Module: NM2104 Qualitative Research Methods
Professor(s): Iccha Basnyat
Comments for Module: Aiyah this is compulsory mod so no point in rating it but caveat to not take it with NM2103 concurrently because I’ve heard that it’s quite confusing because they are opposites.
Anyway bulk of the boring was in transcribing for the group project. Suggestion: do focus groups if possible so you don’t have to spend a lot of time transcribing. Of course focus group comes with its own set of problems (which you will obviously learn in the mod), but transcribing will be less of a pain.
For group project, pray you get good group mates or it will be hell. You cannot choose your group mates but you can pray.
For exams, Prof Iccha focuses more on applications and understanding. So you don’t exactly have to memorise but know the significance and differences between concepts. Basically make sure you can apply or recall what something is (doesn’t have to be the exact definition). Exams were MCQs and the answers are usually quite close.
Lectures are pretty dry, as with all core modules, but you need to attend them. Try to do your readings, even if it kills you, because it might be difficult to follow in lecture if you’ve never touched your textbook. Don’t wait till the last minute and kill yourself with all the readings.
Although core mods are pretty meh, one thing good about qualitative is that everything is worth something. Unlike quantitative where you pretty much have nothing to write about if your hypotheses fail, you can always draw some connections in qualitative!
Comments for Lecturer: I thought she was trying very hard to engage the class but it was difficult because of the content. But she gives out pair or group activities sometimes so that’s fun. It allows us to apply what we’ve just learned. And as mentioned, do your readings, or at least skim through them so you can catch something during lectures.
