This module has been designed to enable you to undertake an in-depth critical analysis of qualitative research methods. This will entail:

Critical evaluation of the qualitative research of others also inform your own research skills

Process of research critique and current issues in qualitative research

Evidence based practice and its relationship to research-based practice

Exploration of issues surrounding the application of qualitative research in practice

Use of various qualitative research methods to various types of analysis

Produce a paper in the format of a journal article with focus on a qualitative research methods.



This assessment will address Learning Outcomes 1 to 4

You are expected to engage in independent study. This will take the form of undertaking follow-up tasks, reflecting on own practice, reading relevant literature, and engaging with online materials through the universities virtual learning environment (VLE), Blackboard. You will be expected to keep up to date with current business and management practices through various websites and academic journals.

1. Develop an in-depth knowledge of various qualitative methods and have the practical capability to select and apply selected data collection techniques in qualitative methods (e.g grounded theory; ethnography; narrative; discourse)

Enquiry

2. Evaluate commonly used observational methods, what is considered good practice and the limitations of different types of observational study that is appropriate to a senior management related investigation.

Analysis

3. Conceptualise, design and critically review the application of interviews to appropriate theory and previous work applied in associated literature towards providing an analysis of how appropriate qualitative techniques can be applied, given the selected research question/s.

Analysis

4. Demonstrate the qualities to refine key core qualitative methods and strategies to a particular management research problem.

Application

Module Handbook



Blackboard Resources



Directed Texts

Berg, B. L., & Lune, H. (2012). Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences, 8th edition, Pearson

Boyatzis, R. E. (1998). Transforming qualitative information: Thematic analysis and code development, Sage

Bryman, A. & Bell, E. (2015). Business Research Methods, 4th Ed, Oxford University Press

Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches, 3rd Ed, Sage Publications

Denzin, N.K. and Lincoln, Y. (2000). Handbook of Qualitative Research, Thousand Oakes, Sage Publications.

Glaser, B., & Straus, A. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for Qualitative Research, Hawthorne, NY: Aldine

King, N., & Horrocks, C. (2010). Interviews in Qualitative Research, Sage

Kvale, S., & Brinkman, S. (2009). Interviews: Learning the Craft of Qualitative Research Interviewing, 2nd edition, Sage, London

Myers, M. D. (2009). Qualitative Research in Business and Management, Sage Publications

Saunders, M.N.K., Lewis, P. & Thornhill, A. (2019). Research Methods for Business Students, 8th Ed, Pearson

Silverman, D. (2017). Doing Qualitative Research, 4th edition, London: Sage Publications Ltd

Van Maanen, J. (2000). Qualitative methods in management research, Sage: London

Gummesson, E. (2000). Qualitative Methods in Management Research, Sage

Thorpe, R., & Holt, R. (eds.). (2007). The Sage Dictionary of Qualitative Management Research, Sage



Yin, R. ¿. (2014). Case Study Research: Design and Methods, 5th edition, Thousand Oaks, USA: Sage

At the end of this module, you will have a comprehensive understanding of qualitative research methods. This module will teach you how qualitative research methods are governed by clear rules and provide a range of methods of exploring issues which cannot be expressed by numbers. Moreover, organisations and human behaviour are difficult to hold still and isolate and since they change constantly, they can offer different dimensions of themselves to different audiences. This module will demonstrate that there is a place for perception studies, looking at what people think or feel is going on at workplaces since this will affect the day-to-day and strategic long-term practice in organisations.