The Process of Research: Qualitative Methods, Data Analysis and Academic Writing
The skills required to outline a convincing research design are some of the most crucial parts of the research that you will conduct. This is since research design forms the frame on which different other skills are assembled and connected to one another. This course is oriented towards helping you design, conduct and write up your research with a specific focus on the master thesis. In class we will discuss different approaches to research as well as problems, experiences and challenges which tend to surface during the research process. The aim is to equip you with methods, skills and tools that will help you make informed decisions during your own research and help you analyse and write academic texts. The course attempts to situate theory and methods across a wide variety of empirical settings from both the Global North and South and across contexts with examples from both rural development and environmental communication. The focus of this course is on qualitative research skills although we will discuss other approaches as well. We look forward to interesting discussions in class that will enable you to conduct and present your research in the best possible way.
Information from the course leader
Hi!
We look forward to seeing you later this autumn in the qualitative methods course LU0091. We are trying to figure out the new system of uploading literature lists to Ladok instead of Slunik, but meanwhile we post the mandatory literature here in case you want to prepare. In particular we will work closely witt the two books by Creswell& Creswell and by Robson (see full references in the list below)
Klara, Linus and Alejandra
Mandatory readings:
Creswell, John W., and J. David Creswell (2018). 5th edition. Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage publications. The following chapters are mandatory: 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9. The rest of the book is optional. Other editions are also fine, but please note that chapter numbers refer to the fifth edition.
Bowen, Glenn A. (2006). Grounded theory and sensitizing concepts. International journal of qualitative methods 5(3), 12-23.
Jacobson, K. (2013). From Betterment to Bt maize: Agricultural Development and the Introduction of Genetically Modified Maize to South African Smallholders (PhD Doctoral thesis). Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala. Found here: https://pub.epsilon.slu.se/10406/1/Jacobson_k_130507.pdf (Section 2.2 as an example of a short literature review that points out a research gap)
Fischer, K et al. (2015). Social Impacts of GM Crops in Agriculture: A Systematic Literature Review. Sustainability, vol. 7, no. 7, s. 8598-8620, 2015.
Robson, Colin. (2002). Real world research: A resource for social scientists and practitioner-researchers. Wiley-Blackwell. The following chapters are mandatory: Chapter 2 on Approaches to social research, Chapter 3 on Developing your ideas, Chapter 4 on General design issues, and Chapter 10 on Ethical and political considerations, Chapter 18 on The Analysis and Interpretation of Qualitative data. The rest of the book is optional. Other editions are fine, but please note that chapter numbers refer to the fourth edition.
Long, J. W., Ballard, H. L., Fisher, L. A., & Belsky, J. M. (2016). Questions that won't go away in participatory research. Society & Natural Resources, 29(2), 250-263.
Moon, Katie, and Deborah Blackman. (2014). A guide to understanding social science research for natural scientists. Conservation Biology 28(5), 1167-1177.
Prowse, M. (2010). Integrating reflexivity into livelihoods research. Progress in Development Studies, 10(3), 211-231.
Swedberg, Richard. (2014). The Art of Social Theory. Princeton; Oxford: Princeton University Press. (pages 1 to 97 are mandatory, the rest of the book is optional).
Course evaluation
The course evaluation is now closed
LU0091-20214 - Course evaluation report
Once the evaluation is closed, the course coordinator and student representative have 1 month to draft their comments. The comments will be published in the evaluation report.
