Course content

The course provides an introduction to relevant research methods for examining various social and cultural phenomenon and processes. Various techniques for collecting data will be presented. A selection of basic methodological problems of particular importance to modern societal and cultural studies will be dealt with. The practical aim of the course is to enable students to complete the methodological part of a research project, from designing a research project, creating a research question, collecting data and preparing for analysis. Other topics that will be included in the classes are source critisism, research ethics, and the researcher's positionality.

Learning outcome

The objective of the course is to provide students with an introduction to relevant research methods for examining socio-cultural relations and processes of change.

Students have knowledge of:

• qualitative research methods including key methodological foundation problems
• implementation of a qualitative research process with emphasis on different techniques of data collection and analysis of research questions
• selection of data / source types to analyse various issues
• research ethics

Students have skills in:

• developing a research question
• finding, collecting and evaluating data / sources that illuminate the problem
• analysing different data types /sources
• designing a project description

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, individual exercises and group work. Assessment form is home exam and letter grades. To take the exam, the student must have participated in practical, written exercises that go through the entire course. 100% of the exercises must be completed. As a supplement to the compulsory assignments, the students are offered supervision. This offer is due to restricted capacity, limited to students whose assignments have not yet been approved. Further information about the scope and requirements for exercises is given in Blackboard at the beginning of the semester. Attendance at lectures is compulsory (75% attendance requirement). Students who do not fill the attendance requirement, have to make an arrangement with the department to do a compensatory written assignment.

Compulsory assignments

• 75% mandatory presence and all exercises

Specific conditions

Required previous knowledge

Requires admission to the Master's Programme in Equality and Diversity. Must have completed at least one of KULT3308 or KULT3305 before exam in KULT3302.

Credit reductions