Description
This course is designed to teach students the essentials of qualitative research. It combines a theoretical and practical orientation, with the two-fold goal of providing students with tools to (a) become thoughtful consumers of political science research that uses qualitative methods; and (b) begin working towards designing sound research projects using qualitative methods. The first part of the course discusses the logic of inference underlying qualitative research, what qualitative methods are suitable for, and the most common case study research designs used in qualitative political science, including within-case and cross-case research designs. The second part of the course emphasizes some specific methods for data collection – such as participant observation, interviewing, focus groups, and archival research – and data analysis – such as content and discourse analysis, and coding techniques.
Course objectives
At the end of the course, students will
be familiar with qualitative research designs and techniques to collect and analyze qualitative data prevalent in political science
understand and acknowledge the advantages and limits of different qualitative research
designs and techniques to collect and analyze qualitative databe able to assess the methodological choices of important works in qualitative
political science
Mode of instruction
Lecture (with occasional guests)
Assessment method
80 % Final Exam (combination of multiple choice and open-answer questions)
20 % participation (engagement in online forum activities via BS)
Reading list
The readings will be listed in the syllabus, which will be made available two weeks before the beginning of the course. There will be two readings per session, one practical reading on the topic to be covered that week (i.e., interviewing) and one reading that applies the method covered in the session. A list of additional readings will be provided.
Timetable
See 'MyTimetable'
Registration
See 'Practical Information'