| CODE | CLS3122 | ||||||
| TITLE | Qualitative Research Process | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | Not Applicable | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Centre for Labour Studies | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study unit enables students to consolidate and advance their qualitative research competences through Problem Based Learning (PBL) approach. Problem-Based Learning (PBL) which originated from Maastricht University is based on four core principles namely: 1) Constructive learning where students actively build their own understanding by reflecting on prior knowledge, analysing different sources, questioning contradictions, and reasoning critically. 2) Contextual learning which is anchored in real-life contexts so students can connect theory to practice and to their own experiences. 3) Collaborative learning which allows students to work together in groups to discuss problems, share ideas, challenge each other thinking, and jointly formulate learning objectives and solutions. 4) Self-directed learning, because students take responsibility for planning, monitoring, and evaluating their own learning, including finding and managing resources, with tutors acting as guides rather than lecturers. Together these four principles help students become critical thinkers, effective team players, and independent learners as they conduct their dissertation. Adopting this approach, and across successive PBL cycles, students will critically examine their dissertation, chapter by chapter with a focused lens on each section to identify the problems they are encountering. Working collaboratively with peers and the lecturer, the students will discuss the challenges, and then propose possible solutions through guided discussion,reading of scholarly material and shared collaborative learning. Throughout this process, emphasis is placed on reflective improvement and evidence-based, reflective decision-making which enables the students to produce coherent, valid and ethically sound research that will be reflected in their dissertation. Study-unit Aims: The aim of this study-unit is to enable students to critically reflect on the dissertation process and the challenges it presents, in order to allow them to overcome their problems as they embark on their qualitative research dissertation process using PBL. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Recognise the characteristics of high-quality, rigorous and ethically sound qualitative research; - Identify the lacunae in their knowledge as they progress in their dissertation in order to address those gaps; - Critically appraise their own research within a collaborative PBL setting, drawing on peer and lecturer feedback; - Evaluate their research against relevant scientific, academic, professional, ethical and regulatory expectations and identify priorities for improvement in order to reach scientific and academic standards; - Demonstrate understanding of how coherent alignment between the research problem, key research questions, literature, design, methods, findings, analysis and discussion strengthens the credibility of research in an academic setting. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Engage effectively in Problem Based Learning by contributing to group problem analysis, shared goal-setting, and constructive peer dialogue; - Critically appraise and strengthen research components using evidence-based academic and professional criteria; - Identify and address weaknesses across the research process, including study design, measurement, data collection, data analysis, and presentation of findings; - Apply reflective and ethical judgment to refine their dissertation/research and to support future evidence-based research. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: View reading list |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-Requisite Study-Units: CLS3120 or CLS3102 | ||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Anna Borg |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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