Advanced Qualitative Methods

Module description

 

Qualitative methods are ubiquitous in development research – partly out of conviction, partly for lack of reliable quantitative data. Either way, qualitative studies can arguably be done well or poorly. Unfortunately, it is often not so easy to say which is which. That's why this module is a little different from the methods course you may have taken in your undergraduate studies. While it does cover the same familiar areas of research design, different kinds of qualitative material and analytical strategies, its aim is not primarily to teach you how to conduct qualitative research, but to enable you to evaluate the quality in qualitative research.

 

After taking the module you will be able to tell whether the case selection in that last paper that you read was any good – even if you don't conduct case study research yourself. You will be able to read an ethnographic accounts of development policy and judge whether it is up to standard, methodologically speaking – even if you are quantitatively trained. You will also better understand the ethics of fieldwork, have developed a yardstick to assess the quality of interviews, and know how scholars might in principle attempt to make sense of what they experienced. And perhaps you will even have developed a new perspective on the methodological aspects of your own work, for instance in preparing for your dissertation.

 

To that end, you will adopt the role of a scientific peer reviewer in between classes and evaluate in writing the methodology of a published piece of research that works with the material, analytical approach, etc. that was introduced that week; these reports will, in sum, also make up the assessment for this module, replacing the standard essay. Your reports will be submitted online during the week, and you will be tasked to comment on each other’s reports to improve everybody’s writing. The next class then begins by jointly working through common issues you encountered, revisiting whatever we discussed the week before – before moving on to the next topic.

Assessment details

6 written peer review reports of 500 words each  (100%)

Teaching pattern

10 weeks of 2 hour workshops

Module description disclaimer

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Please note that the module descriptions above are related to the current academic year and are subject to change.