INFO 272. Qualitative Research Methods introduction

Course Materials http://courses.ischool.berkeley.edu/i272/s08/index.html Lofland and Lofland, Analyzing Social Settings Course Reader (at Copy Central) Course equipment (audio recording device and some notecards)

What is Qualitative Research? Is there such a thing? How I’m bounding the subject matter for this course: In situ – the setting where the social process under study takes place An inductive approach Reflexive – the researcher as instrument

Term Goals Gain hands on experience with various qualitative methods and feedback on technique Learn to match research interests with appropriate methodological approaches and to understand what can and can’t be said about a certain corpus of data Learn how to negotiate the logistical limits and ethical issues inherent in any research practice The develop a better and broader understanding of the relationship between data and knowledge

Epistemology, on the one hand “The Nature of Knowing, Social Reality, and Procedures for Comprehending these Phenomena” [Bauer and Gaskell] [OED] epistemology - the branch of philosophy that deals with knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope.

Qualitative vs. Quantitative? Functional equivalence

Epistemology Habermas, Knowledge and Human Interests Control - ‘empirical-analytic’ Consensus - ‘historical-hermeneutic’ Emancipation - ‘critical’

Nuts and Bolts, on the other getting in, getting along, getting out, and consequences: framework within which the ‘real’ research is conducted administrative aspects of research ethical issues see Lofland and Lofland

The Study of Information and Technology Incorporating material culture (‘technology’ in particular) into research practice as object of analysis as ‘probes’ in data elicitation strategies Theories about the role of the material world in social order Theories about the production/design and consumption/use of material objects as a social process

Qualitative Research in the ‘Real’ World the wider perspective theory development and testing / academia advocacy / non-profit sector, NGOs, journalism policy design and development / government, NGOs public information service / media, journalism product design, marketing, business strategy / corporate domain innovation, inspiration, creativity / design research, fine arts

Qualitative Research in the ‘Real’ World time factors # of informants funding ‘validity’ requirements level of formality marketing policy design and development # of informants product design advocacy journalism innovation & inspiration informal formal methodological approach

e.g. fine arts ‘impenetrable devices’ on display at National Ornamental Metal Museum, Memphis By WOODY BAIRD Associated Press Writer His inspiration for the anti-rape devices comes from interviews he had with five victims of sexual assault who were trying to regain a sense of physical safety. What they wanted, Sherman said, was body armor. "When you talk with someone who's been raped, you start getting details that are just horrifying. That horror I transform into my work," Sherman said. "But if I were to make pieces horribly ugly and brutal, there's no redemption. The beauty of the work has a kind of redemptive quality.“

Background

Assignments Field Notes, due 2/21/08 (15%) A participant-observation exercise the whole class will collaborate on

Assignments Interviews, due 4/3/08 (20%) Two interviews (transcribed) Get outside of your comfort zone and beyond the campus community

Assignments Final Project, due 5/8/08 (55%) Your choice Build on earlier assignments Do some preliminary work for your thesis Or do something entirely new

Syllabus Lectures Workshop and Discussion Guest speakers

A Mind-Mapping Exercise What are the hallmarks of high quality, well-conducted research? What terms come to mind? [Social Research Update, University of Surrey]