Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE GDM5045

 
TITLE Qualitative Research in Gerontology and Geriatrics

 
UM LEVEL 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course

 
MQF LEVEL 7

 
ECTS CREDITS 5

 
DEPARTMENT Gerontology and Dementia Studies

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit will provide participants with an opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skills for understanding, designing and implementing qualitative research within the field of gerontology and geriatrics, at post-graduate level. This study unit will discuss the overarching issues in qualitative research methods, namely the relevance of qualitative inquiry to real world professional work, the different types of problems that give rise to research questions, and how different research questions relate to different qualitative designs. Ethical issues in qualitative research will also be addressed. In addition, the conceptualisation, design, strategies and techniques for qualitative data collection, analysis and reporting will be discussed. The study unit will include a focus on several qualitative approaches, including Thematic Analysis, Grounded Theory, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Discourse Analysis and Narrative Analysis among others. Qualitative data collection methods will also be explored, including the use of interviewing and observational techniques. Participants will also be introduced to the use of computer aided qualitative data analysis software.

Study-unit Aims:

This study-unit is aimed at enabling participants to be able to evaluate qualitative research evidence and to conduct their own research in the field of gerontology and geriatrics. Participants will be able to critically evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the use of qualitative approaches. They will also be able to understand those research concepts, designs, techniques and procedures necessary to plan, conduct and report rigorous and trustworthy qualitative research. It also aims at helping students become familiar with the use of computer software for qualitative data management and analysis. They will become familiar with the important issues in the use of different techniques of qualitative data collection and analysis, as well the relevant ethical issues associated with each step of the research process.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles underlying qualitative research;
- demonstrate awareness of the epistemological assumptions in qualitative research designs;
- identify the characteristics of major qualitative research designs while being aware of their advantages and challenges;
- determine when the use of these designs are appropriate;
- demonstrate awareness of ethical issues in research;
- explain the use of trustworthiness and rigour criteria to ascertain quality in qualitative research.

2. Skills:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- decide on the best research design to apply for different research questions;
- determine which qualitative research approach should be adopted for different qualitative research questions;
- apply different qualitative research approaches with appropriate critical rigour;
- demonstrate familiarity with the use of data collection tools such as interviews, focus groups etc.;
- demonstrate familiarity with several qualitative approaches such as the use of grounded theory, thematic, interpretative phenomenological analsysis, narrative and discourse analysis;
- decide and write appropriate, interview schedules in light of the objectives of the study;
- explain the benefits and challenges among the different qualitative approaches;
- distinguish between challenges among different populations and sampling procedures in qualitative research;
- explain the process of analysis required within the different qualitative approaches;
- manage qualitative data and be aware of qualitative data management softwares.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Text:

- Weil, J. (2017). Research Design in Aging and Social Gerontology: Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Methods. New York: Taylor and Francis.
- Cresswell, J.W., & Poth, C.N. (2018). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches. London: Sage.

Supplementary/Optional Texts:

- Leontowitsch, M. (2012). Researching Later Life and Ageing: Expanding Qualitative Research Horizons. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
- Brinkman, S. & Kvale, S. (2017). Doing Interviews. London: Sage.
- Braun, V. & Clarke, V. (2013). Successful qualitative research: a practical guide for beginners. London: Sage.
- Smith, J., Flowers, P. & Larkin, M. (2009). Interpretative phenomenological Analysis: Theory, Method and Research. London: Sage.
- Yin, R.K. (2018). Case study research and applications: design and methods. London: Sage.
- Charmaz, K. (2006). Constructing Grounded Theory. A practical guide through qualitative analysis. London: Sage.
- Coffey, A. (2018). Doing ethnography. London: Sage.
- Flick, U. (2018). Managing Quality in Qualitative Research. London: Sage.
- Flick, U. (2018). Designing Qualitative Research. London: Sage.
- Barbour, R. (2018). Doing Focus Groups. London: Sage.
- Rapley, T. (2018). Doing conversation, discourse and document analysis. London: Sage.
- Mannay, D. (2016). Visual, narrative and creative research methods : application, reflection and ethics. London: Routledge.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Online Learning

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Online Moderated Discussions and Postings SEM1 No 20%
Research Paper SEM1 Yes 80%

 
LECTURER/S Christian Borg Xuereb

 

 
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 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

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