Seminar in Qualitative Research Methods.

Catalog description

Semester course; 3 seminar hours. 3 credits. Enrollment is restricted to doctoral students. This seminar approaches qualitative research methodology in policy, administration and organizations from a research design perspective. Students learn to select a qualitative paradigm that is appropriate for their topic and interests; to develop research questions, research objectives and specific aims that are well-suited for qualitative methods; to develop data collection necessary to address specific aims using direct elicitation such as interviews, focus group discussions and open field survey items; using indirect elicitation such as participant observation and go-alongs and existing data sources such as documents, media and social media; and to prepare an initial data analysis plan. Students also learn how to conduct methodological literature searches and how to prepare for ethical and quality considerations unique to qualitative methods.