BASS Social Anthropology and Philosophy

This course unit provides an overview of the principles and practices of qualitative social research. It explains the philosophical principles underlying qualitative research design and the key steps involved in designing a qualitative research project (the role of theory, literature review, research question design and sampling strategies). It introduces key qualitative research methods including a range of qualitative interview techniques, observation and participant observation and the use of documents and visual images. It explores different approaches to, and techniques for, the analysis of qualitative data. It considers the importance of ethics, power and politics in conducting, interpreting and writing up qualitative research

• To consider the meaning and rationale of qualitative social research.
• To explore the principles of qualitative social research strategy and design, and how these principles may be applied in practice.
• To clarify how research questions, research strategies, research methods and forms of analysis influence each other in the context of qualitative social research projects.
• To outline a range of key qualitative social research methods and examine their possibilities, strengths and weaknesses in relation to specific research questions and strategies, both in theoretical terms and through the examination of various practical case studies.
• To familiarise students with historical and contemporary examples of different qualitative social research methods in action.
•  To consider some key methods for the analysis of different kinds of qualitative data.
•  To equip students with the requisite knowledge, skills and understanding to enable them to effectively design and carry out an independent small-scale qualitative social research project (especially in the context of a third year dissertation).

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

• Understand and explain the logic of qualitative social research.
• Outline and effectively apply the principles of qualitative social research strategy and design.
• Critically evaluate the suitability of a range of qualitative research methods for use with different kinds of research question.
• Cite some key historical and contemporary examples of different qualitative social research methods in action.
•  Select and deploy appropriate forms of analysis of different kinds of qualitative data.
•  Effectively design and carry out an independent small-scale qualitative social research project

Lecture-style material will be delivered weekly through a 2 hour lecture. Additionally, there is a weekly one hours seminar.  

Research design 60%

Written assignment 40% 

All sociology courses include both formative feedback - which lets you know how you’re getting on and what you could do to improve - and summative feedback - which gives you a mark for your assessed work.

Atkinson, P., Coffey, A. and Delamont, S. (2003) Key Themes in Qualitative Research, Oxford: AltaMira Press.

Babbie, E (2012) The Practice of Social Research, Wadsworth Publishing.

Berg, B. (2008) Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences, Pearson.

Bryman, A. (2008) Social Research Methods, Oxford University Press.

Corbin, J. and Strauss, A. (2008) Basics of Qualitative Research: Techniques and Procedures for Developing Grounded Theory, London: Sage.

Ezzy, D (2002) Qualitative Analysis: Practice and Innovation, London: Routledge.

Gilbert, N (2008) Researching Social Life, London: Sage.

Mason, J. (2002) Qualitative Researching, London: Sage.

May, T. (2002) Qualitative Research in Action, London: Sage.

Silverman, D. (2010) Qualitative Research, London: Sage.

Silverman, D (2006) Interpreting Qualitative Data: Methods for Analysing Talk, Text and Interaction, London: Sage.