Z4011 Qualitative methods of social geographic research

Faculty of Science
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/2. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
RNDr. Robert Osman, Ph.D. (lecturer)
RNDr. Ondřej Šerý, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
RNDr. Ondřej Šerý, Ph.D.
Department of Geography – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: RNDr. Ondřej Šerý, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Geography – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Prerequisites (in Czech)
KREDITY_MIN(40)
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 15 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/15, only registered: 0/15
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 8 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The main objectives of subject: Introduction of qualitative methodology in the context of geographic research; Overview of selected qualitative methods and techniques; Practical training of selected qualitative methods and techniques.
Learning outcomes
Students will be able to distinguish the principles of quantitative and qualitative methodology after passing the subject. They will be able to select at least three research designs, be able to formulate a research question, and be able to collect data through observations, interviews, go-along walks, and mental maps.
Syllabus
  • Part 1. Difference between quantitative and qualitative methodology:
  • 1. reality, habits, tradition, authority, experience; 2. elements of social theory - paradigm, theory, observation, facts, rules, concepts, variables, hypothesis; 3. research design, topics and enquiry;
  • Part 2. Selected methods of qualitative data collection:
  • 4. working with a research question, creating research questions; 5. observations - structured, semi-structured, unstructured; 6. interview - structured, semi-structured, unstructured; 7. mental map; 8. go-along research;
  • Part 3. Selected methods of qualitative data processing:
  • 9. coding and transcription; 10. textual analysis; 11. visual analysis; 12. application and reflection.
Literature
    required literature
  • DISMAN, Miroslav. Jak se vyrábí sociologická znalost : příručka pro uživatele. 3. vyd. Praha: Karolinum, 2000, 374 s. ISBN 9788024601397. info
  • SILVERMAN, David. Ako robiť kvalitatívny výskum : praktická príručka. Translated by Martin Štulrajter. Bratislava: Ikar, 2005, 327 s. ISBN 8055109044. info
  • GAVORA, Peter. Sprievodca metodológiou kvalitatívneho výskumu. 2. vyd. Bratislava: Vydavateľstvo UK, 2007, 229 s. ISBN 9788022323178. info
  • BLAŽEK, Matej and Alena ROCHOVSKÁ. Feministické geografie / Matej Blažek, Alena Rochovská. Bratislava: GeoGrafika, 2006, 188 s. ISBN 8096933876. info
  • STRAUSS, Anselm and Juliet CORBINOVÁ. Základy kvalitativního výzkumu : postupy a techniky metody zakotvené teorie. Vyd. 1. Boskovice: Albert, 1999, 196 s. ISBN 80-85834-60-X. info
    recommended literature
  • HENDL, Jan. Kvalitativní výzkum : základní teorie, metody a aplikace. 2., aktualiz. vyd. Praha: Portál, 2008, 407 s. ISBN 9788073674854. info
  • Qualitative research methods in human geography. Edited by Iain Hay. 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010, xxxi, 432. ISBN 9780195430158. info
  • The SAGE handbook of qualitative geography. Edited by Dydia DeLyser. Los Angeles [i.e. Thousand Oaks, Calif.]: SAGE, 2010, xii, 431. ISBN 9781412919913. info
  • Qualitative methodologies for geographers : issues anddebates. Edited by Melanie Limb - Claire Dwyer. London: Arnold, 2001, xv, 303 s. ISBN 0-340-74225-9. info
Teaching methods
Teaching methods - lectures, class discussion, forum theatre, homeworks, field work, own research.
Assessment methods
Colloquium (oral) tests ability to use qualitative technics in geographical research, specific application of selected qualitative data collection methods.
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2011 - only for the accreditation, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, spring 2012 - acreditation, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/spring2025/Z4011