SOC 102: Qualitative Research Methods

MW 1:15 - 2:30
Avery 202

Instructor: Dr. John Norvell
Office: Fletcher 102
Phone: 607-9214
Office Hours: TBA

Objectives

“Methods” in the social sciences refers to both what social scientists do (“techniques” like participant observation, interviewing, note-taking, etc.) and philosophical reflections on why they do what they do (especially issues related to the epistemology of the social sciences, ethics of research on “human subjects,” the politics of research, etc.). The course will provide hands-on training in the major genres of qualitative social science research within the context of intensely collaborative classroom community actively engaged in a field research project.

Readings

The following books have been assigned for purchase:

They are available at the Huntley Book Store and online, if you move fairly quickly. Other readings will be distributed via Sakai, in weekly folders under “Resources” (see below).

Policies

Attendance: The reason for a strict attendance policy is to ensure that there exists for each class a critical mass of students who have read the assigned material and are prepared for discussion or interaction with a lecture or presentation. The continuity and sense of community necessary for the success of a discussion-based course can only form if this is true. Therefore, you should strive to attend every single class meeting. In the real world, however, I realize this is rarely possible. I will give you two free absences for any reason. After that (chronologically!), each unexcused absence (valid excuses are serious illness, a serious family or personal emergency, or an official activity) will lower your final grade average by 3.33%. Missing more than seven classes total for any reason may result in your not passing the class, regardless of the quality of your work, at my discretion. Our class sessions will go by quickly, so do not be late.

Grades & Assignments: Your grade will be based your participation (10%), written reactions to readings (20%), field journal & special assignments) (40%), and your final oral (5%) and written (25%) research report. You will keep a field journal containing your observation, interview transcripts, informal personal reflections, and analytical work. You will bring this journal to class each week and be prepared to share and work from it and periodically hand it in. You will engage in several focused assignments on different aspects of qualitative methodology and turn them in on the dates noted. You will write a brief paragraph on each of the assigned readings (for weeks when there is reading) and post them on the class blog by Tuesday evening at 8 p.m. (Detailed descriptions of these assignments and guidelines and suggestion for the journal will be handed out in class.) Finally, you will write a substantial (approx. 20 page) research report (lots more on this in class!) and give a brief oral presentation on it to the class.

Communication: Please do not hesitate to see me for help outside of class, either during regularly scheduled office hours or appointment at other times as your schedule requires. There will be a website on Sakai containing this syllabus, updated as needed as we move through the session, and a resources section for online distribution of readings. Additionally, there will be on off-site class blog for posting reflections and general discussion.

Bummers: On a negative note, it goes, hopefully, nearly without saying that academic misconduct (cheating, plagiarism, misuse of resources, etc.) will be dealt with strictly and in accordance with the student handbook (www.pitzer.edu/student_life/pdf/08_student_handbook.pdf), with which you should be familiar. Consult your writing guides and see the following web site for some good examples and discussion of plagiarism do’s and don’t’s: http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml.

I expect full respect and consideration for the rights of your fellow students to express their thoughts and to learn unencumbered by harassment or disruption. Please try to remember to turn off your cell phones and other beeping gadgets during class! (I'll try too.)

Amendments: I reserve the right to make oral and written modifications to this syllabus. You are fully responsible for following directions I give in class about grades, deadlines, and assignments, whether or not you are present at the time I give them; you must call me or another student to find out what you have missed and how to make it up.

Topics:

Activities will include discussion of readings, workshop sessions with proposals and fieldnotes, a major, semester-long research project, visits from Pitzer sociologists to talk about their methods.

SCHEDULE

Week One (September 2) Introductions (to the course, to each other)

Week Two (September 7 & 9)

M – observation activity reports, blog sign-ups, in-class observation exercise

W – What are qualitative methods?: read Hesse-Biber & Leavy, “Distinguishing Qualitative Research”; Guba & Lincoln, “Competing Paradigms in Qualitative Research”

Week Three (September 14 & 16) Before Fieldwork

M – Research Ethics: read AAAS, “Ethical and Legal Aspects of Human Subjects Research on the Internet”; American Sociological Association ethics code (research-related sections only); Rebekah Nathan, My Freshman Year (excerpt)

W – Choosing a research site: read Lofland et al., Chapters 1-3

Week Four (September 21 & 23)

M – Participant observation: readings TBA,

W – research proposal workshop

Week Five (September 28 & 30) Getting to the Field

M – Taking and managing fieldnotes: field assignment #1 (in class and at home); readings: Lederman (Sakai), Emerson et al., Chapters 3 & 4)
Evening event: optional library research workshop, Keck 2 classoom, Honnold Library

W – PAR/Critical Ethnography: models; guest appearance, Leda Martins. Please read Wadsworth article and three Greenwood & Levin chapters (Sakai) before class.

Week Six (October 5 & 7)

M: mock IRB, turn in final draft of research proposal and field Assignment #1

W: mock IRB continues

Week Seven (October 12 & 14)

M – The Art of the Interview: guest appearance, Phil Zuckerman (read his chapter posted on Sakai)

W – Interviewing: readings TBA, field assignment #2

Week Eight (October 21) (October 19 is Fall Break)

W – Working with fieldnotes: in-class exercise

Week Nine (October 26 & 28) Ethnographic Interlude 1

M – discussion of Body & Soul

W – Combining qualitative & quantitative data: guest appearance, Peter Nardi

Week Ten (November 2 & 4) Coding Fieldnotes

M – film: "Socioiogy is a Martial Art"

W – (no class, prof was sick)

Week Eleven (November 9 & 11)

M – How to code your data: in-class readings readings

W – in-class data coding exercise (bring all your fieldnotes!)

Week Twelve (November 16 & 18)

M – Interpreting from qualitative data: read Chapter 5 of Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes

W – Writing ethnographic reports: read Chatper 6 of Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes

Week Thirteen (November 23 & 25) Ethnographic Interlude 2

M – discussion of Ain't no Makin' It (read pp. 25-153 & pp. 467-504)

W – film, "Stranger With a Camera," "Passing Girl, Riverside"

Week Fourteen (November 30 & December 2)

M – research workshop

W – research workshop

Week Fifteen (December 7 & 9)

M – oral presentations

W – oral presentations

All work must be in by Saturday morning, December 19 to be considered!