Ethnography and Qualitative Interviewing II

Full course description

This is the second of a three module course on qualitative research methods. This module builds on what students have learned in part I and is designed to guide them through the steps of data collection for their own qualitative study. Students will work on gaining access to their research site and will begin the interview process and/or their observations and conversations with their research participants as participant observers. Students will be introduced to the process of transcribing the interviews, coding the data and memo writing. All three steps are part of qualitative data analysis. As students develop their research projects, they will be challenged to link their specific research questions to larger processes and forces. They will also be asked to consider who might find their research useful and how the results of their investigations might be utilized to promote social change. In-depth analysis of the intricacies underlying contemporary social, cultural, and political discourses and practices, provides the basis for good social research.

Note: This is a time and labor intensive skills training, especially once you have begun data collection. Most of the work that you are required to accomplish for the training will occurr outside of the class setting. Students are expected to work independently and should count on having to invest an extra two to four hours per week for interviewing, transcribing the interviews and working on the data collection.