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MBM 813: OPERATION RESEARCH

MHNU 817: QUALITATIVE APPROACHES AND DATA ANALYSIS

Purpose of the Course

This course is to equip students with knowledge and skills in qualitative research.

 

Course Description

History and development of qualitative research methods; Qualitative research strategies, case study, ethnography, grounded theory, critical theory, phenomenology; Qualitative research designs; Subjectivity, roles, access and ethics in qualitative research; Data collection tools and techniques; Data Analysis tools; Interpretation of qualitative research; Design and organization of qualitative research databases; Relationship between research strategies and type of analysis – Constant comparative method, grounded theory; Presenting qualitative data.

 

Expected Learning Outcomes of the course:

Upon completion of this course, the student will:

1)     Apply characteristics of ethnography, phenomenology, case study, textual analysis and applied research

2)     Conduct effective interviews, focus group discussions and observation

3)     Explore narrative, storytelling qualities underlying qualitative research

4)     Identify methods and assumptions when critiquing qualitative research

5)     Design qualitative research proposals

6)     Write an effective qualitative research report.

 

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, the student should be able to:

a)     Describe different qualitative research approaches

b)    Describe basic concepts, methods and procedures in qualitative research

c)     Develop qualitative research tools

d)    Analyze qualitative research

 

COURSE CONTENT:

The nature of qualitative inquiry

·       Strategic themes in qualitative inquiry

 

Theoretical orientations in qualitative inquiry

  • Ethnography
  • Autoethnography and evocative forms of inquiry
  • Social construction and constructivism
  • Heuristic inquiry
  • Pragmatism
  • Grounded theory

 

Qualitative applications

 

Designing qualitative studies

  • Basic research
  • Applied research
  • Evaluation research
  • Action-oriented research
  • Case studies
  • Triangulation

 

Sample size and sampling strategies

 

Data collection

  • Interviews
  • Focus group discussions
  • Observations
  • Recording data

 

Analysis, interpretation and reporting

  • When does analysis begin
  • Organizing data
  • Protecting data
  • Pattern, theme and content analysis
  • Coding data, finding patterns, labelling themes, and developing category systems
  • Logical analysis
  • Process / outcome matrix
  • Interpreting findings
  • Synthesizing data
  • Reporting findings
  • Drawing conclusions
  • Software for qualitative analysis
  • Enhancing quality and credibility of qualitative analysis

 

Mode of delivery

Interactive Lectures and presentations, group work, case studies library research, directed reading, assignments, and class presentations

 

Instructional Materials and / or Equipment

White boards, chalk boards, reading texts, notes manuals, computer, power point projector, microphone

 

Course Assessment

Continuous Assessment Tests                                                            60%

Semester Examinations                                                                       40%

TOTAL                                                                                                     100%

The pass mark shall be 50%

 

Core reading Materials

Maxwell, J. A. (2005). Qualitative Research Design:  An Interactive Approach. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. [M]

Merrian S.B., (2011) Qualitative research: A guide to design and implementation

Miles M.B., Huberman M. A., & Sdana J., (2014) Qualitative Data analysis: A methods source book

 

Recommended Reference Materials

Marshall, C., & Rossman, G.  (1999). Designing qualitative research, 3rd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA:  Sage Publications.   [M&R]

Patton M.Q, (2001) Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods 3rd Edition