Course

Unit 1

Foundations of Qualitative Research

Meaning and Purpose of Qualitative Research in Social Work (exploratory, theory-building, contextual texture for practice), Distinguishing Qualitative vs Quantitative, Research Philosophy & Paradigms in Qualitative Research(Ontology, Epistemology & Axiology for writing decisions and Core Paradigms-Interpretivism / Social Constructivism).

Unit 2

Designing Qualitative Research

Research Problem Formulation, Qualitative Research Methods, (Field Study / Naturalistic Observation, Case Study, Focus Group Discussions, Narratives, Participant Observation and Field Notes, Secondary Research for Qualitative Inquiry). Ethical Protocols in Qualitative Design

Unit 3

Managing and Analysing Qualitative Data

Data Management Techniques (Organising data systems (transcripts, field notes, audio backups, memos)), Coding & thematic development, Qualitative Data Analysis Methods, Writing Holistic, Multi-perspective Qualitative Findings, Report Writing.

Text Books / References

Textbooks:

1. Tolley, et al. 2016. Chapter Two: The Language and Logic of Qualitative Research. Pages 17-44. In Qualitative Methods in Public Health. A field guide for applied research. Second Edition. Wiley. Available in UNC libraries: http://search.lib.unc.edu/search?R=UNCb8557796
2. Carter, S. M., & Little, M. (2007). Justifying knowledge, justifying method, taking action: Epistemologies, methodologies, and methods in qualitative research. Qualitative health research, 17(10), 1316- 1328

Suggested Readings:

1. Joseph Maxwell. Qualitative Research Design: An Interactive Approach. Sage Publications. Chapter 4: “Research Questions: What do you want to understand?
2. Weitzman, E. 2000. Chapter 30: Software and Qualitative Research. In: Handbook of Qualitative Research, Second Edition. Denzin, NK and Lincoln, YS (editors). Sage Publications. Thousand Oaks, CA. (pp. 780- 782).

Pre-requisites: Basic understanding of research methods and social work theory.

Course objectives:

1. To know the meaning, definition and purpose of qualitative social work research.
2. To understand the meaning nature and characteristics of qualitative research methodology
3. To know about the concepts and how they are operationalised
4. To develop skills in managing of qualitative data.

Course Outcomes

• CO1: Understand the basic concepts of Qualitative research
• CO2: To identify and Formulate appropriate Qualitative Research methods.
• CO3: to analyze and write reports using Qualitative Data

 Skills:

• Skills to identify and formulate appropriate qualitative research questions and interview questions.
• Acquiring active listening skills in interviews and focus group discussions to engage in the data collection
• Develop an interpretive understanding of data collected.

CO-PO Mappings: