Qualitative Approaches to Educational Research

This course is offered within S2IME International Master's Programme in Educational Research, 120 hec.

To be eligible for the course, a good first cycle degree in Social Sciences with a minimum of 60 credits in Education, or equivalent is required. Applicants must prove their knowledge of English: English 6 or English, level 2 from Swedish Upper Secondary School or the equivalent level of an internationally recognized test, for example TOEFL, IELTS.

The course will start by clarifying what is meant by qualitative research, including an outline of the main methods that are used in qualitative research. Central to the opening discussions are qualitative research ethics: students will discuss ethical research procedures, acting ethically, and being accountable for research ethics. The remainder of the course is taken as problem-based learning. Students are asked, in groups, to develop a suitable qualitative research methodology for investigating a pressing issue in education. Practicing group work matters because research often involves team work, so that the ability to collaborate with peers is a crucial part of research skill. Students will be asked to re-formulate an educational issue into a clear research problem, and outline what research might be undertaken in response to the problem. In the course of working through a suitable methodological design, students will engage with reading on qualitative methods, including exemplars taken from published empirical studies.

On successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• Explain what qualitative research methods are, including their defining attributes.
• Describe research ethics as it applies to qualitative research approaches.

Competence and skills

• Identify and summarise qualitative research methods used in research articles and reports in the area of education.
• Contribute to a group tasked with designing a qualitative research approach to an educational issue.
• Develop a qualitative research approach to, research ethical procedures for, and a research ethical stance towards, a given pedagogical issue.

Judgement and approach

• Raise and judge ethical issues pertaining to educational science research with human subjects.
• Critically assess the qualitative research methods of empirical studies and their value as scientific achievement.

The course is taught in a combination of lectures, workshops, and seminars in support of problem-based learning in groups.

Language of instruction: English

Learning is assessed through the following assignments:

1. Active participation in group work (students are expected to work effectively in groups and make clear individual contributions within the group - this element is evaluated)

2. An individual commentary on research ethics based on group work.

3. Two group presentations that report group progress with the task of writing a research methodology

4. An individually written essay that reports on a suitable research methodology for tackling a given educational issue while also critically assessing research methods and their value.

A possibility for completion may be granted by the examiner.

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local rules regarding RIU students at the University of Gothenburg.

The grading scale comprises: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U).

To pass the course, all the requirements mentioned above (1, 2, 3 and 4) need to be graded a Pass (G). In order to earn a grade of Pass with Distinction (VG), a student must pass all course work at Pass (G) level, the final written essay with a Pass with Distinction (VG).

The results of and possible changes to the course will be shared with students who participated in the evaluation and students who are starting the course.

The course uses different forms of digital communication between teacher and student, as well as between students. Therefore, access to a computer and internet is required.