Qualitative Research Methods

Catalog description

This course will introduce students to the research process, including how to synthesize previous research and theories in the process of designing their own research project. In addition, students will learn qualitative methodologies of inquiry commonly used in the social sciences and history. These will include, but not be limited to, ethnography, content analysis, interviews, visual and media analysis, contextualization practices in time and space and archival research. Students will become familiar with ethical issues in the data collection and analysis process. Students will learn to construct research questions that frame social problems and address them with systematic, thoughtful and thorough qualitative data collection and analysis while using advanced 'toolkits' of a social analyst and appropriate software.