Course Info - Please Read!

Module Name:             Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods

Module Code:              PUBLG004A/B

Teaching:                    2 hours of lectures, 1 hours of seminars (Note: Seminars are not required for this course, but are strongly recommended.)

Credits:                       15

Assessment:                One 3000 word essay

Essay Deadline/s:        Thursday 28th April 2016 (by 2pm)

Lecturer:                     Dr Alexandra Hartman and Dr Cathy Elliott                             

Office Hours:               See below

*Please note that it is not possible for students to register on both Introduction and Advanced Qualitative Methods. Students must select PUBLG004A/B Introduction to Qualitative Methods or PUBLG105 Advanced Qualitative Methods

USEFUL LINKS

PG Student Intranet

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/spp/intranet/pg

Lecture and Seminar Times:

www.ucl.ac.uk/timetable

Extenuating Circumstances

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/spp/intranet/pg/pastoral/extenuating_circumstances

Essay Extensions

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/spp/intranet/pg/essays/extensions

Penalties for Late Submission and Overlength Essays

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/spp/intranet/pg/essays/lateness_word_penalties

Essay Submission Information

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/spp/intranet/pg/essays/submission_return

Examinations

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/spp/intranet/pg/exams-dissertations

Plagiarism and TurnItIn

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/spp/intranet/pg/policies/plagiarism

PUBLG004a/b: Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods

Department of Political Science/School of Public Policy

Term II

Course Tutors

Dr Alexandra Hartman

Email: TBD

Office: TBD

Office Hours: TBD

Dr Cathy Elliott

Email: cathy.elliott@ucl.ac.uk

Office: 3.08

Office Hours:  Thursday 10-12 and by appointment

Teaching Assistants : TBC

Introduction

This course (or the Advanced Qualitative Methods module) is required of all students pursuing an MSc from the School of Public Policy, including degrees in Democracy and Comparative Politics, European Public Policy, Global Governance and Ethics, International Public Policy, Public Policy, and Security Studies. The course is designed with the goal of introducing students to different qualitative methodologies that are used by social, political and policy researchers. By the end of the course, students should be well-equipped to understand the methodologies employed in political, social, and economic research; collect, analyze and interpret qualitative data; evaluate these methods and their use in social science research; and to use these methodologies (if appropriate) in their dissertation research and in subsequent careers.

Course Format

This course will be taught using a combination of lectures and seminars. Lectures are two-hours in length and are required of all students. The lectures are designed to introduce students to the topics outlined in the course syllabus and to detail topics covered in the assigned readings. Weekly seminars provide students the opportunity to ‘hands on’ experience and practice using qualitative methods in a smaller setting. Attendance at seminars is not required, however, it is strongly recommended. Seminars are capped at 20 students. To attend a seminar, students must sign up each week via Moodle (https://moodle.ucl.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=20809).[1]  Seminars for the following week will be opened after lecture.

The seminar topics will not rigidly follw the lecture topics from that week, but will give you the opportunity to explore particular methods and ideas in depth.  You can use this reading list to see which methods are being practised in any given week and make sure you attend the seminars that are most relevant to your dissertation and essay.

The course will make extensive use of UCL’s virtual learning platform, Moodle (http://moodle.ucl.ac.uk). Students will be automatically enrolled in Moodle for the course (either PUBLG004A or PUBLG004B); if you have any questions, please contact your tutor

Assessment

Students must pass this course to successfully complete the MSc degree. The course has one marked component, a 3,000 word essay worth 100% of the course mark. Essays are due on Thursday 28th April 2016 (by 2pm). Please follow normal departmental submission procedures when submitting essays. Students must achieve a minimum of 50 on the exam to pass the course.

Details of the essay assignment and exactly what you are required to do are available on Moodle.  Please be sure to consult this document early in the course and to refer to it carefully when writing your essay.  You will be disadvantaged if you don't pay careful attention to the instructions.

Optional Assignments

Throughout the term we will offer optional opportunities to participate in peer marking exercises in order to help you consolidate your knowledge and practice evaluating your own and other people's work.  Details of what is involved in these optional exercises are available on Moodle.