Explore UCD

UCD Home >

SOC40330

Academic Year 2026/2027

Workshop in Qualitative Research (SOC40330)

Subject:
Sociology
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Sociology
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor Sara O'Sullivan
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This introductory module aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to carry out a qualitative research project. An understanding of qualitative research as a systematic and rigorous form of inquiry underpins the course. Topics covered will include the main characteristics of qualitative research, qualitative research design, ethics; interviewing, observation, working with documents and media texts, analysing qualitative data and writing up qualitative findings. Over the semester students will carry out a research exercises and will have opportunities for hands-on experience.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Show an understanding of the principles that underpin qualitative research and the main methods used to generate qualitative data;
2. Develop clear and answerable research questions;
3. Understand the principles of qualitative research design;
4. Demonstrate a capacity to identify appropriate methodologies and analytic approaches for different research contexts/ questions;
5. Develop a research proposal;
6. Use the relevant methodological literature;
7. Critically appraise research instruments and fieldwork plans.

Indicative Module Content:

Introduction to qualitative research; literature/ theory in qualitative research; research design; ethics; interviewing; observation; working with documents and media texts; analyzing qualitative data; writing up qualitative findings

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

88
Autonomous Student Learning

140
Lectures

22
Total

250

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures
Participatory workshops;
In class research exercises;
Active discussion of course readings;
Reflection on workshop exercises.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Participation in Learning Activities: contributions to in class discussion of readings and workshop activities Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No
15
 No
Quizzes/Short Exercises: Each week students submit 2 questions or discussion topics on each of the required readings. These questions are to elicit discussion in the class. students can miss 3. of these without any penalty Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 11, Week 12 Pass/Fail Grade Scale No
15
 No
Individual Project: Qualitative research proposal Week 14 Graded No
70
 Yes

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback on research exercises will usually be given in class . Feedback on other continuous assessment work will be individual via Brightspace.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 33 Wed 11:00 - 12:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 32 Wed 11:00 - 12:50
Print this page
Fill in the following details:
Enter the body of your query here.

From time to time UCD would like to send you further information that we feel, based on your enquiry, would be of interest to you.