Overview

This unit provides a practical introduction to a broad range of qualitative research techniques. Based on the debates surrounding the various paradigms in qualitative research, the issues and implications of different qualitative research approaches will be addressed. Practical experience of gathering and analysing data for various approaches will be offered. On completion of the unit, students will have been introduced to how to assess different qualitative research approaches for suitability in answering a research question and the implementation of related qualitative methods.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
29-July-2024
27-October-2024
Last self-enrolment date
11-August-2024
Census date
31-August-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
13-September-2024
Results released date
03-December-2024
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-March-2025
01-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
16-March-2025
Census date
31-March-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
24-April-2025
Results released date
08-July-2025
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Critically evaluate the implications of qualitative paradigms and approaches for research in business
  • Apply coherent and advanced knowledge of the theoretical arguments that link a particular paradigm with a specific qualitative approach
  • Apply knowledge of research design and principles to develop a research problem that would be best addressed through qualitative approaches
  • Apply qualitative research fundamentals to the analysis, design and collection of qualitative data using different qualitative methods
  • Analyse qualitative data in order to present an argument based on the synthesis of literature and data analysis using qualitative methods

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Class		2.00 12 weeks 24
Online
Lecture		1.00 12 weeks 12
Unspecified Activities
Various		9.50 12 weeks 114
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Assignment 1Individual 20 - 40% 1,2,3,4 
Assignment 2Individual 60 - 80% 1,2,3,4,5 

Content

  • History and development of qualitative methods
  • Outlining a qualitative research project
  • Overview of the interview: face to face, groups and focused
  • Situating Qualitative Research and Developing a Research Problem
  • Ethical conduct
  • Observation and fieldwork
  • Artefacts: visual sources
  • Assessing qualitative research
  • Writing analysis
  • Analysis and qualitative software

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.