IDCE 30285 - Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods

The focus of this course is to introduce students to a range of qualitative and quantitative tools researchers use in social science. The course will focus on tools that are central to ethnographic fieldwork such as designing questionnaires and surveys, interviews, observations, focus groups, archival research, writing field notes, freelisting, pile sorting. In addition to data gathering methods, students will receive basic training on the use of software packages for ethnographic data collection and analysis. This course will involve a minor fieldwork project in the community where students can practice techniques learned in class. No prior knowledge of methodology or statistics is expected or assumed. Class will follow a seminar format and will include reading discussions, student presentations, methods practice, guest lectures, proposal development, and a final project.

You can take this class if:

1.  You have never taken a course that covered qualitative and quantitative research methods OR

2.  You have never collected primary research OR

3.  You are not familiar with research design, data collection, or data analysis OR

4.  It has been a long time since you have taken any research methods courses and would like a refresher course.

Fall 2011

The focus of this course is to introduce students to a range of qualitative and quantitative tools researchers use in social science. The course will focus on tools that are central to ethnographic fieldwork such as designing questionnaires and surveys, interviews, observations, focus groups, archival research, writing field notes, freelisting, pile sorting, cultural consensus modeling, and social network analysis. In addition to data gathering methods, students will receive basic training on the use of software packages for ethnographic data collection and analysis. This course will involve a minor fieldwork project in the community where students can practice techniques learned in class. No prior knowledge of methodology or statistics is expected or assumed. Class will follow a seminar format and will include reading discussions, student presentations, methods practice, guest lectures, proposal development, and a final project.