Current active course description (last updated 2020/21)
Introduction to Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Social Science
ME123S
Current active course description (last updated 2020/21)

Introduction to Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Social Science

ME123S

The course provides an introduction to social science methods, both quantitative and qualitative. This course presents and discusses the key concepts in social science methods, methods its logical structure and how the qualitative data (interviews and observations) and quantitative data (statistics) are produced.

The course includes: development of how to create a research design, the importance of a well-developed good research question, the relationship between theory and empirical work, how research to produce data, how data is interpreted and analyzed, differences and similarities between qualitative and quantitative methods, writing as a unique, independent thinking and analysis process.

The examination response may be submitted in English or Norwegian.

Admission occurs based on general study competence (university entrance) or real life and work competence (prior learning) according to current Norwegian regulations.
Admission occurs based on general study competence (university entrance) or real life and work competence (prior learning) according to current Norwegian regulations.

Upon successful completion of this course, students should have acquired the following knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge:

  • Students shall have the overview over different methods in social sciences, and be familiar with the content in various methodological approaches and strategies of analysis.
  • Students shall be able to describe central concepts in methods in qualitative and quantitative research.

Skills:

  • Students shall be familiar with relevant tools and techniques in qualitative and quantitative research. 
  • Students will be able to formulate research questions, design a research project and decide which methods are the most feasible to apply to answer the research questions.
  • Students will also be able to evaluate the ethical challenges associated with research activities in social science. 

Competence:

  • Students shall be able to plan and carry out a simple research task, and have the ability to understand and read literature in social science and presentations of research in the media, with the skills to critically evaluate the results which are presented.
No costs except semester registration fee and course literature.
Elective
N/A
Annual evaluations which are included in the university\'s quality assurance system
Students will do an obligatory task which will be marked pass/fail. Obligatory task must be passed before the beginning of the Home Exam. Students will also do a home exam over the course of seven days.
A good grasp of mathematics will be an advantage.

Overlap refers to a similarity between courses with the same content. Therefore, you will receive the following reduction in credits if you have taken the courses listed below:

ME122S - Introductory Courses in qualitative and quantitative methods in Social Science - 10 credits

ME119S - Introductory Courses in qualitative and quantitative methods in Social Science - 10 credits

ME118S - Introduction to research methods in social sciences - 10 credits

ME118LS - Introduction to qualitative and quantitative methods in social sciences - 10 credits

MET1007 - Introduction to Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Social Science - 10 credits

Choose start semester
Curriculum literature
Leganto
Credits
10
Study location
Bodø
Responsible faculty
Faculty of Social Sciences
Course coordinator
Information about the course coordinator for the selected semester is no longer available. Please contact the current course coordinator.