Qualitative Methods for Evaluation

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

During the pre-teaching period, students will be expected to complete an online survey and 10 pages of reading provided via LMS, and post a brief reflection and introduction of themselves on the subject's discussion board.

170 hours

Students should have a working knowledge of basic research methods to successfully engage with this subject. EDUC90848 Applied Research for Evaluation (or assessed equivalent) will fill this need; students may take it prior to or concurrent with this subject.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject provides students with an introduction to the theory and application of qualitative inquiry. Topics that will be examined include: orientations to, and debates surrounding, qualitative approaches; the collection, display and analysis of qualitative data; the use of systematic methods of data reduction, display and analysis and how qualitative research methods are commonly used in evaluation studies.

On completion of this subject it is expected that students should be able to:

• define qualitative inquiry and relate it to its theoretical and philosophical foundations
• determine the conditions and questions for which a qualitative study is most appropriate
• design and conduct a qualitative study including: selecting and applying a range of data collection techniques; creating and analysing data from field notes and interview transcriptions; developing coding categories and presenting results.

There are three pieces of assessment:

• Quizzes (2 checks for understanding, 250 words each), due Week 2 & Week 8 (10%);
• Application assignments (3000 words divided among 5 practical applications), due Weeks 2-7 (50%);
• Written report based on qualitative data analysis and interpretation (1500 words, due end of Week 9 (40%).

Willis, J.W. (2007). Foundations of qualitative research: Interpretive and critical approaches. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications, Inc. Retrieved from DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781452230108

Available in print and online:

Print ISBN: 9781412927413

Online ISBN: 9781452230108

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.