#nm2104

Module: NM2104 Qualitative Research Methods

Year: 2015, Y3S1

Professor(s): Iccha Basnyat

Difficulty Level: 3/5

Workload: 3.5/5

Comments for Module: Aiyah this is compulsory mod so no point in rating it but caveat to not take it with NM2103 concurrently because I’ve heard that it’s quite confusing because they are opposites.

Anyway bulk of the boring was in transcribing for the group project. Suggestion: do focus groups if possible so you don’t have to spend a lot of time transcribing. Of course focus group comes with its own set of problems (which you will obviously learn in the mod), but transcribing will be less of a pain.

For group project, pray you get good group mates or it will be hell. You cannot choose your group mates but you can pray.

For exams, Prof Iccha focuses more on applications and understanding. So you don’t exactly have to memorise but know the significance and differences between concepts. Basically make sure you can apply or recall what something is (doesn’t have to be the exact definition). Exams were MCQs and the answers are usually quite close.

Lectures are pretty dry, as with all core modules, but you need to attend them. Try to do your readings, even if it kills you, because it might be difficult to follow in lecture if you’ve never touched your textbook. Don’t wait till the last minute and kill yourself with all the readings.

Although core mods are pretty meh, one thing good about qualitative is that everything is worth something. Unlike quantitative where you pretty much have nothing to write about if your hypotheses fail, you can always draw some connections in qualitative!

Rating for Module: 3/5

Comments for Lecturer: I thought she was trying very hard to engage the class but it was difficult because of the content. But she gives out pair or group activities sometimes so that’s fun. It allows us to apply what we’ve just learned. And as mentioned, do your readings, or at least skim through them so you can catch something during lectures.

Module: NM2104 Qualitative Communication Research Methods

Year Taken: 2015 Y2S1

Lecturer: Iccha Basnyat

Difficulty Level: 3

Workload: 3

Comments for Module: This is a compulsory module but I recommend taking it at least after your first semester, because by then you would have become more familiar with reading/writing academic papers and social theories in general. It’s about research methods, so the content isn’t that heavy. Instead, you’re supposed to write a full qualitative research paper in a group — from literature review to data collection to analysis/discussion. The data collection process was painful for me, because I spent so long looking for interviewees (everyone needs five each), who then kept dropping out at the last minute. You need to transcribe your interview word-for-word which is tedious but pretty much mindless labour. It might be helpful to formulate your research question such that your participants are people you have contacts with.  Tutorials were quite relaxed because they were basically just group discussion and consultation sessions. Shobha (the tutor) is great!! She’s very engaging and knowledgable, so you can ask her about any theory you might be using for your project. I hope she gets her PhD soon.  Since the content wasn’t difficult for this module, the bell curve is awful and you need to be careful for midterms and finals! All MCQs but the options can get tricky. 

Rating for module: 4/5

Comments for lecturer: Prof Iccha is very familiar and experienced in qualitative research and explains concepts clearly, although you will need to pay attention in class because she speaks fast. There are in-lecture activity worksheets so it’s a good idea to go for lectures with some friends, or make friends around you!