Qualitative research methods 3500-MBJ

The class is aimed at familiarizing participants with the origins and specificity of qualitative research methods as well as research opportunities that they offer. Thanks to studying the work of qualitative social researchers and simultaneous carrying out of own research, the participants will have the opportunity to learn how to search out research programs and form research questions to structure the research process. The class will focus on four research methods: observation, in-depth interview, focus group, and content analysis. Both the theoretical assumptions of qualitative research and its practical application will be emphasized. Hence the class will largely have the form of a workshop, allowing students to acquire the skills of conducting interviews, observations and content analysis. The participants will practice making contact with the subjects and learn how to handle problems related to gaining access and deciding about one’s own identity during a study. At the same time, they will gain experience in keeping notes from field work, planning scenarios for observations and interviews, and coding them. Hence, it will be necessary to practice asking research questions structuring the study and yielding significant qualitative data. Finally, the students will learn the strategies of processing and analyzing qualitative data, such as coding, making notes and developing typologies, which will enable them to write a report from their own research. No less important will be gaining experience of working in a research team, organizing work time in a qualitative research project, critical evaluation of own and other participants’ projects, and developing sensitivity towards the persons, groups and communities’ studies, related to the moral responsibility of the qualitative researcher.
The class lasts two semesters, which translates to 60 hours of class time. To this amount one should add the time needed for the preparation of the research project, doing the field work (i.e. conducting interviews or observation), and writing a research report. This means that the out-of-class work will require another 60 hours.