An Overview of Qualitative Data Collection and Analysis

With such a large variety of qualitative research methods to choose from, creating a research design can be confusing and difficult without a sufficiently informed overview. This module aims to provide an overview by introducing qualitative data collection and analysis methods commonly used in social science research. The module provides a foundation for other SSRMP qualitative methods modules such as ethnography, discourse analysis, interviews, or diary research. Knowing what is ‘out there’ will help a researcher purposefully select further modules to study on, provide readings to deepen knowledge on specific methods, and will facilitate a more informed research design that contributes to successful empirical research.

NB. This module has video content that needs watching prior to the advertised start date, which can be found on the Moodle page.

• University Students from Tier 1 Departments
• Further details regarding eligibility criteria are available here

Students are expected to engage with the Moodle material (videos, tasks) before the first live session on the 19th of October 2021. This is why the starting date is the 12th of October 2021.

Number of sessions: 4

• Session 1: qualitative interviews

• Session 2: participant observation and solicited diaries

• Session 3: different forms of qualitative data analysis

• Session 4: rigour, research ethics, participant relationships

• To provide students with an overview of different qualitative methods commonly used in social science research and consider how they fit within a research design

• To critically examine a number of different qualitative methods for data collection and analysis

• To encourage students to give careful and thoughtful consideration of the best method/s for their own research

• Bryman, A. (2016) Social Research Methods. 5th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

• Creswell, J. (2013) Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches. 3rd ed. Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore, Washington DC: SAGE Publications, Inc.

• Gibbs, G. R. (2018) Analyzing Qualitative Data. Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore, Washington DC, Melbourne: SAGE Publications.

• Grbich, C. (2013) Qualitative Data Analysis: An Introduction. 2nd ed. Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore, Washington DC: SAGE Publications Ltd.

• Saldaña, J. (2016) The Coding Manual for Qualitative Researchers. 3rd ed. London, Thousand Oaks, New Delhi, Singapore: SAGE Publications, Inc.

An optional assessment consisting of open-ended questions will be available at the end of the module. The assessment is not compulsory and only for those students whose department or faculty requires a grade. Students should get in touch with their department or faculty and let the lecturer know as soon as possible if an assessment is needed.

Click the "Booking" button panel on the left-hand sidebar (on a phone, this will be via a link called Booking/Availability near the top of the page).

Moodle is the 'Virtual Learning Environment' (VLE) that the SSRMP uses to deliver online courses.

SSRMP lecturers use Moodle to make teaching resources available before, during, and/or after classes, and to make announcements and answer questions.

For this reason, it is vital that all SSRMP students enrol onto and explore their course Moodle pages once booking their SSRMP modules via the UTBS, and that they do so before their module begins. Moodle pages for modules should go live around a week before the module commences, but some may be made visible to students, earlier.

For more information, and links to specific Moodle module pages, please visit our website