PHD645 Qualitative methodology (Spring 2024)

Introduction

This course aims to provide students with knowledge about the range of ontological andepistemological foundations underpinning qualitative research in sport studies. Students will begiven the opportunity to develop their understanding of, and articulate in student-centred workinggroups and a self-selected written assignment, the tenets upon which their own research project isfounded in relation to a range of issues: project design, the choice of appropriate methodologicaltools, analysis of data, judgement criteria/ validity, reflexivity and representing qualitative researchfindings. The course is relevant for students at all stages of their PhD project.

Learning outcomes

On completing the course students will be able to

 

• understand the range of ontological and epistemological foundations for qualitative research in sport

• know how different paradigmatic foundations for qualitative inquiry influence the entire research process from project design (including the development of research questions) to the representation of findings

• know how different paradigmatic assumptions affect how methods (e.g. interview) are conceptualised, utilised in data generation, analysed and represented in research findings

• know criteria for judging the quality of qualitative research

• know ethical reflexivity in qualitative inquiry

• identify and critically analyse the strengths and weaknesses of a range of ontological approaches to qualitative inquiry

• present orally and write about their own research in ways that reflect a chosen paradigmatic foundation

• make judgement calls about good qualitative research

• participate in national/international fora and discuss qualitative research findings

• identify new relevant research questions and design robust qualitative research projects

Learning methods and activities

The course is an intensive course that runs over 4 days (24 hours comprising seminars/lectures, student discussions). Students will be expected to contribute to the seminar and play an active role in the sessions (present aspects of their research project; reflect upon their own research project as well as fellow students; discuss assigned literature).

In addition, students are expected to pursue 126 hours of self-study.

Work requirements

There are two pre-course assignments:

 

• Students are expected to have read assigned texts prior to the course. On the basis of their understanding of these texts, they should prepare a 3-5 minutes presentation in which they present an issue they wish to debate and discuss further within the group.

• Students must submit a short description (1 page of A4) about their existing PhD project a week prior to the commencement of the course. This ought to include: research questions; proposed project design; subject discipline(s); paradigmatic foundations; an indication of the stage reached in the research process; a list of literature that has methodologically informed the project (max 10 texts). (Please note, however, that there will be understandably variations in the degree to which you can position your project).

Assessment/exam

Students are expected to write a paper of 2000 words excluding references of their choice on an aspect of the course. The title of the paper must be approved by the lecturers within a given deadline. The paper will be graded: pass/fail.

 

Graded pass/fail.

Core literature

As we are in a transition phase between two systems, we refer to the Study Handbook 2023-2024 for literature for courses in the 2023-2024 academic year: https://www.nih.no/studier/program-og-emneplan-arkiv/2023-2024/