Students will engage in practical exercises emphasizing interpretive approaches to qualitative research, including narrative, ethnographic, arts-based, and archival methods. Attention is given to ethical considerations and the role of the researcher. Students will be equipped to design and conduct an interpretivist qualitative research project.
Athena Title
Intro to Qualitative Methods
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in QUAL 6200
Non-Traditional Format
This course will be taught 95% or more online.
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
At the completion of this course, students will be able to identify and explain the epistemological assumptions underlying interpretivist approaches to qualitative inquiry.
At the completion of this course, students will be able to distinguish among various qualitative research methodologies, including ethnography, narrative inquiry, arts-based, and archival methods.
At the completion of this course, students will be able to design a qualitative research study, aligning research questions, methodology, and methods.
At the completion of this course, students will be able to conduct effective qualitative data generation and collection through interviews, observations, and document analysis.
At the completion of this course, students will be able to apply coding techniques to qualitative data to generate patterns and themes.
At the completion of this course, students will be able to critically evaluate the rigor and trustworthiness of qualitative research studies.
At the completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate reflexivity and address ethical considerations in qualitative research design and practice.
At the completion of this course, students will be able to communicate qualitative research findings clearly and persuasively in both written and oral formats.
Topical Outline
1. Introduction to interpretivist qualitative inquiry: Epistemological assumptions
2. Sampling and recruitment
3. Research design in qualitative studies: Developing research questions and aligning methods
4. Overview of qualitative methodologies: Ethnography, narrative inquiry, art-based inquiry and archival methods
5. Data collection methods including (a) conducting interviews and focus groups; (b) observations and fieldwork techniques; (c) document and archival analysis
6. Coding and data analysis including (a) introduction to coding and thematic analysis; (b) advanced coding techniques and use of software tools
7. Quality in qualitative research
8. Reflexivity and the role of the researcher: Ethics and positionality
9. Writing qualitative research: Strategies for reporting findings
10. Critiquing qualitative research: Evaluating published studies
