Qualitative Research introduces students to the philosophical foundations, methodologies, and analytical approaches of qualitative inquiry within educational contexts. This course emphasizes understanding human experiences, social phenomena, and educational practices from interpretive, constructivist, and critical perspectives. Students will explore how qualitative research seeks depth and meaning through contextually rich data rather than numerical representation. The course covers major qualitative research designs such as case studies, ethnography, phenomenology, grounded theory, and narrative inquiry. Students will learn how to formulate qualitative research questions, conduct literature reviews, design research frameworks, and apply appropriate sampling techniques. Emphasis is placed on various data collection methods including interviews, observations, document analysis, and focus groups. Practical sessions will guide students in managing, coding, and interpreting qualitative data using thematic and inductive approaches. Students will also gain hands-on experience with qualitative data analysis tools such as NVivo and other computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS). Ethical considerations, credibility, trustworthiness, and reflexivity are critically examined to ensure rigor in qualitative research. By the end of this course, students will be able to design and conduct small-scale qualitative studies, present findings effectively, and critically evaluate qualitative research reports in the field of education. The course prepares students not only for academic research but also for professional practice where qualitative insights are vital for educational decision-making, curriculum design, and policy formulation.

• Critically analyze qualitative data using appropriate methods and approaches
• Collect and analyze data using appropriate methods
• Write and produce clear and meaningful reports

• 10 Credits 

• Undergraduate students in education or related disciplines

• Postgraduate students conducting qualitative research

• Lecturers and academic researchers interested in qualitative inquiry

• Teachers involved in classroom-based or action research

• Educational administrators seeking deeper understanding of qualitative data

• Research assistants or project coordinators working on educational studies

• Professionals in training and instructional design exploring qualitative evaluation

• Module 1: Differences between Qualitative Research and Quantitative Research: Philosophy, Design and Practices
• Module 2: Role of Literature Review in Qualitative Research
• Module 3: Qualitative Research Design 
• Module 4: The process of conducting qualitative research
• Module 5: Ethics in Qualitative Research
• Module 6: Validity and reliability in qualitative research
• Module 7 :  Qualitative Research Data Collection
• Module 8: Qualitative Research Data Analysis
• Module 9 : Writing a Qualitative Research Report
• Module 10:  Application of NVivo Software