Qualitative Research in Social Organization

The module provides students with the theoretical and methodological competencies necessary to analyse social organisations with the main qualitative research methods.
One of the main objectives of the module is to understand the challenges and complexities associated with qualitative research, and to offer students the opportunity to learn an appropriate use of qualitative research methods in order to analyse, with a cultural approach, both organisations and social phenomena. In particular, through the construction in the classroom of an interview guide, and the discussion about a qualitative research design, the module aims to train students to conduct a face-to-face interview with a professional in the world of communication, and to be able to present in the classroom the collected empirical material.
More generally, the module aims to develop the skills that allow students to define research objectives, to autonomously identify research questions, and to choose consistent methodological approaches and techniques for the analysis of specific organisational and social processes. For this purpose, the main methods of data collection - interviews, participant observation, focus groups - and the main ethical issues in carrying out qualitative research will be illustrated. These are further developed through lectures supported by slides, team work and the projection of audiovisual materials to be discussed in the classroom.
Consistently with the general objectives of the Degree in which it is included, the course of Qualitative research in social organisations aims to provide students with theoretical and methodological competences for analysing organisational and social contexts in contemporary society.

At the end of the module Qualitative research in social organisations, students are expected to have acquired competences and skills related to: (i) the main theoretical perspectives underlying qualitative research; (ii) the main phases of an empirical research in social organisations; (iii) the choice and use of a methodological approach and of research techniques to study organisational and social contexts. The expected learning outcomes also include the acquisition of adequate communication skills, particularly regarding the use of the specific language relating to the theoretical and methodological aspects of a cultural approach to the study of organisations. These skills will also be developed through the independent work of students and the moments of collective discussion in the classroom, where students' argumentative skills will be tested, both with respect to the interpretation of the organisational and social phenomena discussed during the lectures, and regarding the construction of research tools. The final assessment aims to verify the expected learning outcomes in relation to the process of knowledge transfer and the ability to critically discuss concepts, theoretical and methodological perspectives regarding the topic of qualitative research in social organisations as illustrated during the module.