College of Management of Technology

Chair MIR – Management of Network Industries

Prof. Matthias Finger

PhD Course MT-M24 “Qualitative research methods”

Fall semester 2009

Qualitative Research Methods

PhD course

Abstract

This course aims at offering an introduction to qualitative research methods for engineers.

Participants will learn about the usefulness of qualitative research methods, the philosophical and

theoretical underpinnings of this type of research, the various approaches and schools of thought, as

well as about particular research methods. Finally, the course will also place qualitative approaches

and methods within the broader research design, i.e., in the case of engineers, often as a complement

to quantitative research. But most of all, the course will help the participants to make progress in the

formulation of their problem statement, their research design, qualitative data collection, and analysis

of qualitative data.

Course objectives

Even the most quantitative research will make a minimal use of qualitative research methods,

be it only to frame the problem, define the hypotheses, or analyze complementary qualitative

data. In some cases, a PhD will be entirely based on qualitative research methods, something

which is not unusual in management research. The purpose of this course is to foster an

understanding among the participants that qualitative research is often equally important as

quantitative research, that qualitative research can be complementary to qualitative research,

and that quantitative research must and can be conducted with the same intellectual and

methodological rigor as is quantitative research. But most of all, the course is practical in

nature as it will help the participants to apply qualitative research methods in their PhD

process.

This is a course aimed at the generic PhD student, even if the portion of qualitative research is

limited within his/her PhD. Indeed, qualitative research has solid epistemological and

theoretical foundations in philosophy (phenomenology, hermeneutics), is composed of

various schools of thought – notably “grounded theory”, ethnomethodology, etc. –, and leads

to very concrete research methods, such as various forms of interviews, participant

observation methods, focus groups, and many others more. Analysis of qualitative data

follows equally rigorous steps, and can actually even be quantified. Finally, like quantitative

research, qualitative research must follow a coherent design.

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Consequently, the participants may expect the following outcomes from this course:

Understand the epistemological and theoretical underpinnings of qualitative

research,

Become knowledgeable about the various qualitative research methods, such as

interviews, focus groups, and case studies.

Learn about the analysis/interpretation of qualitative data, as well as about writing

up cases.

Apply qualitative research methods to various stages of the participants’ research

process, such as problem statement formulation, research design, data collection,

and data analysis.

Pedagogical approach

Our pedagogical approach is based on adult teaching, with a strong focus on the participants.

The participants are therefore expected to come to the course with their respective qualitative

research problems, regardless of the stage of their PhD, i.e., formulation of the research

question, design of the research steps and the methodology, devising of their precise

qualitative methodology or analysis and interpretation of qualitative data.

As part of the first day, we will identify the various contributions of the participants and

inbuild them within the course so as to make best use for all the participants.

In order for participants to prepare themselves and in order to optimize the working sessions,

participants are invited to read the texts provided. These are introductory texts aimed at

providing the participants with the basic concepts and questions related to the different topics.

Course preparation: participants are expected to come to the course with the following

preparatory work:

1. A half-page description of their problem-statement for their PhD,

2. A one-page graphic presentation of their research design (if available),

3. A short description of the type of qualitative data collection method (to be) used

(if available), and

4. Available qualitative data for analysis and interpretation (e.g., written up cases,

synthesized interviews, monographies, biographies) (if available).

The course is structured into 2 blocks, namely a first block (November 17th

and 18th

2009)

during which the participants are introduced to qualitative research methods (including

qualitative data collection) and a second block, one month later (December 16th

to 18th

, 2009),

during which the participants learn about concrete methods to analyze and interpret

qualitative data. In between, the participants will work on their own concrete qualitative

research, so as to be able to bring it to the table one month later.

Requirements and Evaluation

Participants are requested to prepare the working sessions by reading the texts provided for

that purpose. Participants will be assessed according to their active participation as well as on

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the basis of a paper they will hand in after the end of the course. This paper counts as the final

exam. The paper will be individualized and pertain to the particular qualitative research

problem of the participant.

There is a reading for each of the sessions. Participants should read these texts, which are

available online. Once you are registered for the course, please contact Ms Patricia Vionnet

(patricia.vionnet@epfl.ch) for the password to access these texts.

