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REVISED VERSION 1/24/10: DATES HAVE BEEN CHANGED
Sc 558 Qualitative Research Methods: The Practice of Qualitative Research
SPRING, 2010
Monday 12-2:30
McGuinn: 415
Professor Sharlene Hesse-Biber
Office: 419 McGuinn Hall
Office Hours: Monday 3 to 4 pm and by appointment
Office Phone: 617-522-4139
Email: hesse@bc.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course provides an introduction to qualitative research
methods.You will learn a range of qualitative approaches,
including qualitative mixed methods designs and the
integration computer software programs designed for assisting
with the analysis of qualtitative data. You will learn the
elements of qualitative research proposal designs, including
formulating of a qualitative research question and literature
review.
Readings are concerned with the basic procedures of
participant observation, intensive interviewing and focus group
interviewing, as well as content analysis and Web 2.0 data
collection techniques such as online interviewing.
We will address the theoretical, ethical and practical issues that
arise in the conduct of qualitative research. This course takes a
"hands on" approach.This course is “practice-oriented” with the
a basic philosophy that methods skills are best taught through
linking theory with practice.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Class Participation and Attendance: 15 percent
Your engaged participation in the discussion of class readings is a vital part of the seminar.
Our seminar format requires that each student make informed contributions and therefore it is
important that you read all relevant articles before the class in which they will
be discussed. Students are responsible for the assigned readings, for taking part in class
discussions. Since the course meets once a week class attendance will be requred for each class.
If you miss a class, part of your participation grade will be compromised by 5% for each class missed.
Two (2) Seminar Presentations: 20 percent
Students are required to lead TWO (2) seminars .Your presentation should take around
20 to 30
minutes. You are required to prepare a class handout of your SEMINAR –LED
talk plus discussion
questions. You must provide these materials to students the Friday
before the Monday seminar.
Three (3) Methods Assignents: 40 percent
Methods Assignments ( more detailed handouts will be provided in-class)
Assignment number ONE: Observation and Participant Observation
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You will receive a separate handout on this assignment. You will be asked to select a field site (setting)
where you can gather informjationeither through direct observation or participant obseration. You will be
asked to log in field notes and write up your findings in a short paper. I will provide a detailed
description of this assignment in class.
Assignment number TWO. Data Collection: Intensive Interview OR Focus Group Interview.
You will receive a separate handout on this assisignment as well. You can carry out either an intensive
interview with an individual or focus group.
You should plan to submit a complete record of your data collection materials. I encourage you to
explore an area of research you are interested in working on for either a master’s paper/thesis or Ph.D.
project, etc. I will provide a detailed outline of this assignment in class.
Some additional notes: For assignments 1 and 2, please see me early so that we can discuss you
project and make sure it is within the time limits of the course.
Assignment number THREE: Analysis Assignment: You will be asked to analyze in detail the
interview you collected using a range of analysis techniques discussed in class. More information will
follow in a separate handout.
Research Proposal. 25 Percent.
Prepare a 10 page research proposal on a topic of your choice (qualitative or mixed methods should
be used). You may work on a previous proposal and fine tune the qualitative aspects of this
proposal, etc.
I will meet individually with students to discuss where they are in their proposal process.
NOTE: If you are not comfortable, writing a proposal at this stage of your academic career, you can
subsitute the proposal for a review of the literature paper or another type of paper that we can discuss.
See me soon if you decide on this option.
REQUIRED READINGS AND RECOMMENDED READINGS:
Required Texts:
Hesse-Biber, Sharlene and Leavy, Patricia (2011) The Practice of Qualitative Research. Thousand Oaks, CA.:
Sage Publications SECOND EDITION [ note : The Second Edition BOOK IS IN TYPESET MODE AND
I WILL GIVE EVERYONE A TYPESET PDF VERSION OF CHAPTERS REQUIRED . I ASK THAT YOU
NOT SHARE THESE CHAPTERS WITH ANYONE AS THIS IS A PRE-PUBLICATON OF SAGE
COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL.]
