Course Learning Objectives
The objective of this course is to provide a sound understanding of qualitative research
design. This will be accompanied with a specific focus on pragmatic (and paradigmatic)
questions and method design aiming at providing tools for constructing solid qualitative
research. The course will consist of three main components:
1) It will provide the students with hands-on knowledge on how to conduct a qualitative
research project with a particular interest in how to make a research topic workable,
how to design and analyze interview data, and how to select cases.
2) It will discuss qualitative research methods in relation to dominant theoretical
perspectives and the quality criteria of research projects today.
3) By actively participating in an intensive supervisory process, the course will provide
the students with a good platform for developing their own research methods and
project.
While a good number of the assigned readings will be (1) around the core problem of
how social issues are addressed (or neglected) by collective commitments, social
relations, entrepreneurial initiatives and social institutions (this is what I am generally
and genuinely interested in); the main focus of the course will be (2) discussing about
how to do that kind of research in ways that are scientifically sound ? and fun doing.
My idea is using (as a starter, later on it shall be your research) my own interests and
work to discuss and talk about key approaches to interview and observation methods
and case selection, as well as the relation between choice of theory and quality criteria
of qualitative research.
CONTENT
1. Qualitative research, what is it and why do it? |
2. Designing qualitative research: Defining a problem, selecting a site, getting in, and sampling informants |
3. Data collection (I): Interviews |
4. Data collection (II): Observation |
5. Design (I): Single and multiple case-study research |
6. Design (II): Ethnography |
7. Data analysis - on coding |
Methodology
Class Participation: The course will be in discussion format rather than lecture, driven
by insights and questions that have arisen from participants' reading. It is therefore
essential that you read all the set articles in advance of the course.
Assignments: During the seminar, you will be asked to prepare (and discuss in class)
several assignments. Please, do your homework before the class and do your best to
contribute to discussions about your classmates' assignments too (particularly those
regarding the interview and observation).
Research Project: Please take your time to think about the topic you are (potentially)
interested in for your thesis and think about how one could investigate that through a well
crafted/thought qualitative design, and what kind of questions would you be addressing
by doing that. Think about the how, think about the where and when.
