Methods of qualitative research for technical and humanities - NAIL129
Title: Metody kvalitativního výzkumu pro technické a humanitní obory
Guaranteed by: Department of Software and Computer Science Education (32-KSVI)
Faculty: Faculty of Mathematics and Physics
Actual: from 2024
Semester: winter
E-Credits: 3
Hours per week, examination: winter s.:1/1, C [HT]
Capacity: unlimited
Min. number of students: unlimited
4EU+: no
Virtual mobility / capacity: no
State of the course: not taught
Language: Czech
Teaching methods: full-time
Additional information: http://předmět vyučován pravidelně od 10. října / pondělí, 17:30, Celetná 20
Note: you can enroll for the course repeatedly
Guarantor: Mgr. Tereza Hannemann, Ph.D.
Opinion survey results   Examination dates   Schedule   Noticeboard   
Annotation -
This course is suitable for students of all majors who want to learn how to apply qualitative methods to their own research.The course will be taught in the form of theoretical lectures with practically oriented seminars.The theoretical lectures will introduce selected qualitative methods. In seminars, students will experience how to prepare qualitative research, how to implement data collection and processing, for example in MAXQDA.
Last update: Holan Tomáš, RNDr., Ph.D. (20.05.2022)
Aim of the course -

• Understand how the choice of method affects the results of research

• Orientation in technological tools and supports for qualitative research

• Gain awareness of qualitative research methods used in academia and companies

• Learn to creatively develop methods for research topics

• Practically test the skills associated with the collection and analysis of qualitative data

Last update: Holan Tomáš, RNDr., Ph.D. (11.05.2022)
Course completion requirements -
  • Completing homework assignments
  • Active participation in seminars

Last update: Holan Tomáš, RNDr., Ph.D. (11.05.2022)
Literature -

Qualitative research in general:

• Feyerabend, P. (1993). Against method. Verso.

• Hennink, M., Hutter, I., & Bailey, A. (2020). Qualitative research methods. Sage.

• Silverman, D. (Ed.). (2020). Qualitative research. Sage.

Grounded theory:

• Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. M. (1997). Grounded theory in practice. Sage.

• Charmaz, K. (2014). Constructing grounded theory. Sage.

Focus groups:

• Morgan, D. L. (2018). Basic and advanced focus groups. Sage Publications.

• Stewart, D. W., & Shamdasani, P. N. (2014). Focus groups: Theory and practice (Vol. 20). Sage publications.

Case study:

• Starman, A. B. (2013). The case study as a type of qualitative research. Journal of Contemporary Educational Studies/Sodobna Pedagogika, 64(1).

Online research:

• Hewson, C., Vogel, C., & Laurent, D. (2015). Internet research methods. Sage.

• Gosling, S. D., & Mason, W. (2015). Internet research in psychology. Annual review of psychology, 66, 877-902.

Last update: Holan Tomáš, RNDr., Ph.D. (11.05.2022)
Syllabus -

The course is divided into the following units:

1. About qualitative methodology

The lecture will show when and where it is appropriate to use qualitative research methods and when not. We will also introduce some essential methods that are referred to as qualitative. We will discuss the appropriateness of using specific methods to achieve research objectives, we will also focus on financial management and ethical considerations.

2. About coding

We will introduce and critically evaluate the coding styles used in qualitative research. We will show how the chosen form of coding can influence the research findings. In the seminar part it will be possible to try out the analytical program MAXQDA, which is widely used in qualitative data analysis.

3. Grounded theory, narrative analysis, ethnographic research

The main emphasis of the lecture will be on introducing grounded theory, and its limitations.

Using the grounded theory as an example, we will show the historical development that qualitative research methods went through. We will also introduce narrative analysis and ethnographic research. In the seminar, students will practice formulating research questions (not only) for the grounded theory, and learn how to make good decisions about which method makes sense to use.

4. Focus group and case study

In this lecture, students will learn how focus group and case study methods work, and how to design, plan and implement them. We will focus on the key points that need to be reflected in the research design. During the seminar, students will create their own scenario for a focus group and we will explain the importance of using the right question at the right time. We will show what software can be used for data processing.

5. Qualitative research on the internet

In this lecture and seminar we will show the differences between how data for qualitative research can be collected in person and on the internet. We will present the basic options for conducting qualitative research on the internet, what to look out for and how to set up research ethics, including the need to store data.

6. Overview

The last thematic unit will aim to re-establish the basic issues related to qualitative methodology. We will present the discussion that has arisen around Paul Karl Feyerabend's work entitled: Debating Against Method. We will analyze Feyerabend's thesis "Everything goes" within the framework of qualitative methodology. The seminar part will be conducted in an interactive way, where students will try to defend or defame different qualitative research methods.

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We plan to divide the thematic units into lectures and seminars, which will alternate (odd and even weeks). However, we are prepared to adapt the timetable based on the needs of the study group.

Homework will be assigned in class. We anticipate a minimum preparation time of approximately 30 minutes per lecture. We will also assign assignments that require more time, but these will be optional.

Last update: Holan Tomáš, RNDr., Ph.D. (11.05.2022)