ANTH 419/SOCY 419/SOCY 619 QUALITATIVE METHODS IN SOCIALRESEARCH

ANTH 419/SOCY 419/SOCY 619
QUALITATIVE METHODS IN SOCIAL RESEARCH
Spring 1998

INSTRUCTOR

Dr. Kevin Eckert
Dept. Sociology/Anthropology
Academic IV, Room 359
Office telephone: 455-2960
Email: Eckert@umbc.edu
Teaching Assistant: Maria Phillips

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES:

Qualitative research is a multimethods approach to the study of social interactions in natural settings. It involves the collection and analysis of empirical information from multiple sources such as first-person accounts, life histories, visual records, semi-structured and open-ended interviews, informal and formal observations, biographical and autobiographical materials, among others. Through triangulation of methods, the researcher attempts to make sense of, or interpret, phenomena in terms of the meanings people bring to them.

This course will focus on the styles of research, analysis, and epistomologies associated with qualitative research in the social and policy sciences. Students will:

Define qualitative inquiry and relate it to its theoretical and philosophical bases
Define and explain the vocabulary of qualitative inquiry and explain the significance of its basic concepts
Determine the conditions and questions for which a qualitative study is most appropriate
Design and conduct a qualitative study
Design and conduct preliminary data analysis-creating fieldnotes, developing docing categories, and designing data displays
Present preliminary results in oral and written form

Sections of the research project will be prepared, presented, and evaluated throughout the course. The schedule of topics and requirements may change depending on the needs of the class.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Students will be evaluted on:

Development of a research questions and proposal (20%)
Field research and data analysis (20%)
Oral and written research report (40%)
Research journal (10%)
Class attendance and participation (10%)

REQUIRED TEXTS

B. Berg (1998), Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences. (Third Edition) Allyn Bacon.
C. Marshall and G.V. Rossman (1989), Designing Qualtitative Research. CA:Sage
M.B. Miles and A.M. Huberman (1994), Qualitative Data Analysis. CA: Sage
R.K. Yin (1994), Case Study Research: Design and Methods (Second Edition). CA: Sage

OPTIONAL TEXTS

N.K. Denzin and Y.S. Lincoln (1994), Handbook of Qualitative Research. CA:Sage.
B.F. Crabtree and W.L. Miller (1992), Doing Qualitative Research. CA:Sage.

COURSE RESOURCES

COURSE OUTLINE/SCHEDULE

Week 1 (1/27): Introduction/Overview

Syllabus review and assignments
Introduction of key concepts

Readings:

Berg, Chapter 1

Bohannan, Shakespeare in the Bush (Library Reserve)

Crabtree and Miller, Chapter 13

Denzin and Lincoln, "Entering the Field of Qualitative Research (Library Reserve)

Eckert, Ethnographic Research on Aging (Handout)

Marshall & Rossman, Preface and Chapter 1

Miles and Huberman, Chapter 1

Week 2 (2/3): Meaning and Methods

Research paradigms and orientations in social research

Research questions and designs

Applied/Clinical Research Models

Readings:

Crabtree and Miller, Foreword, Introduction, Chapter 1

Guba and Lincoln, "Competing Paradigms in Qualitative Research" (Library reserve)

Lincoln and Denzin, "The Fifth Moment" (Library reserve)

Miller and Crabtree, "Clinical Research" (Library reserve)

Yin, Preface and Chapter 1Assignment: Prepare your research question for review in class (2/10)(See link to field research assignment or handout)

Week 3 (2/10): Research Design

Developing the research question

Combining qualitative and quantitative methods

Triangulation of methods

Ethical/political considerations

Readings:

Berg, Chapters 2 and 3

Janesick, "The Dance of Qualitative Research Design(reserve)

Marshall and Rossman, Chapter 2

Miles and Huberman, Chapter 11

Morse, "Designing Funded Qualtitative Research(reserve)

Punch, "Politics and Ethics in Qualitative Research (reserve)

Yin, Chapter 2

Assignment:

Refine research question and write proposal for field project (See electronic link to fieldwork project write-up)

Begin research journal (See electronic link to research journal write-up)

Week 4 (2/17): Case Definition/Selection

Sampling Strategies

Readings:

Berg, Chapter 10

Crabtree and Miller, Chapter 2

Marshall and Rossman, pp.75-101

Miles and Huberman, Chapter 2

Yin, chapter 3

Week 5 (2/24): Data Collection Methods

Choosing data collection methods

Individual interviews

Group interviewing

Readings:

Berg, Chapters 4 and 5

Crabtree and Miller, Chapter 4

Fontana and Frey, "Interviewing: The Art of Science"(reserve)

Holstein and Gubrium, "Phenomenology, Ethnomethodology, and Interpretive Practice"(reserve)

Miles and Huberman, Chapter 3

Yin, Chapter 4

Assignment: Revise research proposal for presentation on 3/3

Week 6 (3/3): Data Collection Methods

Structured/systematic interviewing techniques

Observation (participant observation)

In-class proposal presentations

Combining techniques

Readings:

Berg, Chapters 7,8,9

Adler and Adler, "Observational Techniques" (Library reserve)

Atkinson and Hammersley, "Ethnography and Participant Observation" (Library reserve)

Crabtree and Miller, Chapter 3

Marshall and Rossman, pp. 101-110

Week 7 (3/10): Doing Research

Entering/exiting the field

Research/researcher relationship

Representing the "other"

Field research issues and questions

Readings:

Berg, Chapter 6

Marshall and Rossman, pp.63-75

Assignment: Prepare report on "entry" experience articulating assumptions, biases, and position of self in relation to the "other" to be given in class 3/17.

Week 8 (3/17): Fieldnotes and Journals

Issues and challenges in keeping a journal

Field notes

Writing and rewriting

Issues of validity and reliability

Verbal reports on the entry experience

Readings:

Marshall and Rossman, pp. 110-120

Week 9 (3/24): No Class: Spring Break

Week 10 (3/24): Analysis, Representation, and Writing

Analyzing textual data

Taping, transcribing, translation and back translation, organization
Coding

Redefining the research question

Qualitative reasoning-issues and challenges

Readings:

Berg, Chapters 11 and 12

Crabtree and Miller, Chapters 5,6

Huberman and Miles, "Data Management and Analysis Methods" (Library reserve)

Manning and Cullum-Swan, "Narrative, Content, and Semiotic Analysis" (Library reserve)

Marshall and Rossman, pp. 121-143

Miles and Huberman, Chapters 4,5,6

Yin, Chapter 5

Week 11 (4/7): Analysis, Representation, and Writing

Computer software for text analysis

Interpreting the results

Linking data to theory

Class discussion of issues and challenges

Readings:

Crabtree and Miller, Chapters 7,8,9,10

Miles and Huberman, Chapters 7,8,9, Appendix

Richards and Richards, "Using Computers in Qualitative Research (Library reserve)

Assignment: Prepare outline of final research report for presentation in class on 4/14

Week 12 (4/14): Analysis, Representation, and Writing

Format

Integrating data

Class discussion of issues and challenges

Present outline of final report

Readings:

Crabtree and Miller, Chapters 11,12

Denzin, "The Art and Politics of Interpretation" (Library reserve)

Marshall and Rossman, Chapter 5

Miles and Huberman, Chapters 10,11,13

Rist, "Influencing the Policy Process with Qualitative Research" (Library reserve)

Yin, Chapter 6

Week 13 (4/21): In-class presentations

Week 14 (4/28): In-class presentations

Week 15 (5/5): In-class presentations

Week 16 (5/12):Final research reports due Final journals due