Qualitative Methods and Field Work
Code: 104248 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2503710 Geography, Environmental Management and Spatial Planning | OB | 2 | 2 |
Contact
- Name:
- Antonio Miguel Solana Solana
- Email:
- AntonioMiguel.Solana@uab.cat
Use of Languages
- Principal working language:
- catalan (cat)
- Some groups entirely in English:
- No
- Some groups entirely in Catalan:
- Yes
- Some groups entirely in Spanish:
- No
Teachers
- Fabia Diaz Cortes
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites established for this course.
Objectives and Contextualisation
The objectives of the course are two:
a) The knowledge of the process of organization and development of field work in social sciences and, specifically, its application to the research in territorial and urban planning processes.
b) The knowledge and adequate use of the main qualitative methods of social research: conversation / narration techniques, observation techniques, mixed conversation and observation techniques, visual techniques, cartographic representation techniques and documentary techniques.
Competences
- Apply methods and techniques of quantitative, qualitative and field work analysis in the interpretation of territorial and environmental processes.
- Explain and represent territorial processes using statistical techniques, and graphic, cartographic and geographical information representations.
- Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
- Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
Learning Outcomes
- Apply qualitative techniques and methods to social research.
- Make basic and instrumental use of statistical programs to introduce and identify survey data and for the transformation and analysis of those data.
- Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
- Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
- Understand the main sources of information and scientific documentation related to regional and environmental processes.
Content
1. The research process
a) Fases of the research.
b) Objectives/Hipothesis/Research questions
c) Methodological design of the research
d) Field work
e) Analysis of the information
f) Dissemination of results
2. Basic epistemological elements of the social sciences
a) Positivism/postpositivism
b) Hermeneutics
c) Positionality/reflexivity
d) Reliability and validity of the investigation
3. Ethical aspects in social science research.
4. Quantitative-qualitative methodology. Methodological triangulation and combination of methods.
5, Qualitative methodology.
a) Conversation techniques
- Individual interview
- Life stories
- Group interview/Focus group
- Interview with key informants
b) Observation techniques
- Observation
- Participant observation
c) Conversation and observation techniques (Walking interviews)
d) Visual techniques
- Photovoice
- Photo-stimulation and photodocumentation
e) Cartographic representation techniques
- Mental maps
- Participatory cartography and collective mapping
f) Documentary techniques
6. Practical aspects of the development of field work
7. CAQDAS (Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software)
8. Analysis of information, preparation of documents and dissemination of results.
Methodology
Lessons on concepts, theories and methods will be complemented with the design of a qualitative fieldwork applied to a case of territorial/urban planning, which will be coordinated with the Territorial and Environmental Laboratory. This project will allow the students to work professionally on the problems the investigation and the fieldwork. The study and practise of the qualitative methods requires fieldwork on the geographical areas previously selected for the development of the Territorial and Environmental Laboratory.
Reading of basic texts about epistemological reflection, research design and methods will be compulsory.
Process of learning and acquisition of competences will be supervised by the lecturer through individual and/or group tutorials. Lecturers of the courses will be available to the students to solve the doubts and follow the evolution of the mentioned process of learning and acquisition of competences of the students.
All the information used by the lecturer in the theoretical classes and the seminars as well as the different materials elaborated by the students will be available in the Virtual Campus.
The activities that could not be done onsite will be adapted to an online format made available through the UAB’s virtual tools. Exercises, projects and lectures will be carried out using virtual tools such as tutorials, videos, Teams sessions, etc. Lecturers will ensure that students are able to access these virtual tools, or will offer them feasible alternatives.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Activities
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Lessons (theory, concepts and methods) | 45 | 1.8 | 1, 3 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Workshops | 15 | 0.6 | 1, 5, 4, 3 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Personal study, elaboration of reviews and dessign of a qualitative fieldwork project | 52 | 2.08 | 1, 5, 4, 3 |
Assessment
The evaluation of the subject will be based on the continuous evaluation of the process of acquisition of knowledge and skills by the student and will consist of:
-Exam (40% grade)
-Field work project with qualitative methods. The part corresponding to methodology and field work developed within the diagnosis - case of territorial/urban planning - will be evaluated and coordinated with the Territorial and Environmental Laboratory (30%)
-Complementary exercise (reviews) and participation in class/forums (30%)
To pass the course, each of the different parts that are part of the assessment process must be passed (minimum of 5). The student who, presenting the set of practices, the work and the exam, does not exceed a 5 will be considered as suspended. The student who has delivered part of the materials will be considered "not assessable".
Completing this course involves following the delivery schedule set by the teacher. Strict compliance with the delivery dates set in the work and practice calendar is mandatory. Late delivery will be penalized with a reduction of 20% of the grade each day.
There is a final recovery call for those students who have followed the course and have taken the final exam. To participate in the student's recovery, the weight of those equivalent to a minimum of 2/3 of the total evaluation must have been previously evaluated in a set of activities.
All recovered activities (including the exam) will have a maximum grade of 5.
Students who do not take the final exam and do not provide medical proof will be considered "not evaluable".
In the event that the student makes any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation of the grade in an act of evaluation, this act of evaluation will be rated 0, regardless of the disciplinary process that may be instructed. In the event that several irregularities occur in the acts of evaluation of the same subject, the final grade for this subject will be 0.
At the time of each evaluation activity, the teacher will inform the students (moodle) of the procedure and date of revision of the grades.
In case the evaluation activities cannot be done in person, it will adapt its format (keeping the weight) to the possibilities offered by the virtual tools of the UAB and the internet. Homework, activities, class participation and the exam will be done through tutorials, forums, wikis and/or discussions of exercises through Teams, etc. The teacher will ensure that the student can access or offer alternative means that are within their reach.
Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complementary exercices, workshops and fieldwork | 25% | 15 | 0.6 | 1, 4, 3 |
| Exam | 40% | 3 | 0.12 | 1, 5, 4, 3 |
| Research project on a territorial/urban planning case | 35% | 20 | 0.8 | 1, 5, 4, 3, 2 |
Bibliography
Ayllón Pino, Bruno (2010), “Consejos prácticos para realizar una buena investigación” a E. Echart Muñoz, R. Cabezas Valencia, J.A. Sotillo Lorenzo (coords.), Metodología de investigación en cooperación para el desarrollo. Madrid: Catarata, pp. 57-74.
Babbie, Earl (2010, 12è edició), The practise of social research, Wadsworth.
Bryman, Alan (2004). Social research methods (2nd ed.). New York (US): Oxford University Press.
Corbetta, Pier Luigi (2007), Metodología y técnicas de investigación social. Madrid: McGraw-Hill.
Cloke, Paul et al (2004), Practising human geography. Londres: Sage
Echart Muñoz, Enara, Cabezas Valencia Rhina, Fernández García, Mercedes (2010) "La estructura del proceso de investigación". a Echart Muñoz, Enara, Cabezas Valencia Rhina, Sotillo Lorenzo, José Ángel. Metodología de investigación en cooperación para el desarrollo. Madrid: Catarata, pp. 75-122.
Estruch, Joan (1992), "El conflicte quantitatiu/qualitatiu: un fals problema" a Técniques qualitatives en Ciències Socials. Cicle de conferències, Barcelona: Societat Catalana de Sociologia, pp. 7-16.
Farthing, Stuart (2016), Research design in urban planning. Londres: Sage.
Guasch, Oscar (1997), Observación participante, Madrid, CIS.
Harper, Douglas (2002) "Talking about pictures: a case for photo elicitation", Visual Studies 17(1): pp. 13-26.
Pujadas Muñoz, Juan (1992), El método biogràfico: el uso de las historias de vida en ciencias sociales, Madrid, Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas.
Quivy, Raymond & Campenhoudt, Louis (2001). Manual de recerca en ciències socials (2a ed.). Barcelona: Herder..
Valles, Miguel (1999), Técnicas cualitativas de investigación social. Reflexión metodológica y práctica profesional, Madrid: Síntesis.
Valles, Miguel (2002), Entrevistas cualitativas, Madrid: CIS.
Software
CAQDAS (Atlas.ti 9)