HPTS4101 - Qualitative Research Method
Overview
This course introduces students to qualitative research methods in psychology and the social sciences. Qualitative research focuses on understanding human experiences, meanings, perspectives, and social phenomena within their natural contexts. Students will learn how qualitative researchers collect and interpret non-numerical data through methods such as interviews, in-depth interviews, observations, field notes, documents, photographs, visual materials, and other relevant forms of textual or narrative data.
The course covers the philosophical foundations, assumptions, and paradigms of qualitative research, as well as the key differences between qualitative and quantitative approaches. Students will also be introduced to major qualitative research designs, including narrative inquiry, phenomenology, grounded theory, discourse analysis, case study, and ethnography. Each approach will be discussed in relation to its characteristics, research procedures, sampling strategies, data collection techniques, data analysis methods, interpretation, and reporting format.
Throughout the course, students will develop the ability to identify appropriate qualitative research problems, formulate research questions, design qualitative studies, prepare interview or observation guides, collect qualitative data, conduct basic coding and thematic analysis, and present findings in a structured academic report. By the end of the course, students are expected to understand both the conceptual and practical aspects of qualitative research and apply them to psychological or social phenomena.
Learning Hours Composition:
- 42 hours face-to-face, consisting of 14 hours sharpening and discussion of concepts that students studied from the online lectures, and 28 hours for tutorial or workshop.
- 42 hours of Structured Learning and Guided Discussions.
- 51 hours of Independent and Practice-Based Learning.
Managing Faculty:
Credit Point:
3 Credit(s)
Learning Hours:
45 hours x 3CPs = 135 hours
