Entry requirements

22,5 credits of courses from the first semester of the programme

Progression level in relation to degree requirements

The course is included in the main field of Cultural Studies and can be included in the degree requirements for a Master's degree in Cultural Studies.

Course contents

The aim of this course is for students to explore and develop relevant skills, primary research methods, and inquiry techniques required to complete an independent thesis project. Students will also be encouraged to build their confidence in order to participate in areas of cultural inquiry that are complex and sensitive.

This course is an introduction to various, relevant research methods in the field of Cultural Studies. Students study and analyse previous research with respect to methods, and discuss and investigate how methods have bearing on the research conducted. It examines epistemological problems, in basic and more exploratory research methods relevant to Cultural Studies. Furthermore, the course invites specialists from the field (archivists, documentary photographers, librarians) who deal with the ethical dimensions of research in practice. This practical component of the “how” in research, is prioritised in order to help facilitate a holistic and integrated research practice.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course the student will be able to:

1. demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the principles and the thinking behind the different research methodologies relevant to Cultural Studies.
2. demonstrate the ability to describe and discuss different methods and their areas of application, their strengths and weaknesses and their epistemological roots
3. demonstrate the ability to critically reflect over one’s own role and position as a researcher
4. relate to, contextualise, and discuss methods in reading seminars with peers, teaching staff, and specialists in different fields

Learning activities

Seminars, workshops, reading groups.

Assessment

2 position papers.

Obligatory attendance and contribution to seminars. Re-examinations will be given in accordance with Students’ Rights and Obligations, but adjustments to the assignment can be made if the circumstances for the original examination cannot be replicated.

Course literature

• Denscombe, Martyn. The Good Research Guide. For small-scale social research projects. 5th ed. Maidenhead, England: McGraw-Hill/Open University Press, 2014.
• Denzin, Norman K and Yvonna S. Lincoln. Eds. The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research, 5th ed. Eds., Thousand Oaks: SAGE, 2018.
• Law, John. After Method. Mess in Social Science Research. London: Routledge, 2004.

Supplementary articles, literature and other media will be provided.

Course evaluation

Malmö University provides students who participate in, or who have completed a course, with the opportunity to express their opinions and describe their experiences of the course by completing a course evaluation administered by the University. The University will compile and summarise the results of course evaluations. The University will also inform participants of the results and any decisions relating to measures taken in response to the course evaluations. The results will be made available to the students (HF 1:14).

Interim rules

If a course is no longer offered, or has undergone significant changes, the students must be offered two opportunities for re-examination based on the syllabus that applied at the time of registration, for a period of one year after the changes have been implemented.

Additional information

If a student has a Learning support decision, the examiner has the right to provide the student with an adapted test, or to allow the student to take the exam in a different format. The syllabus is a translation of a Swedish source text.