Innovative Qualitative Methodologies

This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences.

This course will introduce two interactive methods that enable a deeper understanding of the views of research participants.

• Part 1 (lectures 1 and 2) Q method: The aim of this course is to provide students with the sufficient knowledge and resources to implement a Q method study independently. Q method is a structured and systematic methodology to research subjectivity, understood as how people think and communicate their points of view about a subject. The method is useful for a broad range of research questions that require an understanding of the different perspectives about a topic in order to aid decision-making and management.

• Part 2 (lectures 3 and 4) action research and researching in partnership with participants: Action research involves researching upon one’s own professional practice whilst researching with participants can take place outside one’s own professional context but involves sharing the processes of analysis and writing with participants. These sessions may be particularly useful for those who are aiming to use academic skills in a workplace context in the future. However, they can also other forms of research design.

• Mphil and PhD students from participating departments taking the Social Science Research Methods Course as part of their research degree

Number of sessions: 4

• Session 1: Q method: Introduction and research design
• Session 2: Q method: Analysis and interpretation
• Session 3: Action research
• Session 4: Researching with participtants

Presentations, demonstrations and practicals

For Part 1:

• McKeown & Thomas (2013) Q methodology (Quantitative Applications in the Social Sciences series, Vol. 66). London: Sage.
• Watts & Stenner (2012) Doing Q Methodological Research: Theory, Method and Interpretation. London: Sage.

For Part 2:

• McNiff, J and Whitehead, J. (2001) Action research principles and practice, London, RoutledgeFalmer (part 1 p.13 – 69)
• Dabaieh, M. (2013) Participatory action research as a tool in solving desert vernacular architecture problems in the western Desert of Egypt. Action Research, Sage Journals 11, (3) 279-298

• To gain maximum benefits from the course it is important that students do not see this course in isolation from the other MPhil courses or research training they are taking.
• Responsibility lies with each student to consider the potential for their own research using methods common in fields of the social sciences that may seem remote. Ideally this task will be facilitated by integration of the SSRMC with discipline-specific courses in their departments and through reading and discussion.

Four sessions of two hours each.

Once a week for four weeks.