Additional course evaluations for LU0091
Academic year 2024/2025
The Process of Research: Qualitative Methods, Data Analysis and Academic Writing (LU0091-20110)
2024-11-01 - 2025-01-19
Academic year 2022/2023
The Process of Research: Qualitative Methods, Data Analysis and Academic Writing (LU0091-20064)
2022-11-01 - 2023-01-15
Academic year 2021/2022
The Process of Research: Qualitative Methods, Data Analysis and Academic Writing (LU0091-20131)
2021-11-02 - 2022-01-16
Academic year 2020/2021
The Process of Research: Qualitative Methods, Data Analysis and Academic Writing (LU0091-20131)
2020-11-02 - 2021-01-17
Academic year 2019/2020
The Process of Research: Qualitative Methods, Data Analysis and Academic Writing (LU0091-20040)
2019-11-01 - 2020-01-19
Academic year 2018/2019
The Process of Research: Qualitative Methods, Data Analysis and Academic Writing (LU0091-20106)
2018-11-05 - 2019-01-20
Academic year 2017/2018
The Process of Research: Qualitative Methods, Data Analysis and Academic Writing (LU0091-20029)
2017-10-30 - 2018-01-14
Syllabus and other information
Syllabus
LU0091 The Process of Research: Qualitative Methods, Data Analysis and Academic Writing, 15.0 Credits
Forskningsprocessen: kvalitativa metoder, dataanalys och akademiskt skrivandeSubjects
Environmental Science Rural DevelopmentEducation cycle
Master’s levelModules
| Title | Credits | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Research design and process | 5.0 | 0302 |
| Methods for data collection | 5.0 | 0303 |
| Methods for analysis | 5.0 | 0304 |
Advanced study in the main field
Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirementsMaster’s level (A1N)
Grading scale
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.
Language
EnglishPrior knowledge
Equivalent to 120 credits within social, natural sciences or the humanities, of which 90 credits within a particular major. Knowledge equivalent to English B (Swedish educational system), English 550 or higher TOEFL or English 5,5 or higher IELTS.Objectives
The aim of this course is to provide students with the knowledge and skills required to use relevant research methods and approaches to data analysis, so as to produce clearly structured academic research texts.
Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:
select relevant research methods in relation to a given research problem
maintain a reflexive position in relation to the selected research methods and be able to apply these in specific contexts, taking important ethical aspects into consideration
structure and write an academic research text
present a research proposal for a research project on rural and/or environmental aspects, such as rural livelihoods, natural resources management or environmental issues, including a thematic and theoretical background
present an analysis of published research texts, concerning rural and/or environmental aspects, such as rural livelihoods, natural resources management or environmental problems
Content
The course consists of lectures and individual and group seminar assignments.
The course prepares students with the skills for identifying and selecting methods in the planning execution of their master thesis. The research methods that the student may select cover qualitative research methods with a focus on primary data collection via for example ethnographic methods. Quantitative methods such as surveys will also be briefly covered. Emphasis is placed on training students to write analytically and academically.
Grading form
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.Formats and requirements for examination
For successful completion of the course the student must participate in compulsory sessions and give in a portfolio that comprise approved exams and assignments.
If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Other information
The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.
If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Responsible department
Department of Urban and Rural Development
Further information
Litterature list
Mandatory readings:
Below you will find the mandatory readings for the course. Please review **the assignments list document **for further reading instructions. The most important reading is found in the two course books (Creswell and Creswell; and Robson).
Creswell, John W., and J. David Creswell (2018). 5th edition. Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage publications. **The following chapters are mandatory: 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9. **The rest of the book is optional. Other editions are also fine, but please note that chapter numbers refer to the fifth edition.
Bowen, Glenn A. (2006). Grounded theory and sensitizing concepts. International journal of qualitative methods 5(3), 12-23.
Jacobson, K. (2013). *From Betterment to Bt maize: Agricultural Development and the Introduction of Genetically Modified Maize to South African Smallholders *(PhD Doctoral thesis). Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala. Found here: https://pub.epsilon.slu.se/10406/1/Jacobson_k_130507.pdf (Section 2.2 as an example of a short literature review that points out a research gap)
Fischer, K et al. (2015). Social Impacts of GM Crops in Agriculture: A Systematic Literature Review. Sustainability, vol. 7, no. 7, s. 8598-8620, 2015.
Robson, Colin. (2002). Real world research: A resource for social scientists and practitioner-researchers. Wiley-Blackwell. The following chapters are mandatory: Chapter 2 on Approaches to social research, Chapter 3 on Developing your ideas, Chapter 4 on General design issues, and Chapter 10 on Ethical and political considerations, Chapter 18 on The Analysis and Interpretation of Qualitative data. The rest of the book is optional. Other editions are fine, but please note that chapter numbers refer to the fourth edition.
