated to qualitative research tools and analysis. We give particular attention to methodological reflection, comparative analysis and the links between research questions and research design.

None.

A student who has completed his or her qualification has the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge and skills:

Knowledge

The student has

• thorough knowledge of the research process
• advanced knowledge of qualitative research designs: their appropriate use as well as strengths and limitations
• advanced conceptual tools to be applied in discussing, evaluating, and exploring social phenomena.

Skills

The student can

• relate research processes to scientific theory and ethical principles
• apply research methods in a reflective manner and appropriately choose methods that are relevant for different kinds of research questions
• use relevant methods for producing, analysing and interpreting diverse types of empirical data ( e.g. interviews, case-studies and visual data)
• evaluate research based on qualitative methodologies in terms of methodological quality and appropriateness

The course consists of lectures, where students actively participate in group work, practical exercises and group discussions.

Students must take part in at least three practical exercises and submit a coursework requirement, assigned and to be approved by the course lecturer on course related topics. Students whose papers are not approved after the first submission will be given the chance to resubmit once. Papers that are not approved after the second submission will disqualify the student from taking part in the final examination.

This course presents key concepts and analytical models used in comparative analyses of social welfare policies.

None.

A student who has completed his or her qualification has the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• has thorough knowledge of concepts in the history and theory of welfare, such as the principle of eligibility, self-reliance, dependency, stigma, reciprocity, altruism, discretion, universalism and selectivity
• has advanced knowledge of explanatory models, such as the logic of industrialism, state-centred approaches, and power resource theory
• can analyse central concepts within comparative welfare studies, such as welfare regimes, decommodification, defamilisation, and social risks

Skills

The student

• can apply theoretical concepts and explanatory models in the analysis of social policies, in a national as well as international context
• is able to critically evaluate the use of concepts and models by scholars writing about social policies

The course is organised into a series of lectures and seminars. Students are expected to play an active role. Students will also be required to present papers, and discuss course themes during lectures and seminars.

Students must submit a coursework requirement of 18 pages (+/-10%) on a topic relevant to the course, to be approved by the course lecturer. The topic of the work requirement will reflect main areas of the course curriculum and lectures. The coursework requirement should be written in groups of 4-6 students. Students whose papers are not approved after the first submission will be given the chance to resubmit once and they may be required to resubmit papers of about 10 pages individually. Students whose papers are not approved after two submissions will disqualify from sitting the final examination.