Qualitative research methods (for theology students) MET5020

To be qualified for final assessment, the student must:

Part A: Choice of discipline and method

- be present 100% in the start-up week

- have approved a short student note on "my thesis ideas" (max 500 words) that will be presented at the beginning of the start-up week and revised towards the end of the week

- have approved a student presentation "This is what I want to do for my master thesis" (3-5 minutes) on the last day of the start-up week

Part B: Qualitative research methods

- be present at 75% of the teaching

- submit written comments to a series of short video lectures in Canvas

- participate in a course in searching databases

- register topic for the master thesis (100-300 words)

- submit and have approved a project description for the master thesis (ca 1500-2000 words)

- write a digital contract with a supervisor

- participate in the in-depth evaluation of the course if such evaluation is stipulated in the relevant term

Registration lists will be made available in Canvas if there is more than one course offered in the course in searching databases.

When course requirements are not fulfilled, this will count as one examination attempt, unless the student withdraws before the set deadline (1 May/November).

The final assessment of MET5010T is an essay of 3500-4500 words. The essay should be in the form of a short research report based on a mini research project that the students will work on throughout the semester. The essay will be assessed by grades A - F.

Part A: Choice of discipline and method

KNOWLEDGE

The candidate has:

- knowledge of different research methods within the theological disciplines as well as their possibilities and limitations

- knowledge of the connections between research question, research methods, and research design

SKILLS

The candidate can:

- formulate research questions and choose research method

Part B: Qualitative research methods

KNOWLEDGE

The candidate has:

- a thorough knowledge of the relations between research design, research questions, and research methods

- a thorough knowledge of different qualitative research methods and their possibilities and limitations

- a thorough knowledge of ethical and methodological challenges in qualitative research involving people

- a good knowledge of strategies for qualitative data analysis

- a good knowledge of criteria for evaluating research quality

SKILLS

The candidate can:

- identify research questions, research methods, and theoretical perspectives in an empirical study and critically discuss how methodological and theoretical choices influence the knowledge produced

- design a research project such as a master thesis, including formulating research questions, selecting suitable research methods, and justifying the methodological choices made

- find and review academic literature relevant to one's own research project

- critically reflect on the ethical aspects of doing qualitative research

- critically discuss methodological challenges in research involving people, including issues of power relations and positionality

- carry out a small research project, including formulating a research question, collecting and analyzing empirical data, and writing a research report based on the project’s findings

MET5020 overlaps with MET5010, MET5030, MET5115, MET5215, MET5310, MET5290,. This overlap entails that:
- Students who have already passed MET5010 will receive 0 credits for MET5030 on their transcript or diploma.
- Students who have already passed MET5030 will receive 0 credits for MET5030 on their transcript or diploma.
- Students who have already passed MET5115 will receive 0 credits for MET5030 on their transcript or diploma.
- Students who have already passed MET5215 will receive 0 credits for MET5030 on their transcript or diploma.
- Students who have already passed MET5310 will receive 0 credits for MET5030 on their transcript or diploma.
- Students who have already passed MET5290 will receive 0 credits for MET5030 on their transcript or diploma.