Overview

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

A survey of the principles and techniques of qualitative research design, methods, and data collection tools needed to conduct systematic qualitative political science research.

COURSE DETAILS:

The aim of this course is to enable students to become well-rounded qualitative researchers. Specific objectives include enabling students to understand the logic of qualitative methodologies in political science, to be aware of a range of ethical issues around research involving participants, to be sensitive to how their positionality as embodied agents impacts their research, and to develop and apply a set of techniques and methods for conducting qualitative research. Students will engage with course materials from different traditions within qualitative research, including social-scientific, interpretive, and critical approaches. They will also learn foundational skills in qualitative research, including memo writing, interviewing, coding, and archiving, as well as best practices in facilitating transparency. The course will also enable students to become proficient in the use of NVivo, which is software for qualitative analysis, and will involve periodic lab instruction and practice time. The ethos of the course is “learning by doing (and enjoying),” and as such students will have the opportunity to work on several short (and fun) assignments focused on developing specific skills throughout the semester.

There will be a two- to three-hour seminar, including periodic lab time, as well as flex time, each week. Approximately five seminars will be held via Zoom. In addition to the live seminars, there will be approximately one- to two-hours of on-line materials (e.g., videos and short exercises) posted in Canvas for you to work through each week. Students are expected to keep up with their readings on their own time.

Grading

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

REQUIRED READING NOTES: