Topic outline

  • TU-L0031 Qualitative Research Methods 3 ECTS (20.5-28.5.2019)


    Responsible teacher: Dr. Robin Gustafsson, Associate Professor of Strategic Management

    Course assistant: doctoral candidate Zeerim Cheung (at) aalto.fi 

    Guest faculty:  Professor Eero Vaara, Associate Professor Nina Granqvist, Assistant Professor Natalia Vuori, and doctoral candidate Zeerim Cheung

    Status of the Course: Doctoral Program in Science, optional course. Compulsory course for the students in the field of IEM. The course is open to other Aalto University doctoral students (i.e. from Aalto BIZ) and students from other universities as long as the size of class permits.

    Level of the Course: Doctoral level

    Teaching Period: Spring 2019, the confirmed dates and times are 20.5 (9-13), 21.5  (9-13), 22.5 (9-13), 23.5 (9-13), 27.5 (9-13) and 28.5 (9-13).  

    Workload: 3 ECTS, Time estimate for 3 ECTS module. Class participation 6*4 hours=24 hours; Pre-assignments 6*7 hours = 42 hours; final assignment 1*12 hours=12 hours. An elective 3 ECTS advanced qualitative research methods module (i.e. hands on grounded theory method) can be organised on request.

    Learning Outcomes: The goal of this course is to develop understanding and skills in qualitative research methods in industrial engineering and management research, specifically focused on qualitative research in the research areas of operation and service management, entrepreneurial leadership, and strategy and venturing, and how the results are usually presented in journal articles. The course covers most of the qualitative research methods techniques, for planning, conducting, analyzing and reporting, used in the top management journals, including inductive and abductive analysis, case study method, qualitative coding, interviewing, video recording, conducting observation and surveys, collecting and working with archival data, digitizing and working with digitalized qualitative data, and reporting (write-up) of qualitative research. The course is designed for both those interested in reading and evaluating research done with qualitative methods, and for those who already use or plan to use qualitative research methods in their own work. The number of credits varies between 3-6 depending on the assignments students choose to complete.

    Content: The course will develop understand and skills in qualitative research methods, including inductive and abductive method, case study method, qualitative coding, interviewing, conducting observation and surveys, collecting and working with archival data, video-based analysis of social interaction, digitizing and working with digitalized qualitative data, and reporting (write-up) of qualitative research. 

    Agenda

    20.5.2019 (9-13 @ TU7) Introduction to qualitative research
    21.5.2019 (9-13 @ AS3) Case study methods
    22.5.2019 (9-13 @ TU7) Interviews and interviewing techniques, guest faculty (11:30-13) Assistant Professor Natalia Vuori
    23.5.2019 (9-13 @ TU7) Historical and process analyses & archival data, guest faculty (11:30-13) Doctoral candidate Zeerim Cheung
    27.5.2019 (9-13 @ TU7) Qualitative data coding and analysis, guest faculty (11.30-13) Professor Eero Vaara
    28.5.2019 (9-13 @ AS3) Mixed methods & bringing it all together, guest faculty (11.30-13) Associate Professor Nina Granqvist

    The more detailed readings and structure of the sessions you can find the course syllabus 2019 located in the materials section.

    Assessment Methods and Criteria: Class participation, lecture diary, pre-class assignments, class assignments, and data analysis assignments. The course can be done either as a 3 credits course or as an extended 6 credit course with additional assignments. The 3 credits optional extensions will be organized around selected more in-depth qualitative research methods based on students interests, i.e. working with digitized data, video analysis, and qualitative coding and writing up the analysis, in which one or two senior scholars will act as mentors for the student group (1-4 students) in their work with their own qualitative data. You can already view the assignments in the course syllabus 2019 

    located in the materials section.

    Prerequisites: TU-L0000 Research Methods in Industrial Engineering and Management is recommended (or other similar introductory course in research methods).

    Grading Scale: 1-5, 3 ECTS module: class participation (20p) 20%, final assignment (30 p) 30%, and pre-class assignments (4*10p+2*5p=50p) 50%.

    Registration for Courses: The course is offered for doctoral students. Enrolment through Oodi system or if not able to enrol this system then email robin.gustafsson@aalto.fi. he course will be organized if at least four students have enrolled.

    Language of Instruction: English