Janet Salmons, Online Interviews in Real time ( 2010) Sage Publications.
H. Russell Bernard & Gery W. Ryan (2010) Analyzing Qualitative Data: Systematic Approaches. Sage
Publications
Recommended:
K. Charmaz (2006). Constructing Grounded Theory :A practical Guide Through Qualitative Methods
Sage Publications.
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Additional Course Readings:
Additional readings will be posted on BLACKBOARD
COURSE OUTLINE AND READINGS:
Part I: Locating the Field of Qualitative Research: Major Paradigms and Perspectives
Weeks l: & 2. (JANUARY 18
TH
TH
AND 25 ) Introduction/Overview; Qualitative Research Paradigms
RESEARCH TASK:
By Week 2. Select a Research Partner (if possible).
Decide on Dates for your in-class presentation
Do this by coming to class with a sheet of your top four dates for presenting and I will try
to give you your first and second choices where possible.
WE WILL NOT MEET WEEK 1(MLK HOLIDAY). PLEASE READ OVER THESE READINGS and we will
discuss weeks 1 and 2 the second week of the semester.
Going over the Syllabus and assignments and general introduction to the field of qualitative methods.
Research paradigms and orientations in social research
Research questions and designs
Hesse-Biber & Leavy, The Practice of Qualitative Research 2
nd
Edition.
Chapters 1 & 2.
•
Guba and Lincoln, "Competing Paradigms in Qualitative Research: Theories and Issues." In Qualitative
Approaches, Chapter 1. BLACKBOARD
•
Schwandt "Constructivist, Interpretivist Approaches to Human Inquiry." In Norman K. Denzin and Yvonna
S. Lincoln (Eds.) The Landscape of Qualitative Research: Theories and Issues. Thousand Oaks, CA,
1998 BLACKBOARD
•
Kincheloe, Joe L. and Peter L. McLaren, "Rethinking Critical Theory and Qualitative Research." In
Norman K. Denzin and Yvonna S. Lincoln (Eds.) The Landscape of Research: Theories and Issues.
Thousand Oaks, CA, 1998 BLACKBOARD
Part II: Strategies of Qualitative Inquiry
Week 3 (FEBRUARY 1st) : Research Design and Ethical Dilemmas in Qualitative
Qualitative Research
Developing research questions
Combining Qualitative/Quantitative
Ethical and political considerations
RESEARCH TASK:
Week 3. Select a Field Site to Observe and hand it a short paragraph on your plans
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paragraph on your plans AND hand in to me and your research partner.
•
Hesse-Biber and Leavy, The Practice of Qualitative Research 2nd Edition (2011) Chapters 3 &
4.
• bell hooks. "Culture to Culture: ethnography and cultural studies as critical
intervention." In Yearning: race. gender, and cultural practices. Boston, MA:
South End Press. Chapter 6 in Hesse-Biber and Leavy Book
• Thome, Barrie. " 'You still takin' Notes?' Fieldwork and Problems of Informed
ConsentChapter 7 in QUALITATIVE APPROACHES
Recommended:
• Mills, C. Wright. 1959. “The Promise.” Pp. 3-24 in The Sociological Imagination.
40th ed. New York: Oxford University Press. BLACKBOARD
• Merlinda Weinberg, “Biting the Hand That Feeds You, and Other Feminist Dilemmas in Fieldwork.”
Pp. 79-94, Walking the Tightrope : Ethical Issues for Qualitative Researchers. 2002. Toronto:
University of Toronto Press. AVAILABLE ON BLACKBOARD
PART III Methods of Collecting Qualitative Data.
Week 4 (FEBRUARY 8TH) : ETHNOGRAPHY
Entering/exiting the field
Research/researcher relationship
Representing the "other" and studying across difference : gender/race/class/sexuality
gender/race/class/sexuality
RESEARCH TASK:
Week 4. Select a field partner and share Field Notes for Discussion/Exchange with your field
Readings for Week 4:
• Hesse-Biber and Leavy, The Practice of Qualitative Research, Chapter 8. Ethnography
• Lynn Weber: “ A Conceptual Framework for Understanding Race, Classs, Gender, and Sexuality.
