Qualitative Research Methods Deborah Landry, PhD.

Qualitative Research MethodsQualitative Research MethodsDeborah Landry, PhDDeborah Landry, PhD

Today

• Outline Course Objectives• Introductions• Syllabus• Course Assignments

• Outline Course Objectives• Introductions• Syllabus• Course Assignments

About this course...

• Different than other CRM course– Creating Knowledge!

• Early Engagement

About this course....

• Cumulative project

• Pedagogy (Mills)– Learning is a social

activity– Knowledge production

is embedded in culture– Praxis & Deep learning

About me…

• Culture & Crime• Ethnographic Research– Municipal legislation• Graffiti• Busking

Syllabus: Course Evaluation10% Research Question & Data [SOLO]

10% Ethnographic Group Work

20% Literature Review [SOLO]

20% Data Analysis

10% Presentation: in class Weeks 11 & 12 30% Final Paper Due during exam period

Your Research Project

Based on YOUR empirical research– Field Research OR– Cultural Text

Group projects MAY consider doing either or both

FIRST you need a research focus!• Not positivistic (cause → effect)

So what is Qualitative Research about?

Qualitative ResearchInterpretism– Social Constructionist– 1960s Challenge to

Positivist Thought

Theoretical Threads:Symbolic InteractionismCritical Theory

•Feminism•Queer Theory•Postmodern /Post-structural•Cultural/Communication

Qualitative Underpinnings

Meaningful Data collection: flexible and sensitive to political, cultural, historical personal context

Explanation & arguments involve:• Detail• Contextual understandings• “Thick Description”• NOT statistical (but maybe some

quantification)

The Research Process: The Researcher

Reflexivity• Socially situated• Confronts the ethics and

politics of research

How you ask a question, frames your research…

ORYour epistemology frames what

you question…

The Research Process: Art & Politics

Writer as interpreter – CW Mills article…– From field notes to public texts

Community• (Situated Context)– Peer Review Journals– Conferences– Collaboration