This course provides an introduction to qualitative social research with a particular focus on ethnography. It is an undergraduate course suitable for students with little or no research experience. We will first learn about four of the most common and important qualitative methods: ethnography, interviewing, digital research, and historical/archival research. We will read about these methods, read studies which use them, and discuss their ethical challenges as well as methodological potentials and limitations. Beginning in the second half of the semester, we will conduct our own small research projects to practice formulating a research question; finding a field site and participants; gathering, analyzing, and writing about our data; and reflecting critically on our research in the process.
- Course owner: Dr. Ulrike Bialas