COMM 5323, 001: Advanced Qualitative Methods
Spring, 2010
Todd L. Sandel, Ph.D.
Office: Burton Hall, Room 136
Phone: 325-1809
Email: tlsandel@ou.edu
Office Hours: M 9-10 am, W 9-10 am, 1:30-2:30 pm, or by appointment
Class Time: W 6:30 to 9:20 p.m., Burton 125C
Required Books:
Charles Briggs (1986). Learning how to ask: A sociolinguistic appraisal of the role of the
interview in social science research. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521311136
Nicole Constable (2003). Romance on a global stage: Pen pals, virtual ethnography, and “mail
order” marriages. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. ISBN: 0520237056
Robert Emerson, Rachel Fretz & Linda Shaw. (1995). Writing ethnographic fieldnotes.
University of Chicago Press. ISBN: 0226206815
Steven Feld & Keith Basso (1996). Senses of Place. Sante Fe, NM: School of American
Research Press. ISBN 0933452950
Clifford Geertz. (1988). Works and lives: The anthropologist as author. Stanford, CA: Stanford
University Press. ISBN: 0804714282.
Marc Moskowitz (2001) The haunting fetus: Abortion, sexuality, and the spirit world in Taiwan.
Honolulu, Hawaii: University of Hawaii Press. ISBN: 0824824288
Additional Readings will be posted on D2L and Class wiki
Course Description:
This course is designed as a continuation and extension of COMM 5313, Qualitative Methods.
The primary purpose of this class is to design, implement, and write findings from a qualitative
study of communication. To accomplish this we will engage in a sustained discussion of the
“hows,” “whys,” and “whats” of qualitative research. This will be made through critically
analyzing and interacting with assigned readings, through discussing research in progress, and
through thoughtfully reflecting on the process and product of research methods.
Course Requirements:
Assignment
Ethnographic Field Notes
Reading Responses
IRB Proposal
Class Presentations
Final Paper
Point Value
200
200
100
100
400
Due Date
Weekly
Weekly
2/8
Weekly & End of semester
5/10
Ethnographic Field Notes. Each week you are to write 3-5 pages (typed, double-spaced) of
ethnographic field notes on your developing project. (See Emerson, Fretz, and Shaw’s Writing
ethnographic fieldnotes for guidelines.) Your writings may include observations of behavior,
reflections on the research process, descriptions of the site, etc. Notes are to be uploaded to the
your personal wiki page by 9 am each Monday. Excerpts may be printed out and shared with
classmates. They will be graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Notes submitted late will
be accepted but receive less than full credit.
Reading Responses. For each week’s assigned readings you will write a 2-4 page response
(typed, double-spaced). This response will answer a question or topic noted on the syllabus
(and/or wiki). Responses are due by 9 am each Monday. Excerpts may be printed out and shared
with classmates. They will be graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Late responses will
be accepted but receive less than full credit.
IRB Proposal. By 2/8 you are to prepare a first draft of a proposal for conducting a qualitative
research that will be submitted to IRB (http://www.ouhsc.edu/irb-norman/). After it is reviewed
and approved for submission by me, you will then submit it to IRB. The proposal must be
approved by IRB before data collection can begin.
Class Presentations. Each week you are expected to actively participate in class discussion of
research activities and assigned readings. Therefore, attendance each week is mandatory. In the
latter part of the semester you will also prepare and present findings from your research project,
as you would present a paper at a conference. Guidelines will be posted later.
Final Paper. Your final paper is due on 5/10. This paper will present findings from an IRB
approved semester-long research project. It will include the following sections: title page,
abstract, review of literature, research questions, theoretical lens, methods and procedures,
findings, discussion, and references. The paper must be a minimum of 20 pages of text (not
including title page, abstract, and references) and not exceed 40 pages. You must also include an
Appendix which compiles all field notes, transcripts, and other relevant materials collected
throughout the course of the project.
Tentative Class Schedule
Jan 25
Syllabus; Course Introduction; Post information and documents to your wiki page.
Feb 1
IRB Discussion; Complete CITI certification; Readings: Emerson, Fretz & Shaw
(1995) Writing ethnographic fieldnotes Preface, chapter 1; Geertz (1988) Works and
Lives chapter 1 “Being There”; Geertz’s “Thick Description” (pdf on wiki)
Writing Reflection: 1) How does Geertz claim that the anthropologist (writer of
qualitative research) convince the reader that the account is written from one who has
“been there”? Illustrate with examples from the reading, personal thoughts, and other
readings. 2) What is the difference between “thin” and “thick” description? What is
theory building?
Ethnographic Field Notes: Beginning this week (and continuing throughout the
semester), post fieldnotes from your project to your personal wiki page. Keep in mind
that your notes will be available to all in the class, and may be discussed in class.
Finally, post brief (1-3 sentences) comments to at least 3 of your classmates’ field
notes on the wiki.
Feb 8
IRB Draft Proposal due, use templates from IRB website; Readings: Ethnographic
fieldnotes 2; Senses of Place Introduction, chapters 1-3; Questions: What are some of
the “problems” of writing space? How are these resolved? Illustrate with examples that
you believe work well.
Feb 15
Readings: Ethnographic fieldnotes 3; Senses of Place Chapters 4-7; Questions: Which
chapters do you find satisfying and potential “exemplars” for you to follow? Why?
Which do you not find satisfying? Why not?
Feb 22
Readings: Briggs Learning all; Miller et al “Self-esteem as folk theory” (pdf on wiki);
Questions: How does Briggs claim the interview should be constructed? How should it
be analyzed? How did Miller et al apply Briggs’ ideas? How successful do you believe
they were?
Mar 1
Constable Romance all; Ethnographic fieldnotes 4-5; Questions: What is virtual
ethnography? What is Constable’s stance vis-à-vis feminist perspectives? How do you
respond to Constable’s positioning? How well did she present her participants’ voices?
Mar 8
Moskowitz Haunting Fetus all; Ethnographic fieldnotes 6-8; Questions: How well
does Moskowitz move between “thick description” and theory building? What are the
implications of this study?
Mar 22
Geertz Works and Lives chs 2-6; Questions: In each of these chapters Geertz interprets
the writings of a well-known anthropologist. What do you gain from his
interpretations? What issues do you see that apply to your ongoing research?
Mar 29-Apr 19
tba; We will spend most of our class time discussing data, writings, etc.
Apr 26 & May 3
In-class presentations of Research
May 10, Monday: Final Paper Due