HR9800 - Qualitative Research Project

A research rich learning approach alongside awareness and understanding of issues, investigations, and applications of qualitative research approaches in the field/discipline. In-class tutoring and experiential learning underpins the learning and teaching philosophy of the workshop along with the explicit development of competence. This is key to your learning on the module. To put this in place, the module will be taught by lectures and seminars covering philosophies of knowledge and common qualitative methodologies for organizational research and is combined with independent and group activities oriented towards practicing methods associated with qualitative inquiry and deepening your critical awareness of individual researcher positionalities.

The module is supported by a teaching and learning plan, which outlines the formal sessions, together with the tutor-directed study and independent reading. An interactive approach to lecture sessions will draw upon the directed learning undertaken and your own experiences. Throughout, the emphasis will be on high levels of your participation, both individually and within small groups or teams. You can therefore expect the reflective-practitioner approach to learning to be embedded in all workshop sessions through activities which consider the different methodologies, methods, and forms of analysis that inform appropriate and credible qualitative research with organizations/individuals.

Directed learning will centre upon a range of activities including preparation for interactive activities and discussions. Independent learning will centre upon you identifying and investigating an area of interest in relation to the subject and providing deeper/broader knowledge and understanding of qualitative inquiry through learning activities like reflection and research.

Support will be provided to you by a members of academic staff leading the workshop and providing the lecture input. Other members of staff will contribute to the teaching of the workshop based on their subject expertise. Individual and group work will be supported by individual members of academic staff to provide closer, more focused and personal academic support. The activities of the teacher and the learner will be aligned towards the co-creation of knowledge. You will take responsibility for your own learning through active and self-directed learning activities that are supported by academic staff

The eLP will serve as a learning tool to house lecture and seminar materials relating to the workshop supported, where appropriate, various online resources to support you in your independent study. module uses software which is fully supported by a comprehensive range of materials which are housed on the eLP for your reference. You will be provided with a specialist electronic reading list that comprises of various resources on aspects of qualitative inquiry from textbooks, to articles, and specially developed workshop materials.

The module assessment consists of two parts. Both assignments are individually based on a putting together a qualitative study for a contemporary issue. Part A: Around the mid-point you will determine a contemporary issue that you would like to explore. You will need to provide context around the issue and determine an appropriate philosophical and methodological approach for inquiry on that topic (20%). Part B: The main summative assessment will take the form of an assignment that requires you to examine contemporary issues with reference to how you would develop a qualitative inquiry into said issue, including philosophical and theoretical framing, methodology, methods, and analysis approaches, it is designed to permit you to demonstrate the extent to which you can achieve the learning outcomes for the module (80%). The role of the assessment is to ensure you bring together all the skills learnt on the module including applying qualitative approaches to developing knowledges and understandings within organizations which is valued for its distinctive merit, rigour, and possibilities, and which are also separate from and achieve different aims than, quantitative approaches.

Inter-related tasks which will be distributed to you throughout your teaching semester and formative feedback will be provided, particularly in relation to seminar tasks. This will encourage your active participation in the learning process. The eLearning portal will be used to permanently host these tasks after release to ensure that you can access the information required at all times. Your work on these tasks will be the pre-work for your assignment at the end of the module.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
MBA:
• [MLO 1] A critical awareness of current issues in business and management, informed by leading edge research and practice in the field as well as by a proactive and independent approach to learning. [PLO 1, 2,5, 6]
• [MLO 2] A conceptual understanding that will enable critical evaluation of current research and advanced scholarship in the field of business and management. [PLO 2, 3,4]

MPA:
• [MLO 1] A critical awareness of current issues in public administration, informed by leading edge research and practice in the field as well as by a proactive and independent approach to learning [PLO 1, 2, 5, 6].
• [MLO 2] A conceptual understanding that will enable critical evaluation of current research and advanced scholarship in the field of public administration. [PLO 2, 3, 4]

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• [MLO 3] Students will demonstrate creativity in the application of knowledge, and will demonstrate a practical understanding of the manner in which established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in business and management or in public administration. [PLO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
• [MLO 4] Students will demonstrate the skills necessary to formulate, deliver and to report the results of personal research [PLO 6].
• [MLO 5] Students will demonstrate an ability to evaluate and integrate theory and practice within and across a wide range of situations. [PLO 1, 2, 3]
• [MLO 6] Students will communicate an understanding of the manner in which the boundaries of knowledge and practice are advanced through research. [PLO 1, 2, 5, 6]

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• [MLO 7] Students will show a commitment to championing the values of global social responsibility, ethical values and behaving with integrity. [PLO1 ,6]

This module is assessed by means of a final, summative assessment. You will – with the help of your tutor and with the specialist guidance of a research supervisor – identify, design and deliver a qualitative research project that builds upon an issue within your own organization. The single assignment will address all MLOs and all of the PLOs as indicated.

Formative feedback will be offered throughout the block teaching sessions and in the virtual sessions convened to support your learning and development.

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This module offers critical insights into philosophical and methodological concepts, approaches, and ethics related qualitative inquiry for advancing public, private, and third-sector organizational knowledges and research. It offers students an opportunity to develop a detailed understanding of qualitative approaches to inquiry which are common to their field/discipline and to practice some of the more common methods in a facilitated session.

It is our belief that qualitative inquiry contributes to research excellence in very important ways. Qualitative inquiry can, and should, be used to contribute to knowledges and understandings within organizations which is valued for its distinctive merit, rigour, and possibilities, and which are also separate from and achieve different aims than quantitative approaches.

This workshop develops you qualitative research knowledge and skills through experiential activities, written contents, and discussion. Throughout the module, you will work both individually and in groups to practice your research skills.