Long, J. W., Ballard, H. L., Fisher, L. A., & Belsky, J. M. (2016). Questions that won't go away in participatory research. Society & Natural Resources, 29(2), 250-263.
Moon, Katie, and Deborah Blackman. (2014). A guide to understanding social science research for natural scientists. Conservation Biology 28(5), 1167-1177.
Prowse, M. (2010). Integrating reflexivity into livelihoods research. Progress in Development Studies, 10(3), 211-231.
Swedberg, Richard. (2014). The Art of Social Theory. Princeton; Oxford: Princeton University Press. (pages 1 to 97 are mandatory, the rest of the book is optional).
Suggested readings
Most important are the readings for each of the mandatory assignments, see the assignments list document.
Below you will find the suggested literature in relation to some of the lectures. In addition to what is suggested, it is always relevant to read what the two main course books have to say on each lecture topic.
Week 1
Nov 1: Course Introduction
All readings for Assignment 1 are relevant here.
Nov 3: Why do we need theory and how is it connected to methods? ÖB
Suggested readings
Alvesson, M. and Sköldberg, K. (2017). 3rd edition. Reflexive Methodology: New Vistas for Qualitative Research. SAGE Publications. Chapters 1 and 2, p. 1-51.
Swedberg, Richard. (2014). The Art of Social Theory. Princeton; Oxford: Princeton University Press. Chapter 1
Week 2
Nov 7: Methods for data collection an: overview, KF
Suggested readings
All readings for Assignment 3 are relevant here.
Nov 10: Power and participation, KF
Suggested readings
Long, J. W., Ballard, H. L., Fisher, L. A., & Belsky, J. M. (2016). Questions that won't go away in participatory research. Society & Natural Resources, 29(2), 250-263.
Fischer, K., Schulz, K., & Chenais, E. (2020). Can we agree on that? Plurality, power and language in participatory research. *Preventive veterinary medicine, 180 *(July 2020), 104991.
Chambers, R. (1994). The Origins and Practice of Participatory Rural Appraisal. World Development, 22(7), 953-969. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/0305-750X(94)90141-4
Week 3
Nov 14: Interviewing, LR
Suggested readings
Robson, Colin. (2002). Real world research: A resource for social scientists and practitioner-researchers. Wiley-Blackwell. Read the section on Interviews and focus groups (in the fourth edition this is Chapter 12)
Nov 14: Observational methods and taking field notes Part 1, LR
Suggested readings
Madden, Raymond (2017). Being ethnographic: a guide to the theory and practice of ethnography. Los Angeles: SAGE (Read chapter 1 & 2)
Swedberg, Richard. (2014). The Art of Social Theory. Princeton; Oxford: Princeton University Press. Chapter 2.
Robson, Colin. (2002). Real world research: A resource for social scientists and practitioner-researchers. Wiley-Blackwell. Read the section on Observational methods (in the fourth edition this is Chapter 14)
Dec 14: How to write, AG
Suggested readings
Creswell, John W., and J. David Creswell. (2018). 5th edition. Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage publications. Pages 80-88 on writing ideas
Week 4
Nov 20: Understanding others: crossing interpersonal, cultural and language and barriers in research, FH
Suggested readings
Flora Hajdu, David Neves and Stefan Granlund (2020). Changing Livelihoods in Rural Eastern Cape, South Africa (2002–2016): Diminishing Employment and Expanding Social Protection. Journal of Southern African Studies. 46 (4).
Nov 21: How can we understand smallholder landscapes better? Working with contrasts-, patches- and life trajectories approaches, KM
Suggested readings
Kristina Marquardt, Adam Pain, and Dil Bahadur Khatri (2020). "Re-reading Nepalese landscapes: labour, water, farming patches and trees." Forests, Trees and Livelihoods 29(4): 238-259
Nov 21: Ethics and reflexivity, KF
Suggested readings
All readings for Assignment 4 are relevant here
Nov 22: Interviewing and Observational methods Part 2, LR
Refer to suggested readings for the lectures on Interviewing and Observational methods Part 1.
