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Qualitative Research Methods in Criminology

Code: 100451 ECTS Credits: 6
2024/2025
Degree Type Year
2500257 Criminology OB 3

Contact

Name:
Lluís Sáez Giol
Email:
lluis.saez@uab.cat

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

It is highly recommended to have passed the subject "Scientific Research in Criminology".

The teaching of the subject will be given taking into account the perspective of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Language of theory classes: catalan.

Language of seminars:

- Seminars 11 and 12: catalan.

- Seminar 13: spanish.


Objectives and Contextualisation

- To understand the epistemological foundations of qualitative social research.

- To know how to use qualitative methods in criminological research

- To know how to to use qualitative data collection techniques.

- To know how to use content analysis methods.


Competences

  • Ability to analyse and summarise.
  • Applying the quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques in the criminological field.
  • Clearly explaining and arguing a carried out analysis about a conflict or crime problem and its responses in front of specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Designing a criminological research and identifying the appropriate methodological strategy to the proposed goals.
  • Drawing up an academic text.
  • Formulating research hypothesis in the criminological field.
  • Using research methods in social sciences in order to diagnose criminality problems.
  • Verbally transmitting ideas to an audience.
  • Working autonomously.
  • Working in teams and networking.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Ability to analyse and summarise.
  2. Applying the quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques in the criminological field.
  3. Choosing the appropriate research methodology in criminological works.
  4. Designing criminological research projects with well-drawn hypothesis.
  5. Diagnosing a criminal process through the scientific method.
  6. Drawing up an academic text.
  7. Transmitting in a reasoned manner the results of a criminological research.
  8. Verbally transmitting ideas to an audience.
  9. Working autonomously.
  10. Working in teams and networking.

Content

1. Basics of qualitative methodology.
1.1. Epistemological issues in Social Sciences.
1.2. Genesis and evolution of the hermeneutic perspective.
1.3. Basic features and types of qualitative methods.
 
2. Designing a qualitative research.
2.1. Foundations of the analysis model.
2.2. Delimitation of the field of analysis, sampling and recruitment.
2.3. Socioestructural saturation and informative saturation.
 
3. Interview technique.
3.1. Typology of interviews.
3.2. The interview script.
3.3. Communicative dynamics.
 
4. The biographical method.
4.1. Concept and typologies.
4.2. Analytical times.
4.3. Interpretation levels.
 
5. The content analysis.
5.1. Basics.
5.2. Coding and analysis units.
5.3. Axes interpretation of the data.
 
6. Focus group technique.
6.1. Concept and analytical design.
6.2. Group dynamics.
6.3. Typology and application.
 
7. Observation technique and ethnographic method.
7.1. Observation types.
7.2. The ethnographic method.

Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Lectures 19.5 0.78 2, 5, 4, 3, 1
Practical exercises and simulation of cases. 19.5 0.78 2, 5, 4, 3, 1, 7, 8, 9, 10
Type: Autonomous      
Readings, analysis and synthesis of the material. 60 2.4 2, 1, 9
Work group 46 1.84 2, 5, 4, 3, 6, 1, 7, 9, 10

The achievement of the competences of the course will be provided through the  following activities:

- Lectures.

- Practical seminars, to complement and deepen the contents of lectures, as well as to make a practical application of them.

- Supplementary work activities inside and outside the classroom, including: 

    a) Basic readings.

    b) Practical exercices (evaluable and non-evaluable).

    c) A group work oriented to apply the contents of the subject.

All practical exercises will be reviewed and commented by the teacher. There will be regular tutorials with the teacher regarding group work.

Attendance at a minimum of 80% of the classes, both to lectures and seminars, is mandatory.

In the Virtual Campus, from the beginning of the course, the schedule of the sessions of the classrom will appear.

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.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Group work 40% 0 0 2, 5, 4, 3, 6, 1, 7, 9, 10
Individual examination 50% 5 0.2 2, 5, 1, 9
Practical exercises 10% 0 0 2, 5, 4, 3, 1, 8, 9, 10

a) Continuous Assessment:

- Theoretical-practical exam: 50%

- Group work: 40%

- Evaluable practical exercises: 10%

To pass the subject a minimum average mark of 5 is required. However, in order to pass a minimum of 4 out of 10 is required in each part of the evaluation. 

If students fail in group work or in the exam they will have a chance of reassessment, but in case of passing the maximum mark will be 5 out of 10.

If unexcused or excused out of time absences (two weeks from the absence) exceed 20% of the total number of seminar classes, students will not be able to pass the subject. Only absences due to illness, due to force majeure, or for academic reasons previously authorized by the teaching staff will be justified.

