Study Programmes 2015-2016
GDOC0001-1  
Discovering Qualitative Research through Practice
Duration :
15h Th, 30h Pr
Number of credits :
Doctoral training in economics and business management (Sciences de gestion)5
Lecturer :
Christophe Lejeune
Language(s) of instruction :
English language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the second semester
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Course contents :
What is really qualitative research ? Either you plan to conduct such a research or not, the question is worth asking. For those who are not familiar to qualitative research, the seminar offers a practical introduction that will ultimately help them to be able to address accurate, precise and relevant questions to colleagues involved in qualitative investigations. For those involved in qualitative research, this seminar offers a opportunity to collectively conduct a fieldwork and to discuss higher standards in qualitative inquiry.
The seminar introduces the particularity of qualitative approaches though key notions from the Grounded Theory Method (GTM) : open, axial and selective coding, theoretical sampling and saturation, substantive and formal theory.
Practical work allows the students to test their knowledge by individually conducting an interview and collectively analyzing the transcripts.
Learning outcomes of the course :
The student will be able to:
  • given a research question, decide whether a qualitative or a quantitative approach is relevant
  • accurately define qualitative terms
  • conduct an interview
  • actively participate to a collective analysis of text material
  • summarize results from a collective research
  • create accurate slides
  • speak in public
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
  • The seminar alternates lessons and exercises on qualitative research
  • Students realize their own research (elaborating a research question, conducting and analysis of an interview, interpreting and presenting results).
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
Face to face and teamwork
Recommended or required readings :
There is no syllabus. Two resource are provided through the online platform of the seminar.


  • An extended list of the key notions (50 pages).
  • A detailed roadmap for the practical works.
Students might be interested in these supplementary readings.


  • Corbin, Juliet and Strauss, Anselm L., 2008, Basics of Qualitative Research. Techniques and Procedures for Developing Grounded Theory, Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications. Available at the ULg Graulich library [XXII-21 /128], at the ULg BGPhL-Philo Communication [A1 STR]
  • Charmaz, Kathy, 2006, Constructing Grounded Theory. A Practical Guide through Qualitative Analysis, London: Sage Publications Available at the ULg Graulich library [XXII-235/0038] and at the ULB social sciences library [4NIV 300.72 CHAR]
The latter readings are supplementary resources for students wishing to deepen their understanding; they are in no way required.
Assessment methods and criteria :
The oral presentation of the qualitative research is evaluated according to its briefness, its clarity and the terminology used.
Work placement(s) :
Organizational remarks :
  • Location : Sessions are alternatively organized in Liege, Mons and Brussels.
  • Enrolment is made through the external online form : http://www.squash.ulg.ac.be/events/
  • Attendance : Attendance to every session is mandatory. Moreover, attendees are required to actively participate to the session. Any absence would imply to be rejected from the seminar.
Contacts :
Please insert the flag [GDOC0001] (including square brackets) in the subject of any email concerning this course.
Items online :
LOL@
The Online Platform includes schedule of the course and informations to realise the practical works.