This course provides an opportunity to delve into the main genres of qualitative methodology used in social science research, in the interest of preparing students for their eventual MA thesis research. Qualitative inquiry allows researchers to ask “how” and “why” questions and to describe the complexity of social phenomena. To do this, researchers need tools that will help them to make sense of what they see and hear and to better understand the meanings that people give to their lived experience. The majority of time will be spent conducing “hands-on” data collection using techniques most commonly associated with qualitative research, such as semi-structured individual interviews, observation and participant-observation, focus group discussions, and document review. Analysis and interpretation of data, along with ethical aspects of qualitative methods, will be covered as well.
- Teacher: Cathryn Susan Magno