SOC. 3240 Qualitative Data Collection
Fall, 2013
Time: 12:30 pm-1:50pm Tuesday and Thursdays
Room:Lang 104
Erma Lawson, RN., Ph.D. Associate Professor, Sociology
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Office Hours: Friday 12pm -5pm; I will be available after class
Chilton Hall, Suite, 300
Course Description
Good research can use quantitative or qualitative evidence (or both). This course has two premises. First, Qualitative methods and data can complement statistical methods or can stand alone as a valid researchtheoretical driven method. Second, those who use qualitative approaches require specific training to usethem effectively. This course covers key issues about qualitative methods and approaches. Those whoconduct original research often find that much is learned by doing; the course provides a menu of approachesand is designed to produce an awareness of the trade-offs involved when one selects one approach, method, technique, or type of evidence over another approach, method, technique, or type of evidence.
After briefly reviewing quantitative and interpretivist research traditions, the course covers the ideal-typical and practical use of specific qualitative methods such as interviewing, archival research, ethnography, focus groups, and discourse analysis. Examples come from sociology research and speak directly to sociological research.
Readings
Books:
Lapan, D. Stephen, Quartaroli, T. Marylynn, and Riemer, Frances, J (EDS). Qualitative Research: An Introduction to Methods and Designs. Jossey-Bass. ( indicated as LQR on syllabus)
Electronic readings: Readings available electronically are designated below by [ELEC].
Additional Readings: Additional readings may be available electronically or from the U of T libraries. It is your responsibility to plan ahead and coordinate with other students to ensure access to additional readings. (You are required to use additional readings for those weeks when you give a presentation.)
Course Policies
Office hours: If you have questions about the readings, about the discussion, or about the assignments, office hours are best. No appointment is needed; just drop by. Occasionally, I announce in class and via email that office hours are cancelled. If you cannot make office hours but would like to meet, email me to schedule a mutually agreeable alternative time.
Email: Email is great for communicating simple information, but extended conversations will be conducted face to face. I generally reply to email inquiries within 3 days. If you do not receive a reply within this period, resubmit your question(s) and/or phone (leave a message if necessary). Please consult the course outline/syllabus and other course information BEFORE submitting inquiries by email.
Keep copies: Students are strongly advised to keep rough and draft work and hard copies of their assignments before submitting them. Keep them until the marked assignments have been returned.
Plagiarism:Plagiarism is a serious academic offence and will be dealt with accordingly. For further clarification and information, please see the University of North Texas’s policy on Plagiarism. This course uses Turnitin.com, a web-based program to deter plagiarism. Students agree that by taking this course all required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to Turnitin.com for the detection of plagiarism. All submitted papers will be included as source documents in the Turnitin.com reference database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers. The terms that apply to the University’s use of the Turnitin.com service are described on the Turnitin.com web site.
Extensions: Sometimes extraordinary circumstances justify an extension. I discuss possible extensions during office hours, not via email. If you cannot make office hours, email me to schedule a mutually agreeable alternative time. I consider such circumstances only until 1 week before the due date. After that, I will discuss extensions only if a student has an official note from a doctor.
Missed Exam: Due to an emergency, if you miss the Mid-Term without receiving my prior consent, you may make up the exam only with a note from a physician. You must contact me within 48 hours of the missed assignment for me to consider any documentation.
Accessibility Needs:TheUniversity of North Texas is committed to accessibility. If you require accommodations or have any accessibility concerns, please contact me as soon as possible.
Assignments
In-Class Presentation (10points): Offer a short (15 minutes) presentation on a given topic related to your individual project; or you can present findings from your research. Example, problems in interviewing; how the interviewing process affected you.
Hands-on Assignments (100 Points): Choose any One of the below. Make your choice in writing by the end of September, after which changes require my written approval. The assignments are due on the last day of class.
Group Assignment (20) Points: Offer a short 15 minutes presentation designed to provoke discussion on a topic in qualitative research.