Structure of the course

The course is structure into fifteen 90 minutes sessions, each of which addresses a particular

topic. The first session serves as an introduction to the overall topic of qualitative research.

Tuesday November 17th 2009, 9-15 : Introduction and research design

Preparatory reading: Schwartzmann, H.B. (1993). Ethnography in organisations. London:

Sage, pp.1-76.

1. Introduction to epistemology: the distinction between explanation and understanding,

induction vs deduction

Reading: Gumesson, E. (1991). Qualitative methods in management research.

London: Sage, pp.50-72.

2. Phenomenological methods: grounded theory, etc.

Reading: Glaser, B. & A. Strauss (1967). The discovery of grounded theory: strategies

for qualitative research. New York: de Gruyter, pp.1-43.

3. Hermeneutical approaches: interpretive sociology, ethnomethodology, etc.

Reading: Coulon, A. (1995). Ethnomethodology. London: Sage, pp.15-27 and pp. 41-

49.

Wednesday November 18th

2009, 9-15: Methods

4. Interviewing methods, projective techniques

Reading: Holstein, J. & J. Gubrium (1995). The active interview. London: Sage,

pp.38-65.

5. Focus groups

Reading: Stewart, D. & P. Shamdasani (1990). Focus Groups. Theory and Practice.

London: Sage, pp. 9-32.

6. Participant observation

Reading: Jorgensen, D. (1989). Participant observation. A methodology for human

studies. London: Sage, Chapter 1 “The methodology of participant observation”, pp.1-

25; chapter 2 “The process of defining a problem”, pp. 26-39; Chapter 3 “Gaining

Entrée to a setting”, pp.40-52.

Wednesday December 16th

2009, 9-15: Analysis

7. Thick description

Reading: Denzin, N.K. (1989). Interpretive interactionism. London: Sage, pp. pp.83-

103.

8. Case studies

Reading: Hamel, J. (1995). Case study methods. London: Sage, pp.1-40.

9. Qualitative analysis

Reading: Patton, M.Q. (1980). Qualitative evaluation methods. Thousand Oaks: Sage,

pp.295-346.

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Thursday December 17th

2009, 9-15: Analysis II

10. Theory building

Readings: Glaser, B. & A. Strauss (1967). The discovery of grounded theory:

strategies for qualitative research. New York: de Gruyter, pp.185-220.

11. Coding

Reading: Strauss, A. & J. Corbin (1990). Basics of qualitative research. Grounded

theory procedures and techniques. London: Sage, pp.57-157

12. Participatory action research

Reading: Whyte, W.F., Greenwood, D. & P. Lazes (1981). Participatory Action

Research. Through Practice to Science in Social Research. In: Whyte, W.F. (ed.).

Participatory Action Research. London: Sage, pp.19-55.

Friday December 18th

2009, 9-15: Presentation and discussion of participants’ qualitative

research

Bibliography

Atkinson, P., Coffey, A. & S. Delamont (2003). Key Themes in Qualitative Research. Walnut

Creek, CA: AltaMira.

Barbour, R. (2007). Introducing Qualitative research. London: Sage Publications.

Bauer, M. W. & G. Gaskell (2000). Qualitative Researching with Text, Image and Sound. A

Practical Handbook for Social Research. London: Sage.

Benson, D. & J. Hughes (1983). The perspective of ethnomethodology. London: Longman.

Berg, B. (1989). Qualitative research methods. Boston: Pearson.

Brizuela, B. M. (2000). Acts of inquiry in qualitative research. Cambridge, MA: Harvard

Educational Review.

Bryman, A. (2007). Qualitative Research II. London: Sage Publications.

Coulon, A. (1995). Ethnomethodology. London: Sage.

Denzin, N.K. (1989). Interpretive interactionism. London: Sage.

Denzin, N. K. & Y. Lincoln (eds.) (2005). Handbook of Qualitative Research (3rd edition).

Thousand Oaks, CA.: Sage

Denzin, N. K., & Y. Lincoln (eds.). (1998). The landscape of qualitative research: Theories

and issues. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Easterby-Smith, M., Thorope, R. & A. Lowe (1991). Management research. An introduction.

London: Sage.