Nov 23: Researching in the cyberspace: social media, search engines, blogs, and websites as research environment and/or data, MR
Suggested readings
Mayr, P., & Weller, K. (2017). Think before you collect: Setting up a data collection approach for social media studies. The SAGE handbook of social media research methods, 108-124. https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781473983847.n8
Venturini, T., Bounegru, L., Gray, J., & Rogers, R. (2018). A reality check(list) for digital methods. New Media & Society, 20(11), 4195–4217. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444818769236
Nov 24: Online data collection, MR
Suggested readings
Mayr, P., & Weller, K. (2017). Think before you collect: Setting up a data collection approach for social media studies. The SAGE handbook of social media research methods, 108-124. https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781473983847.n8
Venturini, T., Bounegru, L., Gray, J., & Rogers, R. (2018). A reality check(list) for digital methods. _New Media & Society_, 20(11), 4195–4217. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444818769236
Week 5
Nov 27: Using empirical data to theorise (or from theory to data and back again), PC
Suggested readings
Alvesson, Mats, and Dan Kärreman. (2007). Constructing mystery: Empirical matters in theory development." Academy of management review 32(4), 1265-1281.
Swedberg, Richard. (2014). The Art of Social Theory. Princeton; Oxford: Princeton University Press. Chapter 4 and 5
Nov 27: Analyzing data – an introduction, KF
Suggested readings
All readings for Assignment 5 are relevant here.
Nov 28: Discourse analysis, KF
Suggested readings
Jørgensen, Marianne W., and Louise J. Phillips. (2002). Discourse analysis as theory and method. Sage, chapter 1 introduction
Suggested films
Aberystwyth University (2016). Discourse Analysis Video Tutorial. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYKuTHdFMPw.
Weaver-Hightower, Marcus (2015).* What is Discourse Analysis?* Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUeA0PEF_g4
Dec 1: Text documents, spreadsheets, QDA software: what to do with data? MR
Suggested readings
Jacobs, T., & Tschötschel, R. (2019). Topic models meet discourse analysis: a quantitative tool for a qualitative approach. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 22(5), 469-485. https://doi.org/10.1080/13645579.2019.1576317
Hagman, J. (2021) Free Tools for Qualitative Data Analysis. ANSS Currents, 36(2), 10-23. Available on: https://acrl.ala.org/anss/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2021-fall-anss-currents.pdf
Week 6
Dec 5:** **Representing dissenting views, KL
Suggested readings
Bourdieu, P. et al. (1999). "The Weight of the World: Social Suffering in Contemporary Society." Stanford, CA. Stanford University Press, pp. 1-13.
Landström, K. (2023). The Specter of Community: An Ethnographic Exploration of the Local Support for the Kaunisvaara Mine. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Chapter 11 on Ambiguity. https://doi.org/10.54612/a.3v36h1t9rk
Week 7
Dec 11: How to design a literature review, KF
Suggested readings
Creswell, John W., and J. David Creswell. (2018). 5th edition. Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage publications. Chapter 2 on review of literature.
Jacobson, K. (2013). From Betterment to Bt maize: Agricultural Development and the Introduction of Genetically Modified Maize to South African Smallholders Department of Urban and Rural Development. Uppsala, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Read section 2.2, pages 28-32, found online here: https://pub.epsilon.slu.se/10406/1/Jacobson_k_130507.pdf
Fischer, K., et al. (2015). "Social Impacts of GM Crops in Agriculture: A Systematic Literature Review." Sustainability 7(7): 8598-8620.
Dec 13: Interpretive failures and empirical mysteries – to write about qualitative data, LH
Suggested readings
Creswell, John W., and J. David Creswell. (2018). 5th edition. Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage publications chapter 9, specifically parts on reflexivity and interpretation
Alvesson, M. (1999). Beyond Neo-Positivists, Romantics and Localists- A reflexive Approach to Interviews in Organisation Research. Institute of Economic Research Working Paper Series.