Short Autobiography (10 Points)(three pages, double-space). Describe where and when you were born, your values; what is important to you; why you are in school; why you are taking this course and why do you expect to gain; future educational goals. This is to help you to become aware of yourself,
Hands on Assignment
Late submissions are not accepted. Details will be posted on Black Board during in the first weeks of classes.
(1) Interview: Conduct a semi-structured interview with a person of your choosing on a topic of your choosing. The interview should last at least 45 minutes. Students submit a full, verbatim written transcript of the interview, a typed version of notes taken during and after the interview, and a write-up analysis.Your analysis INCLUDING DATA SHOULD BE BETWEEN 10-15 PAGES.
OR
(2)Focus Group. If you would like to practice conducting a focus group, choose this assignment. Students submit a full, typed version of their field notes, as well as a write-up analysis. Your analysis INCLUDING DATA SHOULD BE BETWEEN 10-15 PAGES.
Exams
First Exam: (100 Points) (Multiple Choice).
Mid-Term Exam (50 Points) Multiple Choice
Final Exam (50 Points) MultipleChoice
ProjectIn-Class Presentations(individual)
Hands on Assignment (Major Paper)
First Exam
Mid-term Exam
Final Exam
Autobiography
Group Presentation / Points
10 (20 Points)
100
50 (100 Points)
50
100 (50 Points)
10
10 (Delete???)
330 Points
Total Points = 330
A =299--330
B= 200 ---298
C= 100---199
D=50--- 99
F=below 50Points
Course Outline
Additional readings,class exercises; dvds; and speakers may be added
August 27, 2013 Introduction to Qualitative Research
Introduction and syllabus review
September 5: A Qualitative Frame of Mind
Read Chapter 1 in LQR
September 10: Ethics in Qualitative Research
Read Chapter 2 in LQR
September 12: Grounded Theory
Read Chapter 3 in LQR
Autobiography Due
September 17: Grounded Theory
Continue to Read Chapter 3 in LQR
September 24: Methodology and Tools in Qualitative Research
Read Chapter 4 in LQR
September 26: Methodology and Tools in Qualitative Research
Continue reading Chapter 4 in LQR
**CHOICE OF MAJOR ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE MADE BY TODAY
October 1: Continue Tools in Qualitative Research
Read Chapter 5 in LQR
Review for First Exam
October3: Biography and Life Story Research
Continue reading Chapter 5 in LQR
First Exam (Chapters 1-5)
October8: Historian and Ethnographic Research
Read Chapters 6 and 7 in LQR
October 10-Data collection-No Class
October 15: Autoethnography
Begin to work on Major Assignment
Read Chapter8
October 17: Narrative Inquiry
Read Chapter9 in LQR
October 22: Case Study
Read Chapter 10 in LQR
October 24: Art-Based Research
Read Chapter11 in LQR
October 29: Practitioner Research/Coding
Read Chapter 12 in LQR/
October 31: Program Evaluation/Coding
Read Chapter 15 in LQR
November 5: Critical Ethnography/Writing Grounded Theory
Read Chapter 15 in LQR
Group Presentations
November 7: Critical Ethnography/ Writing Grounded Theory
Read Chapter 15 in LQR
Group Presentations
November 12: Feminist Research (Mid-Term Chapters 6-12)
Read Chapter 16 in LQR
November 14: Feminist Research
Read Chapter 16 in LQR
Students discuss projects
November 19: Critical Indigenous Research Methodologies
Read Chapter 16 in LQR
Students discuss projects
November 21 Thanksgiving Holiday
November 26: Critical Indigenous Research Methodologies
Continue to Read Chapter 16 in LQR
Students discuss projects
Final Project Due-Hands on Individual Assignment
November 28: Democratizing Qualitative Research
Read Chapter 18 in LQR
Students discuss Projects
December 5: EXAM (Chapters, 15, 16, and 18)
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