Description : This is a general introductory course in qualitative research methods, in which the characteristics of such a research approach are presented and the differences from quantitative research stressed. The course will focus on some of the methodologies pertaining to qualitative research, and examine in detail the way they can be used in education. The underlying principles of approaches like action research, ethnography, case study, will be presented, and illustrations will be provided from studies that have been conducted through them. Furthermore, theoretical issues related to the qualitative methods will be discussed, so that the application of qualitative research in an educational settings will be contextualized, and the advantages and shortcomings of such attempts made apparent.