Qualitative Social Research
PostgraduateGRF-CCJ7372025
Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
Hone your practical skills in collecting, analysing and presenting qualitative data. Understand the issues of research design, ethics and politics, and identify criteria to evaluate research in a critical review of published work.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 23 Feb 2025
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Price from
- $3,438
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Qualitative Social Research
About this subject
After successfully completing this subject you should be able to:
- Explain the philosophical and theoretical underpinnings of qualitative research.
- Describe key criteria of appraising qualitative research.
- Appraise the research design, rigour and ethics in critical review of published qualitative research.
- Compare different techniques for qualitative data collection and the practical and ethical issues involved.
- Develop and practise a method for qualitative data collection.
- Employ thematic analysis using NVivo to manage and analyse qualitative data.
- Interpret and present qualitative data findings.
- Introduction: What is Qualitative Research?
- Study Design, Rigour and Ethics
- Theory-Driven vs Grounded Approaches
- Interviews
- Focus Groups
- Ethnographic Fieldwork and Observations
- Document and Archival Research
- Internet and Digital Research
- Data Analysis Techniques and Introduction to NVivo
- Qualitative Data Analysis with NVivo
- Developing and Presenting Patterns and Themes
- Writing and Communicating Qualitative Research
This subject was previously known as Qualitative Skills for Criminologists.
This course provides students with the opportunity to develop practical skills in collecting, analysing, and presenting qualitative data. It begins with an overview of the philosophical, practical, and ethical issues involved in conducting qualitative research. Students will be introduced to a wide range of qualitative data collection and analysis methods. They will learn how to organise, analyse, and write up qualitative research data. Throughout the course, we will take a hands-on approach to developing research skills and a critical evaluative perspective on the research process.
- Inductive Thematic Analysis (40%)
- Paper critique and presentation (20%)
- Qualitative interview (40%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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- 18
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 20
Entry requirements
Part of a degree
To enrol in this subject you must be accepted into one of the following degrees:
Elective
- GRF-MCJ-MAS-2025 - Master of Criminology and Criminal Justice
- GRF-MCJ-GCE-2025 - Graduate Certificate in Criminology and Criminal Justice
- GRF-FMH-MAS-2025 - Master of Forensic Mental Health
Equivalent subjects
You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:
GRF-MCCJ7037 (Not currently available)
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Related degrees
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Master of Criminology and Criminal Justice
PostgraduateGRF-MCJ-MAS
Graduate Certificate in Criminology and Criminal Justice
PostgraduateGRF-MCJ-GCE
Master of Forensic Mental Health
PostgraduateGRF-FMH-MAS