SOCIOLOGY 365: Qualitative Research Methods
Spring 2012
TR 1-2:15pm – Room BH 212
I.
General Information
Course: Soc. 365: Qualitative Research Methods - 3 credit hours
Instructor: Dr. Antonio Chiareli, Professor of Sociology
Office: Brock Hall 105
Office phone: 706-419-1426
Cell: 423-987-8118
E-mail: toni.chiareli@covenant.edu
Office Hours: As posted or by appointment
II. Catalogue Description
This course is designed to provide students with conceptual tools and research skills in
various qualitative methodologies developed in the social sciences. The hands-on approach to
the instruction helps students prepare to design and conduct their own group ethnographic
research in culturally diverse settings. Specifically, the course covers the theoretical principles
and applied techniques of field research, the practice of ethnographic study in culturally specific
contexts, and the foundations of qualitative analysis of field data. The thematic emphasis of the
course is on intercultural studies. This course is a prerequisite for the May Field Research
Practicum course, both of which are integral parts of the Intercultural Studies concentration in
sociology.
III. Scope of Course
Students will have the opportunity to focus upon the principles of empirical
data gathering, as they develop particular skills in ethnographic research (participant-observation and
intensive interviewing) and other qualitative research methods (socio-spatial mapping; content analysis of
objects, written material, narrative, and video-graphic sources; life histories; etc.) Students will also
practice the basics of qualitative analysis and narrative presentation of research. These activities will be
applied in the context of a group research project.
IV. General Course Objectives
Objective 1: To engage students in the scientific method of qualitative research, focusing on the
well-established ethnographic research tradition in the social sciences.
Primary means of assessment are: critical analyses of textual materials, class presentations and discussions.
Objective 2: To acquaint students with the rich literature on qualitative/ethnographic research,
in the fields of sociology and cultural anthropology.
Primary means of assessment are: critical analyses of textual materials, class presentations and discussions,
ethnographic assignments, ethnographic case study, and research project
.
Objective 3: To instruct students in the theory, design, and carrying out of ethnographic research
at a preliminary level.
Primary means of assessment are: critical analyses of textual materials, class presentations and discussions,
fieldwork, fieldnotes, and research project.
Objective 4: To give students an opportunity to engage the material from a Christian Faith
perspective, and to involve students in the practice of social research with a Christian ethics content.
Primary means of assessment are: critical analyses of textual materials, class presentations and discussions.
Objective 5: To apply knowledge gained through this class to real world contexts by way of
empirical inquiry and an applied research project, so as to prepare students for a formal field experience
in ethnographic research during May term.
Primary means of assessment are: ethnographic assignments, fieldwork, fieldnotes, class presentations, and
discussions.
V.
Required Text and Other Reading Materials
There are two required textbooks for this course, in addition to one optional and four
recommended texts, select ethnographic case studies, and occasional supplemental readings, which will
be made available to you when necessary.
Required Textbooks
• Beebe, James. Rapid Assessment Process: An Introduction. Walnut Creek, CA: Altamira Press,
2001.
• Creswell, John W. Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches (2nd
ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2007.
Optional Text
• Poelzl, Volker. Culture Shock! Brazil: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette (3rd ed.).
Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish Corp., 2009.
Recommended Texts
• Angrosino, Michael V. Doing Cultural Anthropology: Projects in Ethnographic Data
Collection (2nd Ed.). Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press, 2007.
• Esterberg, Kristin G. Qualitative Methods in Social Research. New York, NY: McGrawHill Higher Education, 2002.
• Spradley, James P., and D. W. McCurdy. The Cultural Experience: Ethnography in
Complex Society (2nd Ed.). Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press, 2005.
VI.
Methods of Instruction
Lectures, audio-visual resources, fieldwork, process-oriented class presentations and discussions, sharing
of research findings.
VII.
