Qualitative research methods

Students will be introduced to the strengths and limitations of a range of qualitative research methods. At the end of the course, students will have gained the following skills: an appreciation of the strengths and weaknesses of qualitative approaches; an understanding of the theoretical and epistemological underpinnings of qualitative research; a general knowledge of a variety of qualitative methodologies and an understanding of their relationship to particular types of research design, with a particular reference to cross-country methods; an in-depth understanding of two particular qualitative approaches, namely interviewing and process tracing.