course-details-portlet

MET410

Qualitative Research Methods for the master thesis

Credits 7.5
Level Second degree level
Course start Autumn 2025
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction Norwegian
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement Assignment and work

About

About the course

Course content

The course focuses on the following topics:

  • How to understand qualitative research
  • Research questions, research design and how to delineate projects
  • The role of literature review and theory in qualitative research
  • Different methods for data-collection: observations, interviews, document studies etc
  • Data analysis and use of software - interpretation, research quality, ethics in qualitative research

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

  • Students should have an advanced understanding of principles for qualitative research processes and their challenges.
  • They should be able to reflect on how choices of research design including data collection and analytic methods influence the project results.

Skills:

  • Students should know of and understand a range of available elements in qualitative research projects.
  • Students should understand principles of and be able to collect and analyze qualitative data, as well as understand the practical implications of different choices.

General understanding:

  • Students should acquire a sound basis to apply qualitative methods for their master thesis and other research- and investigative projects.

Learning methods and activities

A combination of lectures, presentations, group and independent assignments.

Lectures will to some extent be used to present and discuss a variety of qualitative research designs. Student participation is expected. In sessions a variety of assignments will be presented to train students in different qualitative methodologies.

The course is taught intensively at the beginning of the semester.

Further on evaluation

Assessment will be based on a portfolio consisting of individual works based on key elements of the subject as well as a term paper in groups. The grade thus consists of two sub-assessments:

Individual assignments count 50% and assignments in groups count 50%. The number of works in the individual part is stated at the start of the semester. The term paper is submitted by groups consisting of two or three students. The students themselves are responsible for finding someone to write with.

In the case of a re-sit exam and the last exam after the course has been discontinued, the form of assessment may be changed to an oral exam.

If you do not pass, it will be possible to retake the individual partial assessment. If students want to improve their grade, all partial assessments must be retaken.

The course is only available to students with admission to a study program under "special conditions".

Required previous knowledge

None

Course materials

Course literature will be announced at the latest in the beginning of the course.

Subject areas

  • Economics and Administration

Contact information

Course coordinator

Department with academic responsibility

NTNU Business School

Examination

Examination

Examination arrangement: Assignment and work
Grade: Letter grades

Ordinary examination - Autumn 2025

Work
Weighting 50/100 Date Release 2025-09-09
Submission 2025-09-16
Time Release 08:00
Submission 14:00
Exam system Inspera Assessment
Assignment
Weighting 50/100 Date Release 2025-10-01
Submission 2025-10-08
Time Release 08:00
Submission 14:00
Exam system Inspera Assessment