Qualitative Research Methods

Catalog description

This course offers a hands-on opportunity for students to experience the practice of qualitative research. We will address the nature of qualitative research in the administrative and policy sciences with ample opportunities to discuss the implications of the choices made in designing, implementing and reporting on the findings of a pilot project you will carry out. Qualitative research involves the collection and rigorous analysis of observations, interviews, and other records of human activity so that we come to a richer understanding of structures, processes, and perspectives that drive or shape human behavior. We will review a number of research studies that demonstrate different qualitative research methods and examine some of the epistemological foundations that motivate and inform the practices of qualitative inquiry.