BUU22593 Qualitative Research Methods 2025/26

(5 ECTS)

Lecturer:

David Horan

Email: horand3@tcd.ie, lahiel@tcd.ie

Office Hours: Thursdays 2-3pm. Room B215 (Trinity Business School)

Tutorials: TBC

Not available to exchange Students

Module Description:

This module introduces students to the area of qualitative research. As opposed to quantitative research, with a focus on numbers, with qualitative research the focus is on text, and geared towards understanding social and cultural phenomena. Instead of mathematical modelling and statistical analysis, qualitative research employs research methods such as action research, case study research, ethnography and grounded theory. The module will explore research design and selected research methods, underlying assumptions and ethical principles related to research as well as data collection and data analysis techniques. Examples from business and management and the sustainability literature will be discussed in class.

Teaching and Learning Approach

The approach in this module is primarily face-to-face. It is expected that students should complete the relevant pre-reading and engage actively in class discussions and group activities. Tutorials will also take place at scheduled times.

Learning Outcomes 

Having completed this module students should be able to:

1. Explain the difference between qualitative and quantitative research;
2. Develop a basic qualitative research proposal;
3. Explain the underlying assumptions and ethical principles related to research;
4. Apply – at a basic level – four distinct qualitative research methods; and
5. Explain – at a basic level – approaches to data collection and data analysis

Relation to Degree

This module forms part of a suite of modules of Trinity Business School across the four years of our business-related degree programmes. This module is focused on developing qualitative skills that will enable the development of technically capable and conceptually proficient graduates who can thrive in a dynamic and fast-changing environment. The module will serve to develop students’ understanding and skills in relation to qualitative research and will serve as a foundation for possible qualitative research projects at a postgraduate level.

Workload

This is a 5-credit module that requires 125 hours of study. These hours include reading of assigned materials, watching video material, attending online lectures, participating in online discussions, working on assignments and writing the final exam.

Tutorials will take place in a select number of weeks (five or six) throughout the semester.  Students will be pre-assigned to a tutorial group. The content of tutorials will focus on teaching students vital practical skills required for doing qualitative research, including instruction in relevant software programs (e.g., NVivo). Tutorial content will build on the lecture content and the TA’s background and knowledge/skills in qualitative research.

Myers, M.D. (2019). Qualitative Research in Business & Management. Sage. Amazon link

Supplemental Readings: 

• Gatignon, H. (2018). Ethical behaviours versus behaviours that contravene 
  deontological research principles in the publishing process. Recherche et Applications 
  En Marketing (English Edition). Available at 
  https://journals.sagepub.com/stoken/rbtfl/FTB2K09LDNIIUIVH4JPM4/pdf/10.1177/2051
  570718815973
• Palmer, D., Dick, B., & Freiburger, N. (2009). Rigor and Relevance in Organization 
  Studies. Journal of Management Inquiry, 18(4), 265-272. Available at 
  https://journals.sagepub.com/stoken/rbtfl/0QYNQJXU7INORYI7F9XHY9/pdf/10.1177/10
  56492609343491

Course Communication

Please note that all course related email communication must be sent from your official TCD email address. Emails sent from other addresses will not be attended to.

Assessment

End of term exam (100%)

The exam will comprise two elements: an MCQ test (40% of the overall grade) that will examine the complete content covered throughout this module, and a second component (60% of the overall grade) that will examine specific topics covered in this module in more detail. Further information on the assessment will follow.

Re-Assessment
Re-assessment involves retaking a 100% exam. 

Note on assessment of students allowed to sit a supplemental exam
Students who do not obtain an overall pass mark for this module (40%), will have the opportunity to be reassessed by a re-take exam (weighted at 100% 

Biographical Note

Dr David Horan is an Assistant Professor at Trinity Business School, specialized in governance for sustainable development. At Trinity, his main research interests focus on UN sustainable development agendas, multi-stakeholder implementation, and business actions and cross-sector partnerships for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Prior to joining the School in Autumn 2022, Dr. Horan was awarded a Marie Curie Fellowship to undertake research and engagement for the SDGs that included a two-year secondment at the UN. He is author of "A New Approach to Partnerships for SDG Transformations" and has been invited to speak on transformative partnerships at UN forums and meetings. He is an Advisor on SDG Partnerships at Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future, an international non-profit in consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council. His recent publications appear in Sustainability Science, Global Policy, and Technological Forecasting & Social Change. Dr. Horan is interested in supervising Ph.D. and M.Sc. students in areas of sustainable business such as business SDG strategies, responsible/integrated leadership, cross-sector partnerships and stakeholder theory, engaged research, SDG data and indicators, and sustainability/ESG reporting.