Ezzy, D. (2002). Qualitative Analysis: Practice and Innovation. London: Routledge.

Fettermann, D. (1989). Ethnography step by step. London: Sage.

Flick, U. (2006). An Introduction to Qualitative Research (3rd edition). London: Sage

Publications.

Flick, U., Kardorff, E. & I. Steinke, Ines (eds.) (2004). A Companion to Qualitative Research.

London: Sage Publications.

Flick, U. (2007). The SAGE Qualitative Research Kit London: Sage Publications.

Glaser, B. & A. Strauss ( 1967). The discovery of grounded theory: strategies for qualitative

research. New York: de Gruyter.

Glense, C. (1999). Becoming qualitative researchers. New York:: Longman

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Golden-Biddle , K. & K. Locke (2006). Composing Qualitative Research. London: Sage

Publications.

Gordon, W. (1999). Goodthinking - A Guide to Qualitative Research. NTC Publications Ltd.

Gummesson, E. (1991). Qualitative Methods in Management Research. London: Sage.

Gubrium, J. F., & J.A. Holstein (2002). Handbook of interview research: context & method.

Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage

Harrison, M.I. (1994). Diagnosing organisations. Methods, models and processes. London:

Sage.

Hamel, J. (1993). Case study methods. London: Sage.

Holstein, J. & J. Gubrium (1995). The active interview. London: Sage.

Jorgensen, D. (1989). Participant observation: a methodology for human studies. London:

Sage.

Mann, C. & F. Stewart (2000). Internet Communication and Qualitative Research. A

Handbook for Researching Online. London: Sage.

Marshall, C. & G.B. Rossman (1989). Designing Qualitative Research. London: Sage.

Marschan-Piekkari, R. & C. Welch (2004). Handbook of Qualitative Research Methods for

International Business. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing.

Mason, J.(2002). Qualitative researching (2nd

edition). Thousand Oaks, CA.: Sage

Publications.

Maxwell, J.A. (2005). Qualitative Research Design. An Interactive Approach. London: Sage

Publications.

May, T. (ed.) (2002). Qualitative Research in Action. London: Sage Publications

Morgan, D.L. ( 1988). Focus groups as qualitative research. London: Sage.

Patton, M. Q. (1980)). Qualitative evaluation and research methods. Thousand Oaks, CA:

Sage.

Schwartymann, H.B. (1993). Ethnography in organisations. London: Sage.

Silverman, D. (2005). Doing Qualitative Research: a practical handbook (2nd

edition).

London: Sage Publications.

Silverman, D. (ed.) (2004). Qualitative Research. London: Sage Publications

Silverman, D. (2006). Interpreting Qualitative Data (3rd edition). London: Sage Publications.

Seale, C. (2004). Qualitative Research Practice. London: Sage Publications Inc.

Seale, C., Gobo, G., Gubrium, J. & D. Silverman (eds.) (2004). Qualitative Research

Practice. London: Sage Publications.

Shank, G. D. (2002). Qualitative research: A personal skills approach. Columbus, Ohio:

Prentice Halll.

Stewart, D. & P. Shamdasani (1990). Focus groups. Theory and practice. London: Sage.

Strauss, A. & J. Corbin (1990). Basics of qualitative research. Grounded theory procedures

and techniques. London: Sage.

Stringer, E.T. (1996). Action Research. A handbook for practitioners. London: Sage.

Weinberg, D. (2001). Qualitative Research Methods. Blackwell Publishing.

Wolcott, H.F. (2001). Writing up qualitative research (2nd ed.). Newbury Park, CA: Sage

Publications.

Whyte, W.F. (ed.) (1991). Participatory Action Research. London: Sage.

Yin, R.K. (1994). Case study research. Design and methods. London: Sage.

Tin, R.K. (2004). The case study anthology. London: Sage.

Websites

http://www.qualitative-research.net/fqs/fqs-eng.htm

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http://kerlins.net/bobbi/research/qualresearch/

http://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/ihcs/rescqr.html

http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/iiqm/

http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/index.html

http://www.coe.uga.edu/leap/qual/index.html

http://www.ualberta.ca/~ijqm/english/engframeset.html

http://www.aqr.org.uk/homepage.shtmljournal dedicated to qualitative research since 1990