Qualitative Methods

The aim of this course is to provide students with a solid foundation for conducting independent qualitative studies of research questions suited to methodological tools that emphasize depth and content. The course offers advanced knowledge of qualitative methodological approaches and tools, and students will gain practical experience in developing and applying them.

It provides insight into how theory, concepts, and empirical investigations are interconnected, and how this relationship influences the choices one can and should make in qualitative research—such as the selection of research design, operationalization, choice of tools, execution of analyses, and discussion of findings. A key consideration is how to maintain a healthy critical attitude when evaluating methodological approaches and research designs in other works.

The course is based on methodological approaches particularly relevant to the study of politics and public administration, and emphasizes a holistic understanding of subject matter and method. The course is structured around the relationship between theoretical approaches and empirical observations, qualitative research designs, case studies as strategy and approach, text analysis, and qualitative interviews.

Upon completion of the course, the student should have achieved the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

The student has...

• good knowledge of concepts and approaches related to the use of qualitative methods in studies of politics and public administration
• advanced knowledge of the relationship between theory and empirical data
• a solid understanding of the types of research questions suited for qualitative investigations
• an overview of qualitative designs, strategies, and methodological tools

Skills

The student can...

• select appropriate methodological tools based on the nature of the research question
• provide well-reasoned arguments for the choice of research question, design, and methodological tools
• apply various qualitative methods in empirical investigations
• construct well-founded research designs and make necessary delimitations
• integrate the different components of a research process

General Competence

The student has...

• a critical, reflective, and constructive approach to research design and methodological choices
• the ability to recognize the transferability and tensions between different ways of handling empirical phenomena in studies of politics and public administration
• collaborative experience that is valuable in both academic and other professional contexts