Ppp. 121- 139 in Hesse-Biber and Yaiser BLACKBOARD
• Reay “ Rethinking Social Clas: Qualititative Perspectives on Class and Gender. Hesse-Biber and
Yaiser BLACKBOARD
Ethnographic EXEMPLAR Readings:
Elijah Anderson, "Jelly's Place." In Carolyn D. Smith and William Kornblum (Eds.) In the Field
(Second Edition) Westport CT: Praeger, 1996 BLACKBOARD
Quirk, A., Lelliott, P., and Seale, C. 2004. “Service Users’ Strategies for
Managing Risk in the Volatile Environment of an Acute Psychiatric Ward.” Social
Science & Medicine 59:2573–2583. BLACKBOARD
Shirley A. Hill and Joey Sprague “ Parenting in Black and Whilte Families: The
Gender with Race and Classs. Hesse-Biber and Yaiser BLACKBOARD
Interaction of
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Week 5 ( FEBRUARY 15TH): Nuts and Bolts of Conducting and Ethnography: Issues in the Field
Issues and challenges in keeping a journal
Field Notes
Writing and rewriting
Issues of validity and reliability
RESEARCH TASKS:
Assign #1 task Week 5. BRING TO CLASS A conceptual memo to share with the class by
Jot down no more than a half page on suggestions for analysis
Research Proposal Task Week 5. Come up with your PROPOSAL research question/s
for your proposal.
Example of Taking Field Notes:
•
Bailey, C. A. A Guide to Field Research. (Chapter 3)
•
Chapter 5. “ Exploratory or Open-Ended Observation .” in Stephen L. Schensul, Jean J.
Schensul and Margaret D. LeCompte. Essential Ethnographic Methods: Observations,
Interviews and Questionnaires. Thousand Oaks, CA.: Sage Publications. Pp.91- 120
BLACKBOARD
•
R. Lederman, "Pretexts for Ethnography: On Reading fieldnotes.:
The Making of Anthropology. R. Sanjek, Ed. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, pp. 71-91,1990
BLACKBOARD
EXEMPLARY READINGS: SELECT ONE.
• Katherine S. Newman, (2001), Hard Times on 125th Street: Harlem’s Poor Confront
Welfare Reform, American Anthropologist, 103, No. 3, 762-778. BLACKBOARD
• Tanya M. Luhrmann, (2004), Metakinesis: How God Becomes Intimate in Contemporary
U.S. Christianity, American Anthropologist, New Series, Vol. 106, No. 3, 518528.BLACKBOARD
• Bring in Field Notes for Discussion/Exchange in class Carry out a preliminary
analysis of field notes and bring in conceptual memo to share with the class. Try
jotting down no more than a half page on suggesffon for coding, etc.
Week 6 (FEBRUARY 22ND) In-Depth Interviewing & on-line interviewing.
ASSIGNMENT#1 OBSERVATION IS DUE TODAY.
RESEARCH TASKS:
Week 6.Research Tasks (1) Select interview subject /focus group subject (2) Create a
research question (preferably one from your tentative research proposal to form the basis
of your interview protocol . (3) HAND DRAFT OF your complete semi-structured interview
protocol share with your reseach partner by Friday of week 6-- Feb 26th
• Hesse-Biber and Leavy, The Practice of Qualitative Researh. Chapter 5
ON LINE INTERVIEWING: Janet Salmons, Online Intercviewing. Thousand Oaks,CA.: Sage Publications.
READ: Theory of on-line interviewing : Salmons: Chapters 1& 2
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SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
•
Rosalind Edwards. "Connecting Methods and Epistemology: A White Woman Interviewing Black
Women." Women's Studies International Forum Vol.13, No.5, pp. 477490,1990 BLACKBOARD
•
Devault, Marjorie. "Talking and Listening from Women's Standpoint: Feminist Strategies for
Interviewing and Analysis." Hesse-Biber and Yaiser AVAILABLE ON BLACKBOARD
EXEMPLARY INTERVIEW READINGS : ( SELECT ONE)
• Miller, Jody. 1998. “Up It Up: Gender and the Accomplishment of Street
Robbery.” Criminology 36:37-66.
• Waters, M. (1994) “Ethnic and Racial Identities of Second-Generation Black Immigrants in New
York”, International Migration Review 28(4): 795-820. BLACKBOARD
SELECT ONE ON-LINE EXEMPLARY ON-LINE READING:
Exemplary Application: Salmons: Chapters 6 OR 7
WEEK 7. SPRING BREAK MARCH 1-5TH NO CLASS ON MONDAY MARCH1ST
WEEK 8. ( MARCH 8TH) : Focus Group Research
RESEARCH TASKS:
Week 8. FINALIZE INTEVIEW PROTOCAL and hand to your research respondent who
will make comments to you by end of week 9.
Proposal Task Week 8 : Prepare a short literature review section of your
proposal. Share with reseach partner who will provide feedback to you by
8,Friday March12th.
.
end of week
•
Hesse-Biber and Leavy. The Practice of Social Research Chapter 7
•
VICSEK, L. “ Issues in the analysis of focus groups. In: QUALITATIVE REPORT VOLUME 15
NUMBER 1 JANUARY 3010 PP. 122-141.ACCESS: AT: http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR151/vicsek.pdf
Exemplary Readings: ( select 2 of the following)
• Peter McDermott and Julia Rothenberg “ Why Urban Parents Resist Involvement in Their
Children’s Elementary Education. “ Chapter 14 In Hesse-Biber and Leavy, Approaches to
Qualitative Research. BLACKBOARD
• Ex Hyde, Abbey, Etaoine Howlet, Dympna Brady and Jonathan Drennan.
2005. “The Focus Group Method: Insights from Focus Group Interviews on Sexual
• Health with Adolescence.” Social Science and Medicine 61:2588-2599. BLACKBOARD
• Howarth, C. (2002) “So You’re from Brixton? The Struggle for Recognition and Esteem in a
Stigmatized Community” Ethnicities 2(2): 237-260. BLACKBOARD
Week 9 (MARCH 15TH) Mixed-Methods Research
RESEARCH TASKS :
Week 9 Hand in your final protocol in class on Week 9 and conduct interview/focus group
by end of week 9, March 19th.
PROPOSAL WORK Wee 9: Formulate the research design of your proposal—methods of
data collection/sampling, etc. Share with design with your reseach partner who will
provide written feedback by the end of week 9 March 19th.
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Hesse-Biber and Leavy, the Practice of Qualitative Research, chapter 9.
Exemplars:
Mark R. Rank: “ The Blending of Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Understanding Childbearing
Among Welfare Recipeints. Hesse-Biber and Leavy, Approaches to Qualitative Research.
BLACKBOARD
Deborah L. Tolman and Laura Szalacha, “ Dimensions of Desire: Bridging Qualitative and Quantitative
Methods in a Study of Female Adolsecent Sexuality. Hesse-Biber and Leavy, Appraoches to
Qualitative Research BLACKBOARD
PART III. DATA ANALYSIS AND
Week 10 (MARCH 22ND) : What
REPRESENTATION
is Qualitative Data Analysis ?
RESEARCH TASK: Week 10: Come up with analysis plan for your data. Share with your
research partner who will provide you with feedback by the end of week 10 March 26th.
What is Qualitative Data Analysis?
Hesse-Biber and Leavy, The Practice of Qualitative Reearch Chapter 12
Bernard and Ryan, Chapter 1, 3 and 4.
Exemplary Reading:
Rapley, T.J. (2001) “The Art( fullness) of Open-Ended Interviewing: Some Considerations on
Analysing Interviews”, Qualitative Research 1(3): 303-323. BLACKBOARD
HYPERRESEARCH BOOKCAMP WILL BE HELD THIS WEEK: ATTENDANCE AT SPECIAL WORKSHOP
(TBA) IS OPTIONAL.
•
Week 11 (MARCH 29TH) What is Grounded Theory?
INTERVIEW ASSIGNMENT #2 IS DUE TODAY, MARCH 29TH.
RESEARCH TASK:
Week 11. DATA ANALYSIS ASSIGNMENT #3. Share and discuss your preliminary data
analysis rationale for your interview with your partner and hand in a one page analysis
rationale of how you intend to analyze your interview.
What is Grounded Theory?
How do I conduct a grounded theory analysis?
• Bernard and Ryan, Chapter 12.
• Charmaz, Kathy. "Grounded Theory." Chapter 23 Approaches to Qualitative Data.
BLACKBOARD.
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SELECT TWO EXEMPLARY Readings:
Miriam R. Hill and Volker Thomas, (2000). Strategies for Racial Identity Development: Narratives
of Black and White Women in Interracial Partner Relationships. Family Relations, Volume 49,
Number 2, April, 193-200. BLACKBOARD
Connie J. G. Gersick, Jean M. Bartunek and Jane E. Dutton, (2000). Learning from Academia:
The Importance of Relationships in Professional Life. The Academy of Management Journal,
Volume 43,Number 6, December, 1026-1044. BLACKBOARD
William Marsiglio, Sally Hutchinson and Mark Cohan, (2000). Envisioning
Fatherhood: A Social Psychological Perspective on Young Men Without Kids. Family Relations,
Volume 49, Number 2, April, 133-142. BLACKBOARD
Week 12: (APRIL 5TH: NOTE MONDAY IS EASTER MODAY AND WE WILL NEED TO FIND
ANOTHER TIME TO MEET THIS WEEK TO MAKE UP FOR EASTER MONDAY
WEEK 12 (TIME OF CLASS TBA)APRIL 5TH: Content Analysis
RESEARCH TASK: Week 12.Conduct your data analysis and share your analysis with
your research partner for feedback
What is content analysis?
How do I conduct a content analysis and why?
Bernard and Ryan, Chapter13.
Exemplary Readings: Kuperberg, Arielle and Pamela Stone. 2008. “The Media Depiction of
Women Who Opt Out.” Gender & Society 22:497-517. BLACKBOARD
Franiuk, Renae, Jennifer L. Seefelt and Joseph A. Vandello. 2008.
“Prevalence of Rape Myths in Headlines and Their Effects on Attitudes Toward
Rape Sex Roles.” Sex Roles 58:790–801. BLACKBOARD
WEEK 13 April 12th. Representation and Write- up of a Qualitative Study
ASSIGNMENT # 3 DATA ANALYSIS IS DUE TODAY, April 12th IN CLASS.
How do I write up Qualitative Research?
What is the format ?
How do I assess the validity of my qualitative interpretation ?
• Denzin, Norman K. '1he Art and Politics of Interpretation." In Norman K. Denzin and Yvonna S.
Lincoln Hesse-Biber and Leavy, Approaches to Qualitative Research BLACKBOARD
• Chapter 4 “ Linking Up.” Harry Wolcott. 2ND EDITION-- Writing Up Qualitative Research.
Thousand Oaks,Sage BLACKBOARD
SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
•
Katherine Borland “ That’s Not What I Said”: Interpretive conflict in Oral Narrative Research.” in
Hesse-Biber and Leavy chapter 24. BLACKBOARD
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• Laural Richardson “ Writing: A Methods of Inquiry” Chapter 22 Hesse-Biber and Leavy,
Approaches to Qualitative Research
BLACKBOARD
Week 14: (APRIL 19TH ) PATRIOT’S DAY. NO CLASS BUT... ARRANGE A ONE-ON –ONE MEETING WITH
YOUR RESEARCH PARTNER
Research Task:
ROUGH DRAFT OF YOUR POPOSAL DUE TO RESEARCH PARTNER ( INCLUDING
ABSTRACT) BY Monday April 19th. Arrange a ONE-ON-ONE meeting wth your
research partner this week to discuss your research rough draft proposaland
obtain written feedback before your one-on-one meeting. Please hand in research
partner’s comments with your final proposal.
Email to me an ABSTRACT OF YOUR PROPOSAL to me by Friday, APRIL 23rd
WEEK 16 AND 17TH ( APRIL 26TH AND MAY 3RD) APRIL 26TH AND MAY 3RD.
CATCH UP AND PROPOSAL PRESENTATION
STUDENTS WILL FORMALLY PRESENT THEIR PROPOSAL PROJECTS OVER WEEKS 15 & 16.
===================================================
DUE DATES FOR CLASS PROJECTS/ASSIGNMENTS/ PROPOSAL
NOTE: WEEKLY DUE DATES OVERLAP FOR ASSIGNMENTS SO BE SURE
TO READ OVER ALL STEP BY STEP DUE DATES AS SEVERAL THINGS
MAY BE DUE ON ANY GIVEN WEEK.
============================================================
====
By Week 2. Select a Research Partner (if possible) by end of this week.
Decide on Dates for your in-class presentation ( in class activity)
Bring to class a sheet of your top four dates for presenting and I will try to give you your
first and second choices where possible.
================================================================
ASSIGNMENT # 1: OBSERVATION DUE WEEK 6: FEBRUARY 22nd—
STEP BY STEP DUE DATES FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT:
Week 3. Select a Field Site to Observe and hand it a short paragraph on your plans and
also give a copy to your research partner for comment.
Week 4. Select a field partner and share Field Notes for Discussion/Exchange with your
field note partner. Begin to carry out a preliminary analysis of field notes.
Week 5. BRING TO CLASS A conceptual memo to share with the class AND Jot down
no more than a half page on suggestions for analysis
========================================================
ASSIGNMENT # 2.INTERVIEWING IS DUE WEEK 11. March 29TH.
STEP BY STEP DUE DATES FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT.
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Week 6. (1) Select interview subject /focus group subjects.
(2) Create a research question (preferably one from your tentative research proposal to
form the basis of your interview protocol and by end of week 6, please complete a semistructured interview protocol draft to share with your reseach partner.
WEEK 8. FINALIZE INTEVIEW PROTOCAL and hand to your research respondent who
will make comments to you by end of week 8.
Week 9. Hand in your final protocol in class on Week 9 and conduct interview/focus
group by end of week 9
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ASSIGNMENT #3 DATA ANALYSIS. IS DUE WEEK 13: APRIL 12TH.
Step by Step:
Week 11. Share and discuss your data analysis rationale with your partner and hand in a
one page rationale of how you intend to analyze your interview.
Week 12.Conduct your data analysis and share your analysis with your research partner
for feedback by end of week 12.
=========================================================
RESEARCH PROPOSAL DUE: WEEK 15 : APRIL 26TH.
STEP BY STEP PREPARATION DEADLINES
Week 5. Come up with and you’re your research question/s for your proposal.
Week 8. Come up with a short literature review of your proposal. Share with reseach
partner who will provide feedback by end of week 7.
Week 9. Formulate your research design section of your proposal—methods of data
collection/sampling, etc. Share with research partner and obtain feedback from them by
end of week 9.
Week 11: Come up with analysis plan for your data. Share with your research partner
who will provide you with feedback by the end of week 11.
Week 14: Share a draft of your research proposal INCLUDING ABSTRACT with your
research partner by Monday and arrange to meet with your research partner one-on one
during week 14. Your RESEARCH partner WILL PROVIDE WRITTEN comments on the
rough draft of your proposal at the time of your meeting.
PLEASE be sure to hand in your research partner’s comments with
your final proposal
Email me an ABSTRACT OF YOUR PROPOSAL by Friday,April 23rd of that week.
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