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It is easy to be overwhelmed by the amount and diversity of information available today. Finding reliable and relevant information requires skills alongside those required to critically engage with this information and translate it into data. As interdisciplinary researchers, it is vital to be able to navigate various research methods, to understand their strengths and limitations and the information produced.

This module focuses on qualitative data within the context of interdisciplinary research. It aims to help you develop the expertise required for data accumulation, sorting, assessing, and combining to create meaning and understanding. Practical experience of interviewing academics is combined with an introduction to the principles and issues of qualitative research methods. You will be exposed to specific examples to highlight the broad spectrum of research methods in the interdisciplinary research toolkit, for you to ultimately design and develop your own research proposal.

Teaching delivery

Twenty weekly lectures and 10 weekly PGTA-led seminars.

Indicative topics

Interdisciplinarity; research integrity and ethics; positionality; problems with qualitative research; doing interviews; coding interviews; data and methods; surveys; literature reviews; impact; research proposals; archives; digital methods; discourse analysis; anthropology; storytelling; disability; participatory and creative research methodsÌý

Module aims and objectives

• Develop a toolkit of research methods and approachesÌý

• Reflect on key challenges and problems associated with doing qualitative researchÌý

• Work collaboratively in teamsÌý

• Learn how to conduct, transcribe, code and analyse semi-structured inverviewsÌý

• Develop a workable interdisciplinary research proposal, considering issues such as research ethics, impact, budget, and timelineÌý

Recommended readings

• Aldrich, J. ed (2014). Interdisciplinarity.ÌýÌý

• Bauer, Gaskell & Allum (2000) Quality, Quantity and Knowledge Interests: Avoiding Confusions.Ìý

• Blaxter, Hughes, and Tight (2010) How to Research.Ìý

• Davies, M. and Hughes, N. (2014) Doing A Successful Research Project.Ìý

• Smith, Todd and Waldman (2009) Doing Your Undergraduate Social Science Dissertation.Ìý