WiSe 2022-2023 Methods and their Meanings: Critical Considerations for Qualitative Research

This course will provide an opportunity for students to consider and critique how social and cultural assumptions underlie and shape how qualitative methods are used to ‘do’ research: What do we mean by ‘best practices’ and ‘ethics’ in research and why? How and why have these ‘standards’ changed over time and place? Why are certain methods framed as more ‘reliable’ and ‘objective’ in some contexts versus others? How are we as researchers subsequently influenced by the historical roots of these methodologies when we ‘do’ research, including the social and cultural assumptions embedded in them? In exploring these questions through critical discussions and hands-on, application activities, this course strives to provide a space for students to consider and approach research as a practice that reflects and produces social inequalities and hierarchies of power within society (e.g. race, gender, class). That is, how not only the content of our studies, but also how we ‘do’ research in the first place and why, relates to social structures of power. Students will have the opportunity to explore how researchers have tried to counter methodological assumptions through alternative approaches (e.g. decolonizing methodologies, participatory action research, mobile methods). They will be encouraged to develop and explore these themes through their own research interests over the duration of the course, and will have the chance to develop project proposals and  oral ‘pitches’ of their research as their final course assessment. The idea of this course is to therefore equip students with critical thinking skills related to doing research both within and beyond the academic setting, and communication techniques to articulate their findings and arguments to multiple audiences. Some prior background on qualitative methods in sociology/social sciences will be helpful for students enrolling in this course, but it is not required.

 

We will hold an introductory session about the course on Friday 14.10.2022 in FAL48a at 14:50-16:20 (Do 5). The three block seminars will take place in FAL 215 from 9:20-16:20.