This programme provides specialist training and practical experience in qualitative methods, as well as promoting skills for career and professional development.
The Masters in Qualitative Methods will help to equip students with skills that are widely applicable in a wide range of occupational settings, such as education, local government, and sectors of the economy that require knowledge and experience of research methods and data handling. This programme aims to help students to be able to understand the relevance of and be able to apply a range of both quantitative and qualitative research methods; and to critically analyse and evaluate one’s own research findings and those of others. This course is also an excellent foundation for studies at the PhD level and is accredited by the ESRC (1+3 recognition).
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This programme is focused on a specialist taught module and hands-on practical training in Qualitative Research Methods including:
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Theoretical frameworks of qualitative methods, philosophy of science and a critical approach to research
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Data collection methods – interviews, focus groups, naturalistic data
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Data analysis techniques – discourse analysis, grounded theory, narrative analysis, interpretative phenomenological analysis
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Research ethics and reflexivity
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Critical appraisal, practical implementation and dissemination.
The course also includes a dissertation project, an original piece of qualitative research carried out under the mentorship of a research sponsor in the spring and summer terms.
Students also complete a core of six compulsory 10-credit modules in Psychological Research methods that provide detailed study and practical experience in psychological research design and analysis and in the development of professional skills. These include:
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Advanced Methods in Psychological Research
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Advanced Research Design and Analysis
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Advanced Statistics
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Communication Skills in Research and Teaching
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Professional Development
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Research Rotation.
Students should hold at least a second class Honours Degree in Psychology or a related field, from a British university or a qualification of equivalent value.
International students whose first language is not English must demonstrate a satisfactory command of English language. They should meet our minimum English language requirement by taking one of the following tests:
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IELTS. Minimum requirement - 6.5 overall, 6.0 in each area.
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TOEFL IBT. Minimum requirement - 100 overall, (21 in listening and writing, 22 in reading and 23 in speaking).
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Pearson Academic. Minimum requirement - 61 overall, 59 in each area.
We do not accept a Password test.
The course is delivered mainly through lectures, which are normally followed up by laboratory-based practical sessions.
The course is assessed by a combination of coursework, examinations, practical work, oral and written presentations, and the dissertation project.
This course would be ideal for someone wishing to pursue further research in neuroscience.
In addition to writing skills, students will learn how to deliver information concisely in the form of scientific posters and talks as well essential interview and CV writing skills.
Students will have access to an on-site 3T MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scanner, a Magnetoencephologaphic (MEG) scanner (one of the only MEG scanners in existence in the UK) and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and high density EEG recording equipment. In addition to the analysis laboratories, there is a dedicated computer suite and seminar room for masters students.
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