In this course, students will develop an advanced understanding of the principles and methods of qualitative research on government, politics, and society. These skills will enable students to critically evaluate the value of arguments made in published academic, policy, and journalistic research. Students will also be able to use these skills to conduct original qualitative research of their own. The course will concentrate on how qualitative data is collected and how it is analyzed. Qualitative data can be collected in a number of ways, each of which requires consideration of important theoretical and practical issues. Data sources for qualitative research include archives and other written sources, interviews, and ethnographic fieldwork. Students will learn the pros and cons of each method and the different ontologies and epistemologies underpinning them, read exemplary works, and apply the methods in assignments. The analysis of qualitative data also poses special challenges. Students will gain exposure to various methods of data analysis including historical process tracing, discourse and narrative analysis, and content analysis.   

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Critically evaluate various methods of qualitative data collection in the political and social sciences;
2. Critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of various methods of analyzing qualitative social science data;
3. Implement a wide range of methods of qualitative data collection and analysis;
4. Apply the principals of good research design, especially as regards qualitative data collection and analysis, in developing their own research.
5. Utilize qualitative data to communicate knowledgeably on range of topics within the area of government, politics, and society.

Required Resources

Author:
Publisher:
Edition:
ISBN:
Availability:
Price:
Notes:

All required reading is listed in the linked Library Catalogue. The texts are either directly available online through the catalogue or in the 2-hour Library Reserve.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Written comments
• Verbal comments
• Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Seminar - Week 1: Ontology and Epistemology	Notes for this session HAVE to be submitted by July 21st 23.59PM
2	Seminar - Week 2: Research Design in Qualitative Research	Guest Lecture: Dr Paul Kenny
3	Seminar - Week 3: Case Selection
4	Seminar - Week 4: Archival Sources	DUE Proposals for Research Essays Qualitative Methods Practicals that include research with human subjects
5	Seminar - Week 5 : Ethics and Qualitative Research	Guest Lecture: Dr Nicolas Lemay-Hebert DUE All other proposals for Research Essays Qualitative Methods Practicals
6	Seminar - Week 6 : Interviews: What is ‘Truth’, what is ‘Fiction’?
8	Seminar - Week 7 : Ethnography: Practice
9	Seminar - Week 8: Comparative Historical Analysis
10	Seminar - Week 9 : Process Tracing
11	Seminar - Week 10: Analytic Narratives	MONDAY, 7th Public Holiday / Only Tuesday Session Notes for the session 10 are still due by October 6th 23.55 PM
12	Seminar - Week 11: Content Analysis	DUE Qualitative Methods Practical
13	Seminar - Week 12: Qualitative Comparative Analysis	Guest Lecture: Dr Nicolas Lemay-Hebert

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Notes	10 %	21/07/2019	23/10/2019	1,2,5
Book Reports	20 %	21/07/2019	21/07/2019	1,2,5
Qualitative Methods Practical	20 %	14/10/2019	22/10/2019	1,3,4,5
Research Essay	50 %	10/11/2019	17/11/2019	1,3,4,5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Notes

All students must prepare notes on the readings required for the Monday seminar and submit by email prior to class in preparation for discussion. These may consist of comments, critiques, questions, etc. arising from the readings. They may be in bullet format or full sentences. They must be at least one page, but no more than two pages long (12 points, single space).

Notes should not contain original quotes. While technical terms can be cited, the aim of the notes is to summarize brief reflections on the required reading in your own words. Notes prepare the seminar discussion: What did you learn? What did you find most surprising about the argument? Do you have any critical comments? Did you have difficulties understanding a specific point raised by the author? Which one and why?

Notes have to be submitted by 11.55 PM Sunday night before each Monday seminar.

They will be marked on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory scale

Assessment Task 2

Book Reports

Students will complete seven brief critical book reviews that exemplify the theme of the week. There are a total of eleven weeks/books to choose from (session 2-12).

For example, in the week on process tracing, in addition to the theoretical/methodological material, students will read all/most of a notable book employing this method. Reviews should concentrate on analysing the research design of the book, assessing how well the design and evidence put forward addresses the question; drawing on the theoretical/methodological materials, the book report should explain what the book does well (if anything) and what could have been improved (if anything).

Book reports must be submitted through Turnitin by Monday 11.55 PM

No late submissions accepted

Word count: maximum of 1500 words

Assessment Task 3

Qualitative Methods Practical

Data collection/field notes project: Students are required to conduct an original data collection project in Canberra, or elsewhere if traveling, based on at least one of the methods they have covered in the course (archival, interview, ethnographic). Students will be required to describe the method they employed, explain how it is suitable to answer the question they have posed, and present their original data. This could be in the form of ethnographic field notes, annotated interview transcripts, or transcribed and organized archival data.

Proposals for projects that involve human subjects are due by August 12 (via email). They will be submitted for ethics review by 5 PM on August 20. The ethics committee meets on August 30. Students cannot begin data collection prior to ethics approval. They are advised to consider how these deadlines affect their project schedule when drafting the proposal. They are encouraged to seek a meeting with the course convener as early as possible. Students undertaking a project involving human subjects will get additional training in applying for ethics approval for their project.

All other proposals are due by August 19.

The Qualitative Methods Practical may prepare or complement the Research Essay.

Qualitative Methods Practical is due on October 14.

Assessment Task 4

Research Essay

Students will write a research paper on a topic of their choice that relates to the theoretical material covered in the course.

Proposals for projects that involve human subjects are due by August 12 (via email). They will be submitted for ethics review by 5 PM on August 20. The ethics committee meets on August 30. Students cannot begin data collection prior to ethics approval. They are advised to consider how these deadlines affect their project schedule when drafting the proposal. They are encouraged to seek a meeting with the course convener as early as possible. Students undertaking a project involving human subjects will get additional training in applying for ethics approval for their project.

All other proposals are due by August 19.

The research essay is due on November 10

Must be submitted through Turnitin

8000 words

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

No submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date will be permitted. If an assessment task is not submitted by the due date, a mark of 0 will be awarded. OR Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students