MMD002: Advanced Qualitative Methods

Module code: MMD002

Module provider: Leadership, Organisations, Behaviour and Reputation; Henley Business School

Credits: 20

ECTS credits: 10

Level: NA

When you’ll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Professor Ruth Sealy, email: ruth.sealy@henley.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Professor Jane McKenzie, email: jane.mckenzie@henley.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2026/7

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 25 March 2026

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module, delivered at the University of Reading and online, provides an overview of qualitative research design, methodologies, methods and analytic techniques.

These areas are explored through relevant philosophical theories and conceptual frameworks, as well as exemplar studies and students' own work. Students are encouraged to engage actively and critically with the theoretical and empirical content of the module through interactive lectures and preparatory exercises, and reflective journaling, drawing upon their own research as examples. Moreover, students are expected to demonstrate an ability to integrate theories and research practice in their coursework.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of:

1. Qualitative research design, including the role of the researcher and the influence of philosophical position and logics of inquiry on the choices to be made;

2. Typical methodologies within the qualitative tradition and a range of associated research methods for data collection and analysis;

3. High quality and high impact qualitative research.

They will demonstrate their ability to integrate these learning outcomes into a research proposal for conducting qualitative research on their own PhD topic.

Module content

The module covers a rich and varied palette of qualitative research approaches through weekly lectures that introduce the student to the qualitative research process.

The module will commence with a full-day in-person workshop at the start of Semester 2, followed by 12 weekly 2-hour lectures online.

In light of the qualitative tradition, the course covers alternative paradigms and beliefs, the essentials of a rigorous, reflective and relevant research design, including the role of the researcher. It explores core methodologies such as case study, ethnography, grounded theory and process and longitudinal research, followed by examination of major methods for data collection, data coding and analysis in the qualitative traditions. Finally, it considers the role of qualitative research in theorising and the process of communicating qualitative research, both orally and in the written word. The module uses structured activities designed to develop the student's ability to reason critically and analytically, construct original arguments, learn independently and work effectively in groups to support thinking.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module comprises interactive lectures where students are encouraged to discuss their own research and apply the topics to their own area and that of others in the class. Students are encouraged to familiarise themselves with key readings and contribute to the lectures, sharing their ideas and relevant journal articles from their research area. Some classes have exercises to reinforce the learning, while others require students to give an account of how a particular research method is used in their field. Students are expected to have supervision meetings with their supervisors on at least four occasions during the course to clarify their choices and application of methodology.

Study hours

At least 31 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The following penalties for work submitted late will normally apply:  

Assessments with numerical marks 

• where the piece of work is submitted up to 30 calendar days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark; 
• where the piece of work is submitted more than 30 calendar days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.  

Assessments marked Pass/Fail  

• where the piece of work is submitted within 30 calendar days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;  
• where the piece of work is submitted more than 30 calendar days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.  

Groupwork  

Where the work submitted late is a piece of groupwork submitted on behalf of the whole group, the penalty will apply to all members of the group. Individual contributions to groupwork submitted separately by each member will be subject to a late penalty only for the individual contributions that are late 

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes can be found at:  

https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf?la=en&hash=8A89870FCA07250F482BFA8CD308588F

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work. 

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

A formative presentation created as an online video will be due as per class schedule in Blackboard. It will offer the chance to gain faculty feedback on the preliminary research design that is likely to become the foundation for the final assessed research proposal. In addition, programme members are required to complete weekly pre- and post-class journal reflections by the end of this module.

Reassessment

Additional costs