Scenarios 2019
1. Refuweegee is a charity that gives people a way to welcome those newest to arrive to
Glasgow. It provides welcome packs and runs events, also working with community
partners. Design a research project to assess the impact of this project. You can
choose to focus on the impact for those who are arriving, those who are welcoming,
wider provision for refugees or another aspect you are interested in, but justify your
choices.
2. Research has shown that parenthood has an effect on the emotions involved when
people worry about climate change (Ekholm & Olofsson, 2016). Design a qualitative
research study that examines in what ways parenthood influences people’s
perceptions and/or actions around climate change. Narrow this down in a way that
reflects your interests (e.g. nation, gender, location, age of parents/children, ethnicity)
but justify your choices.
3. Recently, there has been a call for the Scottish Government to stop building new
roads, particularly motorways, and to reinvest the money saved into sustainable
transport. Design a qualitative research project examining the building of a motorway
anywhere in the world and at any time (but be specific!), to understand how the
project is/was perceived (by a particular group) and/or the main drivers and effects of
the project.
4. The blended classroom combines traditional face-to-face instruction with computer
mediated or online instruction. Often, but not always, social media plays a role within
this. Design a qualitative research study to examine the benefits and drawbacks of
using social media for the purposes of teaching in one particular area (Higher
Education, language teaching, secondary schools) and context, justifying your
choices.
5. The TV show ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ has popularised and mainstreamed drag queen
culture. Design a qualitative study that explores how perceptions of the art of drag
have developed over time. You are encouraged to narrow the focus, by examining a
certain period of time, or perceptions as expressed in one particular medium or by a
particular group, but justify your choices.
6. Crowdfunding has been characterised as transforming and democratising finance.
Design a qualitative research study that explores the impact of crowd-funding,
focusing your research according to your interests (sector, country, impact for whom),
justifying your choices. Instructions and mark allocation Qualitative Methods
summative assessment
Instructions
Task Marks
Allocated
Include an introduction where you present the scenario chosen and
provide some background for your research and clarify the purpose of
the project by justifying and explaining the focus you are taking.
300 words
10
This section should include a short literature review justifying the need
for the research in light of existing knowledge. This literature review
should focus on the topic chosen, not the methodological literature.
Discuss the research approach (e.g. ethnography, PAR, case studies, and
so forth) adopted, justifying this in light of the research topic and
research questions.
Discuss epistemological and ethical considerations (at least a paragraph
each).
1000 words
Discuss two qualitative research methods that you would use for your
project, justify their suitability and assess their strengths and
weaknesses in relation to your project drawing on the methodological
literature.
Discuss the practical elements of the methods (i.e. access, recruitment or
selection, sample size where appropriate).
Be reflexive, not just by pointing out the need for reflexivity, but also by
discussing what you bring to the research (i.e. your positionality, skills,
background, characteristics) and the impact of this.
Discuss how you intend to address ethical issues arising from the use of
these methods in this project, drawing on relevant literature.
600 words per method for a total of 1200
Discuss one method that you consider less suitable for your project and
explain why it would be less suitable than the methods chosen to achieve
the aims and objectives of your research. Reflect on potential practical
or ethical issues arising, again drawing on relevant literature.
Around 500 words
Briefly discuss one potential approach to analyzing the material you will
collect in light of your research questions, discussing practical and
ethical considerations where appropriate. Anticipate how your position
as a researcher might impact the analysis process (i.e. reflexivity).
Around 500 words
Conclude by evaluating your research design and methodology and
consider their limitations.
Around 500 words
Participation mark for peer review
Hints:
• The aim of the assignment is to get you to think critically about the different types of
qualitative methods available.
• As in any piece of academic work, you should fully and properly cite outside works
used in the assignment. This includes properly citing works from the course such as
articles or other specialised sources and textbooks. You should include a bibliography
of these works at the end of the essay. You are encouraged to use actual research
published as journal articles to support your arguments.
• The work that you turn in should be yours and yours only. We have outlined the
university’s policy on plagiarism below to clarify further.
• GU websites on ethics: http://www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/socialsciences/students/ethics/ and
http://www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/socialsciences/students/ethics/forms/staffandpostgraduateresear
chstudents/
PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism is the presentation of another person’s work as your own. The University Calendar
says that it is “considered as an act of academic fraudulence and is an offence against
University discipline”. The presentation of someone else’s essay is obviously fraudulent, but
the dividing line between your own work and that of your sources is less clear. The solution
is always to acknowledge your sources and to use quotations when repeating exactly what
someone else has said. If in doubt seek guidance from your tutors. Students are strongly
advised to consult the University’s guidance on plagiarism, which can be found at
https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/leads/students/plagiarism/ and the Senate’s Statement on
Plagiarism here
https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/senateoffice/policies/calendar/calendar2018-
19/feesandgeneral/studentsupportandconductmatters/reg32/