The students will be evaluated if they have completed a set of activities whose weight is equivalent to a minimum of 2/3 parts of the total qualification of the subject. If the value of the activities carried out does not reach this threshold, the teacher of the subject can consider the student as not evaluable.

Students who cheat during the exam will get a fail mark (with a note=0), losing the possibility of resit.

In case of plagiarism in the writing of practical exercises or works, a zero will be obtained and a warning will be received. In case of repetition of the behavior, the student will suspend the subject (with a 0) and will lose the right to reassessment.

Classes start on time. Late arrival is not admitted, nor exit before its completion, except for reasonable justification.

b) General aspects of the assessment system

To pass the subject a minimum average mark of 5 is required.  However, in order to pass a minimum of 4 out of 10 is required in each part of the evaluation.

If students fail in the exam or in the work they will have a chance of reassessment, but in case of passing the maximum mark will be 5 out of 10.

Students who cheat during the exam will get a fail mark (with a note=0), losing the possibility of resit.

c) Single Assessment:

- Theoretical-practical exam: 60%

  • Bibliography to prepare the exam: mandatory bibliography.

- Individual work: 40%

  • The work will be done throughout the semester, following the instructions that will appear on the virtual campus, and will be delivered and presented orally (maximum 15 minute presentation) on theday of the final exam.

Bibliography

Mandatory Bibliography:

Valles, Miguel S. (1997). Técnicas cualitativas de investigación social. Reflexión metodológica y práctica profesional. Síntesis.

Navarro, P.; Díaz, Capitolina (1994). Análisis de contenido. A Delgado, J.M.; Gutiérrez, J. (Eds.), Métodos y técnicas cualitativas de investigación en ciencias sociales (pp. 177-224). Síntesis.

Recommended Bibliography:

Aguirre, A. (Ed.) (1995). Etnografía. Metodología en la investigación sociocultural. Editorial Boixareu Universitaria. 

Altheide, D. L.; Johnson, J. M. (1994). Criteria for assessing interpretative validity in qualitative research. A Denzin, N.K.; Lincoln, Y.S. (Eds.), Handbook of Qualitative Research (pp. 485-499). Sage.

Alvira, F. (1983). Perspectiva cualitativa-perspectiva cuantitativa en la metodología sociológica. Revista Española de Investigaciones Sociológica, (22), 53-75.

Bardin, L. (1986). El análisis de contenido. Akal. 

Bertaux, D. (2005). Los relatos de vida. Perspectiva etnosociológica. Edicions Bellaterra.

Boyatzis, R. E. (1998). Transforming qualitative information: thematic analysis and code development. Sage.

Callejo, J. (2001). El grupo de discusión: Introducción a una práctica de investigación. Ariel.

Clemente, M. (Ed.) (1992). Psicología social: métodos y técnicas de investigación. Eudema.

Coffey, Amanda;Atkinson, P. (2005). Encontrar el sentido alos datos cualitativos. Universidad de Alicante. 

Delgado, J.M.; Gutiérrez, J. (Eds.) (1994). Métodos y técnicas cualitativas de investigación en ciencias sociales. Síntesis.

Flick, U. (2004). Introducción a la investigación cualitativa. Morata.

García Jorba, J.M. (2000). Diarios de campo. CIS.

Huber, G. L. (2003). Introducción al análisis de datos cualitativos. A Medina, A.; Castillo, S. (coord.): Metodología para la realización de Proyectos de Investigacion y Tesis Doctorales. Universitas.

Ibáñez, J. (1985). Análisis sociológico de textos y discursos. Revista internacional de sociología, 43 (1), 119-160.

Krueger, R.A. (1991). El grupo de discusión. Guía práctica para la investigación aplicada. Pirámide.

Pujadas, J.J. (1992). Método biográfico: El uso de las historias de vida en ciencias sociales. CIS.

Quivy, R.; Van Campenhoudt, L. (1997). Manual de recerca en ciències socials. Herder.

Rodríguez Gómez, G.; Gil Flores, J.; García Jiménez, E. (1996). Metodología de la investigación cualitativa. Ediciones Aljibe.

Ruiz Olabuénaga, J.I. (1996). Metodología de la investigación cualitativa. Universidad de Deusto.

Taylor, S.J.; Bogdan, R. (1992). Introducción a los métodos cualitativos de investigación. La búsqueda de significados. Paidós.

Trinidad, A.; Carrero, Virginia; Soriano, Rosa Mª (2006). Teoría fundamentada “Grounded Theory”. La construcción de la teoría a través del análisis interpretacional. CIS.

Valles, M.S. (2002). Entrevistas cualitativas. CIS.

Verd, J.M.; Lozares, C. (2016). Introducción a la investigación cualitativa. Síntesis.


Software

Practices with the Atlas-TI program will depend on the availability of the software in the computer rooms.


Language list

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed