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Pierrette Hondagneu-Sotelo
HSH 213, 740-3606
sotelo@usc.edu
Office Hours Th 10:00am-12pm, or by appt.
Spring 2014
T 10am-1 pm
Sociology 524: Qualitative Research Methods
This is the second in a two semester sequence course on qualitative research.
During this second semester, we will read slightly less and do more research. Each
participant is expected to continue developing an original research project, based on the
research developed last semester, using observational and/or interviewing methods. And
each person is expected to continue with commenting on the work of others. We already
started with a great spirit of collaboration in this class during the fall, and we’ll continue
with that, but now you will be circulating your written work frequently, and on a weekly
basis you will be writing feedback for others. You will spend a good deal of time out in
the field, as participant-observer and/or interviewer of individuals or focus groups, and
you will spend even more time alone, transcribing and writing field notes, and of course,
writing your paper based on the research. Work on your project frequently, even daily, if
possible. We will continue discussing the ongoing research in a workshop format. On at
least three occasions, the entire class will be expected to read and comment on your
interview transcript, field notes, research memo, or segment of the paper. A few weeks
before the final paper is due, you will read and comment on a peer’s paper, and you will
receive comments and suggestions on your paper draft from a class member and the
professor.
We will also share and discuss the assigned readings. A few of these are on writing, but
the bulk of the readings are meant to serve as examples of peer-reviewed, recently
published work based on participant observation and interview research. These are meant
to serve as templates that you may wish to emulate in terms of form and presentation, but
we will also discuss the substantive arguments, and the extent to which we find the
empirical evidence to be compelling and credible. We will still have a sign up sheet for
leading class discussion of the readings. During this semester, the class participants will
all be involved in constructing texts—and portions of these will serve as assigned class
reading during the semester. Sign-ups will occur on the first day of class. When it is
your turn to submit a transcript or field notes, **please include a one page introduction
reiterating your main research questions, and your preliminary findings, developing
analysis, ruminations, or thesis.** At the conclusion of your interview transcript or field
notes, **include a few paragraphs of analytic reflections on how this particular set of
observations or interview informs your developing analysis.** Please let me know in
advance if you will be absent. Also, please submit all transcripts, field notes, memos and
papers as hard copies (rather than email attachments).
I have tried to design this class to help you achieve this goal: To write a 30 page paper
based on qualitative research which makes an original scholarly contribution, one that
will help suffice the empirical paper requirement in the Sociology department, and one
that will lead to publication in a peer-reviewed journal. The final paper is due on April
29.
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Required Reading
I) Fieldnotes, interview transcripts, research memos and segments of developing papers
written by class participants.
II) Books:
Writing for Social Scientists. Howard Becker. University of Chicago Press, 2007.
The Opera Fanatic: Ethnography of an Obsession. Claudio Benzecry. University of
Chicago Press, 2011.
Fresh Fruit, Broken Bodies: Migrant Farmworkers in the United States. Seth Holmes.
University of California Press, 2013.
III) A selection of articles:
1)
Auyero, Javier et. al., 2014, “Violence and the State at the Urban Margins,”
Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 43(1):94-116.
http://jce.sagepub.com.libproxy.usc.edu/content/43/1/94.full.pdf
2)
Burawoy, Michael. 2005. “For Public Sociology,” American Sociological Review
70(1): 4-28.
3)
Hancock, Black Hawk and Michael J. Lorr. 2012. “More than Just a Soundtrack:
Toward a Technology of the Collective in Hardcore Punk,” Journal of Contemporary
Ethnography, 42(3):320-446.
4)
Hanser, Amy. 2006. “Sales Floor Trajectories: Distinction and Service in
Postsocialist China,” Ethnography 7(4):461-491.
5)
Hastrup, Kirsten,. 2012. “Scales of Attention in Fieldwork: Global Connections
and Local Concerns in the Arctic,” Ethnography 14(2):145-164.
6)
Cranford, Cynthia. 2007. “Constructing Union Motherhood: Gender and Social
Reproduction in the Los Angeles’ Justice for Janitors Movement” Qualitative Sociology
30(4):360-381.
7)
Joseph, Janelle and Michele K. Donnelly. 2012. “Reflections on Ethnography,
Ethics and Inebriation,” Leisure/Loisir 36(3-4):357-372.
8)
Menjivar, Cecilia. 2002. “The Ties that Heal: Guatemalan Immigrant Women’s
Networks and Medical Treatment,” International Migration Review, 36(2):437-466.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.libproxy.usc.edu/store/10.1111/j.17477379.2002.tb00088.x/asset/j.17477379.2002.tb00088.x.pdf?v=1&t=hq5pl7k6&s=0d7c9915596325f3d791aad0b27a315628
5f956d
9)
Peng, Yinni and Odalia M.H. Wong. 2013. “Diversified Transnational Mothering
Via Telecommunication: Intensive, Collaborative, and Passive,” Gender and Society
27(4):491-513. http://gas.sagepub.com.libproxy.usc.edu/content/27/4/491.full.pdf+html
10)
Venkatesh, Sudhir, 2013. “Underground Markets as Fields in Transition: Sex
Work in New York City,” Sociological Forum, 28(4):682-699.
11)
Xiang, Biao. “Multi-scalar Ethnography: An approach for Critical Engagement
with Migration and Social Change,” Ethnography 14(3):282-299.
12)
Guetzkow, Joshua, Michele Lamont, and Gregoire Mallard. “What is Originality
in the Humanities and Social Sciences?” American Sociological Review 69:190-212/
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Course Schedule
January 14
 Oral presentation of your paper from last term, your plans for research, and
distribution of your one page research schedule (mini-syllabus) for spring semester.
 Sign-ups for presentations.
 By Thursday Jan 16, two volunteers (
and
) will circulate 8 copies of
interview transcript or field notes, and these will be discussed at the next class
session, on Jan 21.
 By next week: Download all of the assigned articles from USC library.
January 21
Bounded Field Sites or Moving Targets?
*Venkatesh, Sudhir, 2013. “Underground Markets as Fields in Transition: Sex Work in
New York City,” City and Community, 28(4):682-699.
*Xiang, Biao, Xiang. 2013. “Multi-scalar Ethnography: An approach for Critical
Engagement with Migration and Social Change,” Ethnography 14(3):282-299.
*Hastrup, Kirsten,. 2012. “Scales of Attention in Fieldwork: Global Connections and
Local Concerns in the Arctic,” Ethnography 14(2):145-164
 Discussion of fieldnotes or transcripts circulated
 2 people will come to class with 7 copies of interview transcript or field notes, and
these will be discussed at the next class session, on Jan 28: ______________, and
__________.
January 28: More on Scale, and Ethnography on the Move
*Seth Holmes, Fresh Fruit, Broken Bodies.
*Discussion and feedback on work circulated previous week
 2 people will come to class with copies of interview transcript or field notes, and
these will be discussed at the next class session (Feb 4). We will receive text from:
________ and ___________.
Feb 4
*Janelle and Donnelly, “Reflections on Ethnography, Ethics and Inebration”
*Preface, Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 8 of Writing for Social Scientists,
Discussion of field notes or transcripts (Bring your typed comments on classmates’
fieldnotes/transcripts)
 Each person will bring copies of a typed, 2 paragraph statement summarizing how the
last 4 weeks of field research have advanced the research project. We’ll read these
and discuss this during the first part of class.
 Discussion of field notes or transcripts (Bring your typed comments on classmates’
fieldnotes/transcripts)
 2 people will come to class with copies of interview transcript or field notes, and
these will be discussed at the next class session: _________ and __________.
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February 11
* Hancock, Black Hawk and Michael J. Lorr. 2012. “More than Just a Soundtrack:
Toward a Technology of the Collective in Hardcore Punk,” Journal of Contemporary
Ethnography, 42(3):320-446.
*Hanser, Amy. 2006. “Sales Floor Trajectories: Distinction and Service in Postsocialist
China,” Ethnography 7(4):461-491.
 Discussion of field notes or transcripts (Bring your typed comments on classmates’
fieldnotes/transcripts)
 Make an appointment to meet and discuss your research progress with faculty advisor
before Feb 25 (if possible, ask your faculty advisor to read a research memo,
summary, or draft of a segment of the paper)
 2 people will come to class with 10 copies of interview transcript, field notes, or a
draft of part of the paper and these will be discussed at the next class session:
_________ and _________.
February 18
Guest Presentation on Research in Progress, from Professor Emily Ryo, USC Law School
*Guetzkow, Joshua, Michele Lamont, and Gregoire Mallard. “What is Originality in the
Humanities and Social Sciences?” American Sociological Review 69:190-212/
 Discussion of field notes or transcripts (Bring your typed comments on classmates’
fieldnotes/transcripts)
 2 people will come to class with copies of a draft of part of the paper and these will
be discussed at the next class session: _________, and __________.
February 25: Reports on all Projects
*Menjivar, Cecilia. 2002. “The Ties that Heal: Guatemalan Immigrant Women’s
Networks and Medical Treatment,” International Migration Review, 36(2):437-466.
*Peng and Wong, 2013. “Diversified Transnational Mothering....” Gender & Society,
27(4):491-513.
 Discussion of student work (Bring your typed comments on classmates’
fieldnotes,transcripts or paper)
 Each person will distribute to each person in the class copies of a typed, 2 paragraph
statement summarizing how the last month of field research has advanced the
research project; in addition write one paragraph summarizing your faculty advisor’s
feedback on your project (we’ll read these and discuss in class)
February 26: CSII Community Scholar Forum on Central American Immigration,
including presentations by Professors Cecilia Menjivar and Susan Coutin
March 4
Tutorial on qualitative coding with Dedoose, presented by Jeff Sacha PhD Candidate and
Dr. Emir Estrada. They will cover how to upload transcripts, making and applying a
code tree, analysis, etc.
* Auyero, Javier et. al., 2014, “Violence and the State at the Urban Margins,” Journal of
Contemporary Ethnography, 43(1):94-116.
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* Cranford “Constructing Union Motherhood…”
 2 people will come to class with copies of a draft of part of the paper and these will
be discussed at the next class session: ________ and __________
March 11
Workshop on Developing Papers and Discussion of Reading
*Claudio Benzecry, The Opera Fanatic
 Discussion of student work (Bring your typed comments on classmates’
fieldnotes,transcripts or paper)
March 18
 No class during USC spring break.
March 25
Workshop on Developing Conference Presentations
Open Forum: Discussion of central argument in each paper, use of evidence, and this
question: How well are you going to be able to convince your reader of your thesis in a
30 page paper?
Practice presentations in class for upcoming PSA conference. Come to class prepared to
give a 15-20 minute oral presentation, and to give/receive questions and constructive
feedback. We may invite the first year cohort to this class session. Class session may go
a little longer on this day, so plan accordingly.
April 1: No Class
Devote this time to writing.
April 8
Workshop on Developing Papers, and Discussion of Multiple Publics and Politics.
 First draft of final paper due—bring 2 copies to class. You will exchange one copy
with a class peer, and I will comment on the other.
*Burawoy, “For Public Sociology,” American Sociological Review 70(1): 4-28.
April 15
Workshop on Developing Papers
Typed comments on peer’s paper due
 Discussion of papers, and plans for further development of papers
April 22
*Chapters 4, 5 and 6 from Becker, Writing for Social Scientists
Class Potluck, at my house. Discussion on writing dilemmas, challenges, successes.
April 29
 Final papers due in class.