Research Methods II

This course will teach students the fundamental principles for ideating, designing, developing, and structuring a piece of qualitative research in a scientifically rigorous way. The focus of this course is on qualitative, rather than quantitative, methods. In the first session, students will have to identify a research idea. Throughout the course, students will then work in teams to refine and develop a research idea into a rigorous research project by applying the principles and concepts learnt in class. Students will have to discuss and present their projects in class as their research progresses.

•    Understand the main differences between qualitative and quantitative methods.
•    Understand what a research question is. 
•    Appreciate the difference between doing research and reinventing the wheel.
•    Practice the collection of interview data.
•    Distinguish between different qualitative methods (case studies, comparative case studies, ethnography, etc.).
•    Learn how to code textual data. 
•    Learn how to develop theoretical models that capture your empirical observations.
•    Learning the best structure for writing-up your research.

In presence

Lecture face-to-face; individual and team-based work; class discussions and presentations. 

100% Coursework: In-class presentation of a research project that student teams will have conducted during the course.