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Unit Overview

Description

This unit gives an overview of present day qualitative research methods. It includes historical background, the philosophical context and paradigm considerations. It focuses particularly on design and strategy in qualitative research and on the collection and analysis of qualitative data. It also covers developing and writing qualitative research proposals and writing qualitative research reports.

Credit
6 points
Offering
AvailabilityLocationMode
Not available in 2024UWA (Perth)Face to face
Outcomes

Students are able to (1) understand the background to the present day emphasis on qualitative methods in educational research; (2) appreciate the diversity and complexity of qualitative empirical inquiry; (3) understand the role of philosophical issues in qualitative inquiry; (4) understand the main strategies and designs for qualitative research; (5) apply the different methods of collecting and analysing qualitative empirical materials; and (6) demonstrate an understanding of how to write a qualitative research proposal.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) a 500-word overview of the formulation of a research question and development of an appropriate qualitative research design and (2) a 4500-word paper that demonstrates understanding of, and ability to employ, qualitative research methods, with a particular focus on analysis of qualitative data. Further information is available in the unit outline.



Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)
Professor Simon Clarke
Unit rules
Advisable prior study
EDUC5631 Approaches to Research (formerly EDUC8631 Approaches to Research).
or EDUC9643 Master's Thesis Phase I or equivalent
Contact hours
25 hours
Text

O'Donoghue, T. Planning Your Qualitative Research Project: a Beginners' Guide to Research in Education: Routledge 2007

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