Qualitative Research Methods (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Content scheduling

ONLINE course - depending on own choice: in English or in Finnish

Pre-task will be sent and the learning platform will be opened one week before the first online meeting that will take place 3.2.2025 at 18.00-19.30 - in English

Implementation of different methods in collecting reliable material for the research assignment: for example interviews, surveys, observing
Planning and conducting analysis of qualitative material so that the report reliably responds to the research problem.
Qualitative material processing as transcription, coding, content analysis and service design research traditions and principles

Objective

After completing the course, the students can
•Collect, with different methods, text materials with which the research assignment can be resolved reliably
•Plan and conduct an analysis of qualitative materials as well as report the research carried out so that the report reliably responds to the research problem

Content

•Methods for obtaining qualitative research material
• Qualitative material processing with help of coding, content analysis and service design research traditions and principles
•Reporting of qualitative research

Materials

Eriksson, P. & Kovalainen, A. 2008.Qualitative Methods in Business Research. London: SAGE Publications Ltd.
Klenke, K., Martin, S. and Wallace, J.R. 2016. Qualitative Research in the Study of Leadership: Second Edition. Bingley: Emerald.
Auerbach, C. & Silverstein, L.B. 2003. Qualitative Data : An Introduction to Coding and Analysis. New York: New York Univesity Press. ProQuest Ebook Central.
Dey, I. 2005. Qualitative Data Analysis: a user-friendly guide for social scientists.
London: Taylor & Francis.

Stickdorn, M., Hormess, M.E. & Lawrence, A. 2018. This Is Service Design Doing: Applying Service Design Thinking in the Real World. USA: O’Reilly Media.
Stickdorn, M., Schneider, J. 2011. This is Service Design Thinking. John Wiley & Sons.
Polaine, A., Løvlie, L. & Reason, B. 2013. Service design: from insight to implementation. Brooklyn, NY: Rosenfeld Media.

http://servicedesigntoolkit.org/

Teaching methods

Online studying and meetings
Individual and team work

International connections

Teacher evaluating
Self and peer assessment

Student workload

Getting to know different research and analysis methods and testing them in practice - exercises
1. Service Design assignment: Tools and methods used in Service Design, getting to know them and testing in practice
2. Content analysis assignment: Getting to know different methods, for example coding, and testing them in practice
3. 2 x peer-assessments
4. Self assessment
Schedule:
2.2.25 DL Pre-assignment
3.2.25 Start and presentation of the SD assignment: 18.00-19.30:
10.2.25 Intervention of the chosen methods: 17.30-18.30
23.2.25 DL Service design assignment
2.3.25 DL Opposing reports
3.3.25 Presentations of the SD assignment and content analysis explanation: 18.00-19.30
17.3.25 Intervention of the chosen methods: 17.30-18.30:
30.3.25 DL Content analysis
6.4.25 DL Peer-assessment content analysis
7.4.25 Presentations of the content analysis assignment and oral feedback: 18.00-19.30
13.4.25 DL Self-assessment

Qualifications

The course Research and Development Methods is recommended before the course Qualitative Research Methods.

Further information

For Master's Degree students
Prerequisites: Research Methods or similar course before or at the same time with this course

Number of students:
1. Turku University of Applied Sciences: 20 Master's Degree students
2. Other Universities of Applied Sciences: 10 Master's Degree students
3. Open University: 5 Master's Degree students
Totally 35 students