Qualitative

Methods SOC 2150-01 William Paterson University Fall 2012 Professor: Schedule: Location: Office Hours: Mondays 11-12pm, Wednesdays 3:30-4:30pm, and by appointment. Office Location: 456 Raubinger Hall Email: ChristensenW@wpunj.edu That is what learning is. You suddenly understand something you've understood all your life, but in a new way. Doris Lessing Course Description: Qualitative methods, or non-statistical social science research, can form the basis of surprising and profound discoveries about individuals and societies. While results may not produce generalizable statements about the social world, systematic qualitative research can provide unmatched depth and insight into sociological institutions, identities, and processes. This course is structured around the idea that the best way to learn research methods is by doing it. During this semester you will develop research goals, observe data collection and conduct interviews. In our classroom you will have the space for trial and error, and to reflect on and learn from the research process. You will not be graded on errors you make during this course. Instead, you will be graded on how you navigate the processyour persistence, creativity, and willingness to explore different research methods to learn about the topic at hand. Good social research that tells us something interesting about how the social world works is the result of an interactive processasking questions about the social world, applying methods to answer those questions, and examining your experiences of collecting and analyzing data. Course Outcomes: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: Describe the theoretical foundations of qualitative methods, and the relationship between theory and research. Demonstrate an understanding of the issues of research ethics, reflexivity, research bias, and accountability. Describe each kind of qualitative research design and the kind of data each generates. Set up a qualitative social research proposal, choosing appropriate methods to answer specific research questions. Collect and analyze data generated from interviews, ethnography, participant observation, and textual analysis. Establish and meet validity criteria for qualitative research. Identify potential uses of qualitative analysis both for academic research and for applied sociology. Dr. Wendy Christensen Wednesdays & Fridays 2pm-3:15pm 201 Raubinger Hall

Required Texts: Esterberg, Kristin G. (2002) Qualitative Methods in Social Research. McGraw Hill Press. Glassner, Barry and Rosanna Hertz (1999) Qualitative Sociology as Everyday Life. Sage Publications. Other readings will be distributed in class. Readings must be completed before class on the day that they are due. If a reading is listed under November 11 then it must be completed before class on November 11. You will need to complete the readings the day before class in order to prepare for class discussion. I reserve the right to add (and to omit) readings during the course of the semester. I will always let you know the week before if I am making any changes to the readings. Email is a great way to reach me with any questions. I will respond to your email within 24 hours (in other words, do not count on a reply to last minute emails about assignments). You are strongly encouraged to come to office hours at least once during the semester, or make an appointment to see me at another time. If my office door is open at any other time, youre welcome to stop by. COURSE POLICIES: Assignments and Grading: Your final grade will be made up of the following assignments: Attendance and participation Research Question & Proposal Practice Interview Questions Interview Results & Reflection Open & Focused Coding Final Research Report Class Presentation Ongoing Due 9/14 Due 10/3 Due 10/24 Due 10/26 Due 11/7 Due 12/5 Due 12/21 TBA 20 points 10 points 5 points 15 points 5 points 15 points 10 points 15 points 5 points Observation Field Notes & Reflection Participant Observation & Reflection

Reading Policies:

How to get in touch with your professor:

Paper Requirements: All written work, with the exception of field notes, coding work, and transcripts, must be printed and must follow this format: Pages must be double-spaced, and each page must be numbered. Place your name on the first page, and on any subsequent pages. Print with black ink and a standard 12 point font (Times New Roman, Helvetica etc.).

Late and missed assignments: Work must be turned in in class on the date it is due. Emailed assignments will not be accepted without prior arrangement. Late assignments will rarely be accepted and only with prior consent (given on a case-by-case basis), and will lose a letter grade for each day they are late. This is a class where we build on our work over the course the semester, so do not let yourself get behind.

 Final Grading Scale: A A- B+ B B- 93-100 90-92.9 87-89.9 83-86.9 80-82.9 C+ C C- D F 77-79.9 73-76.9 70-72.9 60-69.9 <60

