Qualitative Methodologies
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Geography
410/510
Professor
Lise Nelson MW 2:00 - 3:20 pm 360 Condon We will explore the epistemological and philosophical underpinnings of qualitative methods, and students will gain hands-on experience developing research question(s) and using qualitative methods to gather and analyze data.
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**NOTE: STUDENTS DO NOT NEED A PROJECT "IN HAND" TO TAKE THIS COURSE!**
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There are four learning objectives in this course. First, we learn how social theory and philosophy reciprocally shape methodology as well as research design and strategies. Second, we study and employ various techniques such as interviewing, archival research, participant observation and life history collection, which may include writing field notes and interview transcription. Third, we examine different strategies for interpreting qualitative data, strategies such as textual interpretation, discourse analysis and ethnography. Fourth, we interrogate the process of writing up and representing the results of our research. At every stage we grapple with the issues of ethics, representation and authority as part of the research process.
Reading
requirements (available at the UO Bookstore or on reserve in Knight
Library):
Research:
Methodology is about research practice.
This class is designed around work on a research project you
are beginning or currently working on.
You need to propose to me in writing, by the beginning of
week three, the goal(s) you have for completing at least one portion
of the project within class time.
If you are not currently engaged in an ongoing individual
project directly related to your senior essay, thesis or
dissertation, you will be teamed into pairs to work out a topic (if
you want to conduct the research as a team, this is feasible, but
all aspects of the project and division of labor must be
pre-approved by the professor).
You need to use at least two primary data-gathering
techniques in this project (.e.g. participant observation,
interviewing, archival or library research, etc.). This is a good time to try to your hand at taping and
transcribing interviews, and undertaking preliminary data analysis.
Each student will turn in a
written report of the research they conduct during the quarter,
undergrads Graduate students: This portion of the course can be designed around the needs of your thesis or dissertation project with prior approval from the professor.
Oral Presentation of Research: You will be presenting your research to a group of fellow researchers interested in your topic, well versed in qualitative research methodology and eager to hear about your research question(s), research design, method and analysis. Each project will be allotted ten minutes for an oral presentation, and five minutes for general questions and discussion. Members of the audience will submit evaluations of each presentation, which I will use in computing each presenter’s grade. Participation in evaluations of oral presentations is a part of each student’s participation grade.
Evaluation: The evaluation of student performance in this class is based on the following components. Please note the different evaluative weight given to components for undergraduates versus graduate students.
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