BUU22593 Qualitative Research Methods

(5 ECTS)

Lecturer:

Dr Aisling Curley 

Email: aicurley@tcd.ie

Lectures: 9 - 11 AM Tuesdays, Semester 1

Office Hours: By Appointment  

Tutorials: TBD

Not available to exchange Students

Module Description:

This module is designed to provide an introduction to Qualitative Research. Students should develop an understanding of key features and considerations for Qualitative research design, along with an awareness of potential strengths and challenges of qualitative research. By the end of the module students should be capable of developing a basic but effective Research Proposal driven by a research question that is appropriate to address through qualitative research.

The module covers at a basic level: what research is, qualitative research design, what ‘literature’ is and its purpose in research, secondary and primary qualitative data gathering techniques, research ethics considerations, qualitative data analysis and the case study and action research method.

Learning and Teaching Approach

Having completed this module students should be able to:

1. Define research and differentiate between Qualitative and Quantitative research
2. Employ basic Secondary research (desk research)
3. Discuss at least one Primary research data collection technique
4. Explain at a basic level core ethical research principles
5. Develop a basic research proposal driven by a research question that is appropriate to address through qualitative research.

Relation to Degree

This module forms part of a suite of modules of Trinity Business School across the four years of our business-related degree programmes. Through the successful completion of this module students develop skills that contribute to the achievement of the Trinity Graduate Attributes: To think independently, communicate effectively, develop continuously and act responsibly.

This module enables students to begin building an understanding of and to develop skills in qualitative research. Effective qualitative research requires the application of critical thinking skills. These skills are useful in pursuing academic success and are valued by employees. The module contributes to preparing students for their Capstone in Senior Sophister including potentially informing their decision making regarding what capstone to pursue.  

Workload

This is a 5-credit module that requires 125 hours of study. These hours include reading of assigned materials, watching video material, attending and participating in lectures and tutorials, working on group and individual assignments.

RE-ASSESSMENT 

Re-assessment involves retaking a 100% exam.  

Note on assessment of students allowed to sit a supplemental exam 

Students who do not obtain an overall pass mark for this module (40%), will have the opportunity to be reassessed by a re-take exam (weighted at 100% ) 

This module introduces students to the area of qualitative research. As opposed to quantitative research, with a focus on numbers, with qualitative research the focus is on text, and geared towards understanding social and cultural phenomena. Instead of mathematical modelling and statistical analysis, qualitative research employs research methods such as action research, case study research, ethnography and grounded theory. The module will explore research design and selected research methods, underlying assumptions and ethical principles related to research as well as data collection and data analysis techniques.

The approach in this module is primarily face-to-face. It is expected that students should complete the relevant pre-reading and engage actively in class discussions and group activities. Group presentations will also take place at scheduled times.

Required core course textbook: 

Saunders, M., Lewis, P. & Thornhill, A. (2019). Research Methods for Business Students (8^th ed.) Harlow: Pearson. [Earlier editions are acceptable]

General Supplemental Readings: 

• Maxwell, Joseph A. 2009. "Designing a Qualitative Study." in The Sage Handbook of Applied Social Research Methods. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications, Inc.
• Bell, E., Harley, B. & Bryman, A. (2022). Business Research Methods (6th edn). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

• Silverman, D. (2017). Doing Qualitative Research (5th edition): Sage Publications.
• Yin, R. K. 2017. Case Study Research and Applications: Design and Methods (6th ed.). London: Sage.

Additional readings and sources will be added to Blackboard

Course Communication

Please note that all course related email communication must be sent from your official TCD email address. Emails sent from other addresses will not be attended to.

Assessment

Biographical Note

Aisling Curley holds a PhD in Strategic Management and a BSc (hons) in Business and Information Technology, both from Trinity College Dublin. Her research engages with the intersections between Strategic Management, Industry Evolution and Digital Technology. She has over 20 years’ experience in the investment management industry.