Assigned Reading and other Requirements
Students are expected to attend every class session and to interact with the professor and the rest
of the class throughout the semester. Discussions over reading assignments, film viewings, and over
ethnographic practice should be dynamic and well informed. Submission of field notes and other
assignments to the professor via e-mail attachments are required, and must be completed on a timely
manner. Your class participation will be evaluated. Pop-quizzes based on lectures or readings may
occasionally be administered.
VIII.
Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Overall Attendance and Informed Participation.
Leading Discussions on readings/films.
Completion of Short Assignments.
Students are required to submit a brief “Practice Ethnography Proposal.”
Field Research Practice: Fieldwork assignments will be conducted in teams (must include a
combination participant observation/interviews/and one other research method).
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
K.
L.
Fieldnotes: Fieldnotes will be graded according to substance and to progress made on
fieldnoting technique.
Group Dynamics: Teamwork will be evaluated.
Ethnographic Research Project Presentation: At the end of the term, students will present
tentative findings to their ethnographic project.
Ethnographic Case Study Presentation.
Submission of a “Summer Ethnography Proposal.”
Preparations for Field Experience.
Grades will be based on cumulative points through the completion of all assigned work.
Attendance & Informed Participation
Leading Discussion on Readings
Short Fieldwork Assignments
Practice Ethnography Proposal
Ethnographic Research Practice and
Fieldnotes
Group Dynamics/Team Work
Ethnograhic Res. Project Presentation
Ethnographic Case Study Presentation
Summer Ethnography Proposal
Preparations for Field Experience
15%
10%
5%
5%
10%
10%
20%
10%
10%
5%
100%
Attention: You will be evaluated on the basis of your attendance and informed participation
based on lecture and readings. Be advised that a “silent” student is pleasant, but will not receive
full points for informed participation.
Grading Scale
93-100
90-92
87-89
83-86
80-82
77-79
73-76
70-72
67-69
63-66
60-62
Below 60
IX.
A (Excellent)
A- (Very Well Done)
B+ (Well Done)
B (Good Work)
B- (Ordinary Work)
C+ (Satisfactory+)
C (Satisfactory)
C- (Satisfactory-)
D+ (Unsatisfactory+)
D (Unsatisfactory)
D- (Unsatisfactory-)
F (Failing)
Policies
A. Attendance Policy: Regular class attendance is required of all students. Anyone missing more
than 25% of the semester class meetings will receive an "F" for the course and may possibly be withdrawn,
even if they are earning an "A" points-wise. Beware of this very important policy!
B. Late Assignments: All assigned work is to be turned in on time. Lateness in turning in work
will be penalized, unless you have secured valid permission from the Professor.
C. Policy on Cheating/Plagiarism: Anyone caught cheating (this includes just looking at a test
not your own) on exams or assignments will fail the course. Course work should reflect the sole work of
the individual student unless otherwise specified by the Professor. The policy on cheating as stated in
your college catalogue will be strictly enforced.
D. Deviant Behavior: Absolutely no disruptive behavior or sleeping during class will be
tolerated. The use of laptop computers for reasons other than directly related to the course is prohibited.
Keep them closed otherwise. If, in the subjective judgment of the professor, you appear to be consistently
tuning out the class and going online, or simply staring at your laptop screen, you will be counted absent
for that day and it will count against your attendance. Also, students are not permitted to read or study
for other classes during class time. Do not talk on your cell phone, listen to music, read or send e-mail, or
text message during class. If you absolutely must communicate with others outside of class, please
politely excuse yourself momentarily and promptly return to class without disrupting the lecture or class
activity (do not abuse this privilege, or it will be taken away). If deviant behavior persists after fair
warning, it will result in class dismissal and grade penalization, and ultimately, withdrawal from the
course.
E. Special Needs: Please inform the Professor if you need to be especially accommodated due to
any documented special needs you may have (e.g.: learning disability, physical impairments of any sort,
etc.). Every effort will be made to accommodate your needs in a discrete and appropriate manner.
The professor reserves the right to deviate from this syllabus as conditions necessitate.
TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE
Note: Class Discussions are an opportunity for us to not only develop answers to questions that arise and
to deepen our understanding of the material, but also to exercise our Christian faith perspective in
relation to the topics of discussion. These are therefore integral parts of our class sessions and so I ask
that you make a sincere effort to participate actively.
Week 1
Tues.
Jan. 10:
Jan. 12:
Week 2
Jan. 17:
Jan. 19:
Week 3
Jan. 24:
Jan. 26:
Week 4
Jan. 31st.:
Feb. 2:
Introduction to the course and to each other
Review Syllabus
Discuss the goals of the course
Initial Brazil Briefing
Creswell Ch. 1: Introduction
Sources of Knowledge
Wheel of Knowledge
Quantitative vs. Qualitative
Creswell Ch. 2: Philosophical, Paradigm, and Interpretive Frameworks
Group Ethnography ppt.
Begin Assigning Research Groups/Discussions/Case Studies
Group Field Outing
Creswell Ch. 3: Designing a Qualitative Study
What is Ethnography?
Demography vs. Ethnography
Finalize Schedules
What is Ethnography? (Cont’d.)
Observation Assignment
Creswell Ch. 4: Five Qualitative Approaches to Inquiry
Writing Fieldnotes
Week 5
Feb. 7:
Feb. 9:
Week 6
Feb. 14:
Feb. 16:
Week 7
Feb. 21st.:
No Class (Day of Prayer)
***Creswell Ch. 5: Five Different Qualitative Studies (Presented by Students)***
Reading: Crewell Appendices A-F
Ethics in Qualitative Research
Reading: Crewell Appendices A-F
Interviewing Assignment
Discovering Folk Terms
Discovering Taxonomic Structure
Typologies
Creswell Ch. 6: Introducing and Focusing the Study
Mapping Assignment
Feb. 23:
Creswell Ch. 7: Data Collection
Week 8
Feb. 28:
Teams workshop on field study
Mar. 1st.:
Week 9
Mar. 6, 8:
Week 10
Mar. 13, 15:
Week 11
Mar. 20, 22:
Week 12
Mar. 27:
Mar. 29:
Teams prepare to go to the field
***Teams Submit Proposal for Practice Field Research***
No Class (Spring Break – Enjoy it to the glory of God!)
Reading: Culture Shock! Brazil
Fieldwork & Submit Fieldnotes
Reading: Creswell Ch. 8: Data Analysis and Representation
Fieldwork & Submit Fieldnotes
Reading: Creswell Ch. 9: Writing a Qualitative Study
Creswell Ch. 10: Standards of Validation and Evaluation
***Fieldwork Debriefings***
Creswell Ch. 11: “Turning the Story” and Conclusion
***Fieldwork Debriefings***
Week 13
Apr. 3:
Apr. 5:
Week 14
Apr. 10:
Apr. 12:
Week 15
Apr. 17:
Apr. 19:
Week 16
Apr. 24:
Apr. 26:
Assessment Day (No Class)
Beebe Ch. Introduction and Ch. 1: To RAP or Not to RAP
Easter Break (Apr. 6-9) ***Happy Easter!***
Beebe Ch. 2: Data Collection (Triangulation)
Beebe Ch. 3: Interative Analysis and Additional Data Collection
Beebe Ch. 4: Teamwork
Teaming-up in Ethnographic Research
***Ethnographic Case Study Presentations***
May Term Preparations: Ivoti, Brazil (Calendar, Location, Team Roles, Methods, Topics,
etc.)
Beebe Ch. 5: Trusting RAP
Beebe Ch. 6: Successful RAP
Readings: Beebe Chs. 7, 8, and Appendices A-D.
***Ethnographic Research Reports Due***
Summing Up & Finalize for May Term: Ivoti, Brazil
***Submit Ethnographic Research Project Write-up***
No Class (Reading/Snow Day)
***Submit Summer Ethnography Proposal***
Finals Week
April 27-May 2: Stay Tuned for Announcements on the exact date, place and time.
HAVE A BLESSED, FRUITFUL, FUN, AND SAFE MAY PRACTICUM AND SUMMER VACATION!