This doctoral level course aims to develop students’ knowledge and skills of qualitative research methods in social sciences. Students explore different ontological, epistemological and related methodological perspectives of qualitative research in applied contexts, professional practice, and cultural settings. Students also engage with high-level readings of primary sources and apply critical analysis of exemplary qualitative research papers in preparation for designing and implementing qualitative research projects, develop interpretive/hermeneutic skills, and enhance competency in writing research papers for publication in refereed English journals.

CILO-1: Describe the research questions addressed by selected qualitative methods. CILO-2: Identify key points of the strengths and limitations of qualitative research methods in social sciences. CILO-3: Discuss key points in designing a qualitative research project in social sciences, including conducting interview, analyzing qualitative data, and interpreting results. CILO-4: Discuss how to present research findings and argument in a suitably structured and sequenced qualitative paper that conforms to protocols of academic presentation and research practice in social sciences.