SBP 622 - Social Research and Analysis

Course Objectives

This course seeks to introduce students to the main theories, methodologies and thematic issues of qualitative research. Qualitative research focuses on understanding and interpreting, rather than predicting or controlling, social phenomena, through such methods as participant observation, interviews, focus-group discussions and oral history. Main goal of this course is to stimulate students to critically engage with the epistemological and philosophical assumptions that guide the processes of research design, data collection, interpretation and analysis across the methods to be studied.

Course Description

The course will involve sessions on a range of qualitative research methods. However, particular attention will be given to study of the techniques, epistemological premises, practices, strengths, critiques and ethical issues of and new approaches to ethnographic fieldwork. This course introduces students to everyday social settings by applying methods of systematic and qualitative observation.