COMM 725: Qualitative Methods

COMM 725-001: Qualitative Methods
(Spring 2018)

04:30 PM to 07:10 PM T

Section Information for Spring 2018

The practice of qualitative social research begins with the premise that understanding the causes and consequences of human behavior requires understanding the meanings that individuals use to make sense of their experience. Qualitative social research thus takes as its main goal the production of rich and detailed accounts of human behavior and social interaction in natural settings, with a focus on grasping how individuals interpret their world, from their point of view. The main purpose of COMM 725 is therefore to introduce graduate students to the practice of qualitative research. Note: This is a "learn by doing" course. To be sure, in lectures and seminar discussions, we will discuss the philosophical foundations of qualitative social research, while also engaging with readings that introduce students to the most widely-used methods of qualitative communication research (especially in-depth interviews and participant observation). But all of these activities are focused on helping students achieve the key goal of the course: designing and executing a pilot qualitative research project of their own choosing. To complete these pilot studies, students will be asked to choose and define a research problem, review relevant literature, and propose a research question. Each student will then work individually to investigate this question using qualitative methods. Along the way, course activities and assignments will guide students through each step of the process, with an emphasis on forming research questions, constructing conceptual frameworks, developing a flexible research design, collecting and analyzing data, and, finally, writing and presenting the final report. 

Course Information from the University Catalog