Investigating Experience, Understanding Ourselves and Others
Explore the nature of human experience and complete your own qualitative research project
Module details
- Offered to 2nd Years
- Mondays 16.00-18.00
- Planned delivery: Online
- 2-term module worth 5 ECTS
- Available to eligible students as part of I-Explore
- Extra Credit or Degree Credit where your department allows
During this module, you will begin by considering the nature of experience. What is experience and how is this different to objective reality? Is there any such thing as reality? Can more than one person have the same experience? What influences our experience? How is experience different to memory?
In teams we will consider the inputs of various disciplinary theories to form our own overarching idea of 'experience'. We will design our own 'experience' infographics that detail how these ideas can be brought together.
We will explore the purpose of qualitative research, and how qualitative methods might be used to investigate human experience.
We will learn how to conduct a range of research methods - practicing them on a mini whole class research project so that we have the opportunity to try all the methods.
Finally, you will design and conduct your own qualitative research project using the method of your choice. The project must be conducted within the class - meaning that as a class, we will act as both researchers and research participants. We will explore the ethical implications of this and all projects will require ethical approval.
There will be a lot of flexibility to allow these projects to be completed during the second half of the module, before we come back together to share mini-outputs and reflect on our research.
There are no lectures in this module. You will complete lots of active learning activities to help explore key issues and themes. We will work collaboratively in teams and as a whole class to develop a sound base of knowledge before commencing individual research projects.
This module will be delivered online making full use of our virtual classroom. Each session will be highly interactive including activities, discussion and close interaction with your peers and teachers. To understand more about how we teach online interactively, visit the Change Makers Online Learning page.
Investigating Experience
Investigating Experience, Understanding Ourselves and Others
Explore the nature of human experience and complete your own qualitative research project
Published on May 23, 2022
Listen to Dr Elizabeth Hauke talking about the Investigating Experience module
Information blocks
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module you will be able to:
- Understand and reflect on the nature of experience using a range of theoretical ideas
- Describe and illustrate diagramatically your own understanding of how experience is constructed
- Use basic qualitative methods including questionnaires/surveys, interviews, focus groups and observational methods to answer a research question
- Design and conduct a small qualitative research study
- Produce and present a small research output
- Work independently and as part of a team to complete a project
Indicative core content
During this module you will be guided by the teacher to discuss your own ideas about 'experience' and consider some different theoretical ideas relating to perception and meaning-making. We will conduct some basic thought experiments and practical activities to see how 'experience' operates as a mediation between the 'real world' and our internal image of the world. We will learn how to use a variety of methods using a mini-research project conducted as a class. There will be a short period of research project design where we will meet to discuss your ideas and complete project proposals and ethics applications. Once your project is approved, you will have several weeks to complete your project with feedback and support as needed and then produce a mini-output. We will come together again at the end of the module to share these outputs.
Learning and teaching approach
During this module you will be guided by the teacher to discuss your own ideas about 'experience' and consider some different theoretical ideas relating to perception and meaning-making. We will conduct some basic thought experiments and practical activities to see how 'experience' operates as a mediation between the 'real world' and our internal image of the world. We will learn how to use a variety of methods using a mini-research project conducted as a class. There will be a short period of research project design where we will meet to discuss your ideas and complete project proposals and ethics applications. Once your project is approved, you will have several weeks to complete your project with feedback and support as needed and then produce a mini-output. We will come together again at the end of the module to share these outputs.
You will receive ongoing formative feedback during the module and then receive written summative feedback within two weeks of the end of the module.
Assessment
- Coursework: Structured Research Report - Maximum 1000 words of short answers to structured questions (60%)
- Coursework: Multimedia Research Output - Equivalent to 1000 word essay or ten minute performance, video or audio submission (40%)
Formative learning activities will be completed in the first part of the module, for which you will receive feedback. These include creating the experience infographic and testing each of the research methods in our research carousel activity. You will need to present your research proposal and ethical application and have these approved before you can commence your research project. You will receive as much feedback as you need to complete these important tasks. There are two summative assessment tasks. The first is to complete your Structured Research Report. This is a questionnaire that will ask you questions about your research question, method, participant(s), ethics, results, output and researcher reflection. You will be required to write a response to each question, the longest being 400 words. This should be no longer than 1000 words in total. Finally, you will produce a multimedia research output that communicates a key finding from your research. This will be the equivalent of a maximum of 1000 words or 10 minutes in length, but will vary depending on the nature of the output.
Key information
- Requirements: You are expected to attend all classes and undertake approximately 85 hours of independent study in total during the module. Independent study includes reading and preparation for classes, researching and writing coursework assignments and preparing for other assessments.
- This module is designed as an undergraduate Level 5 module. For an explanation of levels, view the Imperial Horizons Level Descriptors page.
What happens in this module?
As your teacher will not be delivering set lectures, the exact flow of the sessions can be adjusted to suit the progress of the class. The teacher will set up interesting and engaging class activities that allow you to learn from existing knowledge about experience and qualitative research, whilst developing your own perspective and unique understanding. Your teacher will be very interested to hear about your own opinions and ideas, and will have lots of ideas to help get you thinking and build your confidence in sharing with others.
During this module you will learn:
- About existing theories and ideas
- How to combine these theories with your own thoughts and ideas
- How to relate complex theories and ideas to your own experiences
- How to work in teams and learn together with other students
- How to manage your own time
- How to learn effectively online – how to build relationships with other students and your teacher, how to engage in online spaces and how to communicate and collaborate effectively
- How to plan and conduct your own study and activity sessions with your fellow students in class time, but outside the classroom
During this module you will do:
- Lots of practical and paper-based activities to help build your own knowledge and understanding of complex ideas
- Lots of individual thinking, reading and online research
- Lots of collaborative thinking and team activities
- Trust and relationship building activities
- Lots of speaking and sharing in class, in a very supported and friendly environment
- Informal peer feedback
- Your own research project
The module will combine in-person student activities with online classes. We will make extensive use of our virtual classroom for our collaborative work and communication, but you will have plenty of opportunities to meet together for classes and for practical activities.