MSc Research Methods with Planning and Environmental Management / Course details

The aim of this module is to critically engage with the generation, recuperation and analysis of empirical data. Presented through applied case studies, the students will be exposed to a series of qualitative tactics ranging from ethnographic approaches to archival research and comparative methods. The course will also introduce students to NVivo as a platform for data analysis and code generation.

On completion of this unit successful students will be able to:

• Demonstrate familiarity with qualitative research strategies and approaches to data collection;
• Show an awareness of the plurality of qualitative methodological tactics
  • Understanding of procedures in the development of grounded theory.
  • Understanding of procedures of conversation, documentary, discourse and narrative analysis and how to apply these to data;
• Demonstrate knowledge of criteria through which to assess the suitability of methodological tactics in relation to research questions;
• Show understanding of procedures of coding and classifying data as one stage in the analysis process;
• Demonstrate an ability to examine and develop different validation strategies for qualitative research designs, and an understanding of how to minimise threats to the validity of research processes and outcomes.

Supplementary Reading List: --some example literature

Atkinson, P. (1990) The Ethnographic Imagination London: Routledge.

Atkinson, P. (1992) Understanding Ethnographic Texts London: Sage.

Bryman, A. and Burgess, R. (Eds) (1994) Analyzing Qualitative Data London: Routledge.

Coffey, A. and Atkinson, P. (1996) Making Sense of Qualitative Data: complementary research topics London: Sage. 

*Crossley, M. and G. Vulliamy (eds) 1996 Qualitative educational research in developing countries New York: Garland 

Denzin, N. K. (1989) Interpretive Biography London: Sage.

Denzin, N. K. and Lincoln, Y. S. (Eds) (1998) Collecting and Interpreting Qualitative Materials London: Sage.

Denzin, N. K. and Lincoln, Y. S. (Eds) (1998) Strategies of Qualitative Inquiry London: Sage.

Elliott, J. (1991) Action Research for Educational Change Milton Keynes: Open University Press.

Ely, M., Vinz, R., Downing, M. and Anzul, M. (1997) On Writing Qualitative Research London: Falmer.

Feldman, M. S. (1995) Strategies for Interpreting Qualitative Data London: Sage.

Gilbert, N. (Ed) (2001) Researching Social Life London: Sage.

Gitlin, A. (Ed) (1994) Power and Method. Political Ac