Do you want to try out qualitative research methods in the real world? Understand the differences between
quantitative and qualitative research methods in Social Sciences? Learn how to conduct an interview, observation
or a focus group? Understand and analyse the perception of other people? This introductory course is designed
for students from 2nd to 4th semester, and it has three primary aims: 1. It aims to give students a grounding in the
theoretical and practical application of qualitative research methods in the social sciences. 2. The course will
prepare students for the methodological part of the Comprehensive Exam in Social Sciences (CESS). 3.
Completing this course offers a first step towards the skills students need to design and conduct their own
research.
Poslední úprava: Horáčková Karolína, Bc. (23.12.2024)
Do you want to try out qualitative research methods in the real world? Understand the differences between
quantitative and qualitative research methods in Social Sciences? Learn how to conduct an interview, observation
or a focus group? Understand and analyse the perception of other people? This introductory course is designed
for students from 2nd to 4th semester, and it has three primary aims: 1. It aims to give students a grounding in the
theoretical and practical application of qualitative research methods in the social sciences. 2. The course will
prepare students for the methodological part of the Comprehensive Exam in Social Sciences (CESS). 3.
Completing this course offers a first step towards the skills students need to design and conduct their own
research.
Poslední úprava: Horáčková Karolína, Bc. (23.12.2024)
Podmínky zakončení předmětu -
Students are expected to attend at least 75% of sessions and actively participate in class.
Students will work individually and in small groups.
The course work is designed as continuous; students practice specific techniques and submit 4 partial assignments (research questions, interview guide, field notes, data analysis) during the semester.
Students are assigned to read methodological chapters (3 in semester).
AI Usage Recommendations for Students: AI’s possibilities and limitations for qualitative research will be discussed in this course. You are permitted to use AI tools under the teacher's supervision and for specific tasks. AI must never be used to analyze or interpret personal or sensitive data. Any use of AI in your assignments must be done ethically and responsibly, and explicitly declared in your written work including the tool name, prompts used, and how the output was verified.
Poslední úprava: Kolářová Marta, doc. PhDr., Ph.D. (05.02.2026)
Students are expected to attend at least 75% of sessions and actively participate in class.
Students will work individually and in small groups.
The course work is designed as continuous; students practice specific techniques and submit 4 partial assignments (research questions, interview guide, field notes, data analysis) during the semester.
Students are assigned to read methodological chapters (3 in semester).
Evaluation of tasks:
100-90 % = 1
89-75 % = 2
74-60 % = 3
less than 60 % = not pass
AI Usage Recommendations for Students: AI’s possibilities and limitations for qualitative research will be discussed in this course. You are permitted to use AI tools under the teacher's supervision and for specific tasks. AI must never be used to analyze or interpret personal or sensitive data. Any use of AI in your assignments must be done ethically and responsibly, and explicitly declared in your written work including the tool name, prompts used, and how the output was verified.
Poslední úprava: Kolářová Marta, doc. PhDr., Ph.D. (05.02.2026)
Sylabus -
(1) Introduction: What is meant by ‘social research’? Why do social research? Differences between qualitative and quantitative research, inductive and deductive reasoning
(2) Qualitative research in the social sciences: background, designs, approaches, techniques. The research process in qualitative research: relationship between data and theory, triangulation
(3) Research ethics
(4) Formulating the research question in qualitative research. Sampling
(5) Interviews: Conducting an in-depth, semistructured interview for qualitative research: types of questions and interview guide
(6) Analysing documents: media research, online research and qualitative content analysis
(7) Group interviews: focus groups, preparation, moderating discussion, analysis
(8) Observation: ethnography, participant observation, role of the observer, field notes, netnography
(9) Data analysis in qualitative research: brief introduction and practical examples. Data coding
(10) Using software in qualitative analysis (CAQDAS)
(11) Writing the final research report. Presentation of qualitative research
Poslední úprava: Kolářová Marta, doc. PhDr., Ph.D. (28.01.2026)
(1) Introduction: What is meant by ‘social research’? Why do social research? Differences between qualitative and quantitative research, inductive and deductive reasoning
(2) Qualitative research in the social sciences: background, designs, approaches, techniques. The research process in qualitative research: relationship between data and theory, triangulation
(3) Research ethics
(4) Formulating the research question in qualitative research. Sampling
(5) Interviews: Conducting an in-depth, semistructured interview for qualitative research: types of questions and interview guide
(6) Analysing documents: media research, online research and qualitative content analysis
(7) Group interviews: focus groups, preparation, moderating discussion, analysis
(8) Observation: ethnography, participant observation, role of the observer, field notes, netnography
(9) Data analysis in qualitative research: brief introduction and practical examples. Data coding
(10) Using software in qualitative analysis (CAQDAS)
(11) Writing the final research report. Presentation of qualitative research
Poslední úprava: Kolářová Marta, doc. PhDr., Ph.D. (05.02.2026)
Studijní opory -
Bryman, A. 2012. Social Research Methods. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Denzin, N. K.; Y. S. Lincoln (eds) 2018. The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research. London: Sage. Schreier, M. 2014. “Qualitative Content Analysis”. In Flick U (ed.), The SAGE Handbook on Qualitative Data Analysis. London: Sage, 170-183.
Moodle:
https://dl1.cuni.cz/course/view.php?id=16402
Poslední úprava: Kolářová Marta, doc. PhDr., Ph.D. (28.01.2026)
Bryman, A. 2012. Social Research Methods. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Denzin, N. K.; Y. S. Lincoln (eds) 2018. The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research. London: Sage. Schreier, M. 2014. “Qualitative Content Analysis”. In Flick U (ed.), The SAGE Handbook on Qualitative Data Analysis. London: Sage, 170-183.
Presentations, assignments and detailed information is in Moodle.
https://dl1.cuni.cz/course/view.php?id=16402
Poslední úprava: Kolářová Marta, doc. PhDr., Ph.D. (28.01.2026)