Attendance: Attendance is required. You may miss two classes without penalty. Each absence beyond the second will result in your grade being lowered. Arriving late three times is equivalent to 1 absence. If you must miss a class, it is your responsibility to get the notes and assignments from another student. Classroom Rules: You are expected to arrive to class with the reading material, prepared to engage in the classroom. Please be courteous of your classmates: do not eat noisy food, turn off cell phones, do not text during class, and refrain from having side conversations with your classmates. You may use laptops and iPads/tablets as long as they are used appropriately and are not a distraction to yourself or your classmates. If You Need Help: Do not hesitate to contact me if you need assistance. The key to success is to head off problems before they turn into emergencies. The sooner you get in touch with me about an issue, the sooner we can work to solve a problem together. Special accommodations: If you require special accommodations to participate in, or to complete the work in this course, please let me know within the first two weeks of class so that we can make the necessary arrangements. Academic honesty: I fully expect you to follow the William Paterson University Academic Integrity Policy. Anytime you are required to turn in individual work I expect that what you turn in will be written solely by you and will be unique from that of your classmates. It is the policy of the William Paterson University Sociology Department that, with documented evidence, a student who cheats on an exam or paper for the first time will fail the course and record of the occurrence will be sent to the department Chair and the relevant Dean. If a student cheats a second time, they will fail the course and be expelled from the sociology major and reported to the relevant Dean. Please ask if you have any questions about what is and is not acceptable. The Academic Integrity Policy can be found here: http://www.wpunj.edu/cte/wpu-academic-integrity-policy.dot SCHEDULE: Week 1: Introductions Wednesday 9/5 Friday 9/7: No class. Complete observation project on your own. Wednesday 9/12 Read: How to Think Like a Sociologist [class handout] Read: Esterberg, Chapter 1 pages 1-10 What is Social Research Friday 9/14

Week 2: What is Qualitative Research?

Due: Observation Notes and Reflection

Week 3: Research and Theory Wednesday 9/19 Read: [E] Chapter 1 pages 10-22 What is Social Research Read: [G & H] Chapter 9 The Personal, the Sociological, and the Intersection of the Two by Lynn Davidman Friday 9/20

Week 4: Beginning Qualitative Research Wednesday 9/26 Read: [E] Chapter 2 Strategies for Beginning Research Read: [Glassner and Hertz] Chapter 19 Affirmative Action and Me by Sharon M. Collins Friday 9/28

Week 5: Research Ethics Wednesday 10/3 Due: Research Question & Proposal Read: [E] Chapter 3 Ethical Issues Read: [G& H] Chapter 6 Real-Life Sexual Harassment by Christine L. Williams

Friday 10/5

Week 6: Participant Observation I Wednesday 10/10 Read: The Promise and Pitfalls of Going into the Field by Patricia A. Adler and Peter Adler in The Contexts Reader Read: [E] Chapter 4 pages 57-68 Observation: Participant and Otherwise (Esterberg) Read: [E] Chapter 4 pages 68-81 Observation: Participant and Otherwise (Esterberg)

Friday 10/12

Week 7: Participant Observation II Wednesday 10/11 o Read: [G & H] Chapter 4 Enough Already! The Pervasiveness of Warnings in Everyday Life by Shulamit Reinharz Read: [G & H] Chapter 11 Five Minutes by Peter K. Manning Read: [G & H] Chapter 17 Standing on the Threshold and Tripping: Awkwardness in Becoming a Field-Worker by Arlene Kaplan Daniels

Friday 10/19

Week 8: Interviewing I Wednesday 10/24 Due: Participant Observation & Reflection Read: In Their Own Words: Making the Most of Qualitative Interviews by Robert S. Weiss in The Contexts Reader [class handout]

Friday 10/26 Read: [E] Chapter 5 pages 83-102 Interviews

Week 9: Interviewing II Wednesday 10/31 Due: Practice Interview Questions Read: [E] Chapter 5 pages 102-111 Interviews Read: Read: [G & H] Chapter 7 A Conversation About Parenting by Gerstel and Zussman

Friday 11/2

Week 10: Textual Analysis Wednesday 11/7 Read: [E] Chapter 6 Unobtrusive Measures Due: Interview Results & Reflection Friday 11/9

Week 11: Practical Applications: What can we do with social research? Wednesday 11/14 Read: [E] Chapter 7 Action Research Read: [G & H] Chapter 8 On the (Re)Production of Social Class: Living In, With, and Beyond Elementary School by Susan E. Bell Friday 11/16

Week 12: Action Research Cont. Wednesday 11/21 Read: [G & H] Chapter 20 Making Sense and Making a Difference: Murder and College Administration by Derral Cheatwood

Week 13: Analyzing Data 1 Wednesday 11/28 Read: [E] Chapter 8 Making Sense of Data Read: [G & H] Chapter 13 Its Boring: Notes on the Meanings of Boredom in Everyday Life by Peter Conrad Friday 11/30

Week 14: Analyzing Data II Wednesday 12/5 Read: [E] Chapter 9 Narrative Analysis Due: Open & Focused Coding Read: [G & H] Chapter 11 The Pleasures of Slowness by David Silverman Friday 12/7

Week 15: Writing Up Research

Wednesday 12/12 Read: [E] Chapter 10 Writing About Research Read: [G & H] Chapter 25 Qualitative Sociology and Good Journalism as Demystifiers by Paul M. Hirsch Friday 12/14

Week 16: 12/19 and 12/21 Student Presentations Due 12/21: Final Research Report