Qualitative Methods Graduate Seminar

This course introduces students to the doing of qualitative research, primarily participant observation and in-depth interviewing, through a variety of activities. We will focus primarily on being “in the field,” that is, on the collection of data, while also learning about analyzing and presenting the data. In this course, we will learn from reading others’ accounts of fieldwork, “how-to” books on qualitative work, and published exemplars as well as from doing qualitative research and talking to each other about our research practices. The “doing” of qualitative research in the course consists of two types: 1) exercises in how to collect data and 2) the execution of your own original research project. We will talk with each other about our findings, problems, issues, topics, substance, and all other research dilemmas in large group discussion in class and through written feedback.