POS 160.

QUALITATIVE METHODS IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES

2nd Semester, SY 2016-207
Tuesdays, Thursdays 9:30 11:00AM (B-309)
and 2:00 3:30 PM (BEL-306)
Dr. Liberty Chee
lchee@ateneo.edu
Consultation Hours: Tuesdays Fridays, 4:00 5:00 PM
Department of Political Science 3/F Leong Hall
(Please e-mail to set an appointment)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course introduces students to the plural what, how, and why of qualitative research. The first
section introduces some of the basic tools for making inquiries about the social world and the
elements of a research proposal. The second section discusses some common qualitative methods to
generate data. Lastly, we look into strategies for dealing with data.
Organisation: Lecture on Tuesdays, group discussion and activities on Thursdays.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the semester, students will have acquired the skills to make a qualitative inquiry into
the social world. This includes formulating a limited, answerable research question, learning to
mobilise literature, choosing appropriate methods to generate evidence to answer the research
question, carrying out data generation and analysis. These skills should teach students to think
critically about everything they read and think they know about the world.
REQUIREMENTS
Reading: You will be reading 50 pages on average each week, which means you will need to allocate
at least 2 hours to read them once and another 2 hours to be able to 1) fully comprehend and 2)
understand them well enough to have opinions about them. Four hours a week is a reasonable
amount of time so I expect each of you to come to class prepared, especially on Thursdays. For tips
on how to read, I strongly suggest you take some time to read this.
Data-generation Exercises x 2 (20%). Choose to do any two exercises below. We will go into the
details of these exercises from Week 6.

Discourse Analysis
Interview
Focus Group Discussion
Participant Observation
Visual/Filmic Analysis

Lead Discussion (10%). As lead discussant, you will identify three main ideas that you think are the
most important from the weekly readings. Your short presentation (10 minutes maximum) will
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explain why you think these ideas are important. Prepare 3 well-thought out questions to invite your
classmates for discussion.
Analytical Paper (20%). This paper critically engages the readings by addressing some of the issues
brought up by the authors. Pick 3-4 readings from Part I that you will thoughtfully analyse. I will send
a detailed evaluation rubric. 2,000 to 2,500 words, excluding citations, include word count (stick to
the word limits no more, no less). For tips on how to analyse, I strongly suggest you read this.
Research Proposal (30%). The research proposal should have a well-formulated research question,
a literature review and methods for data generation. I will send a detailed rubric about what I expect
to read from you. 3,500 to 4,000 words, excluding citations, include word count (stick to the limits,
no more, no less).
Participation (10%). Throughout the semester, you will be evaluated for the quality (not the
quantity!) of your contribution to class discussions. Not to say that thoughtful effort will go unnoticed.
Unannounced Quizzes x 4 (10%). These will be simple, short-answer 10-point quizzes designed to
motivate you to keep up with the weekly readings.
PART I. TOOLS, CONCEPTS, APPROACHES
Week 1. Introduction (January 19)
Housekeeping and administrative matters, introductions, discussion of the syllabus, group activity.
Week 2. What is research and what is qualitative about research? (January 24, 26)
Hammersley M. (2013). Defining Qualitative Research. Chapter 1 in What is Qualitative Research?
pp. 1-20.
Taylor S., Bogdan R. & DeVault M. (2016). Introduction: Go to the People. Chapter 1 in Introduction
to Qualitative Research Methods, pp. 3-28.
Week 3. Ways of knowing about the social world (January 31, February 2)
In case you didnt know already, knowing about anything is a complicated process. This week we
will discuss what is it we mean we say we know something. This way we also understand that there
are different ways of making knowledge about the world.
Hammersley M. (2013). Methodological Philosophies. Chapter 2 in What is Qualitative Research?,
pp. 21-46.
Williams M. & May T. (1996). Knowing the Social World. Chapter 4 in An Introduction to the
Philosophy of Social Research Today, pp. 69-106

Week 4. What are concepts and theories good for? (February 7, 9)

This week we break down some of the tools with which we break down social reality.
Barakso M. Sabet D. & Shaffner B. (2014). Linking Theory and Inference. Chapter 3 in Understanding
Political Science Research Methods. NY: Routledge, pp. 57-80.
Tracy S. (2013). Paradigmatic Reflections and Theoretical Foundations. Chapter 3 in Qualitative
Research Methods: Collecting Evidence, Crafting Analysis, Communication Impact, pp. 37-63
Week 5. Formulating research questions about what and for what purpose? (February 13,
17)
What is your qualitative inquiry aimed at doing? And therefore, what kinds of questions should you
ask? Are you looking to identify causes? Investigate experience? Explore the unexplored? Or break
apart what makes a phenomenon hang together?
Hammersley M. (2013). Divergent Analytic Styles. Chapter 3 in What is Qualitative Research?, pp.
47-65.
Barakso M. Sabet D. & Shaffner B. (2014). The Research Question. Chapter 2 in Understanding
Political Science Research Methods. NY: Routledge.
Due: 1-page research description with a 10-entry bibliography. Contains a clear research question
and a provisional argument.
Week 6. Elements of a Research Proposal (February 21 23)
What are the things to consider when planning for a research project and writing a proposal to
execute it?
Henn M., Weinstein M. & Foard N. (2006). Getting Started in Research: The Research Process.
Chapter 3 in A Short Introduction to Social Research, pp. 45-65.
Tracy S. (2013). Proposal Writing: Explaining Your Research to Institutional Review Boards,
Instructors, Supervisory Committees, and Funding Agencies. Chapter 3 in Qualitative Research
Methods: Collecting Evidence, Crafting Analysis, Communication Impact, pp. 87-104.
Due: Analytical paper.
PART II. METHODS OF DATA GENERATION
Week 7. Working with Texts (February 28, March 2)
Henn M., Weinstein M. & Foard N. (2006). Documentary Sources and Official Statistics. Chapter 5 in
A Short Introduction to Social Research, pp. 96-115.
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Gee P. (2011). Context and Discourse Analysis. Chapters 7 and 8 in An Introduction to Discourse
Analysis, pp. 99-126.
Week 8. Working with People in Dialogue (March 7, 9)
Tracy S. (2013). Interview Planning and Design: Sampling, Recruiting and Questioning. Chapter 7
in Qualitative Research Methods: Collecting Evidence, Crafting Analysis, Communication Impact, pp.
131-156
Gray P., Williamson J. Karp D. & Dalphin J. (2007). Intensive Interviewing. Chapter 8 in The Research
Imagination: An Introduction to Qualitative and Quantitative Methods, pp. 151-178.
Week 9. Working with People in Group Discussion (March 14, 16)
Tracy S. (2013). Interview Practice: Embodied, Mediated and Focus-group Approaches. Chapter 8
in Qualitative Research Methods: Collecting Evidence, Crafting Analysis, Communication Impact, pp.
131-156
Crang M. & Cook I. (2007). Focus Groups. Chapter 6 in Doing Ethnographies, pp. 90-103.
Due: 600 to 800-word research proposal draft. Contains a research question, argument and a short
literature review.
Week 10. Working with People in Everyday Life (March 21, 23)
Tracy S. (2013). Fieldwork and Fieldplay: Negotiating Access and Exploring the Scene and Field
roles, Filednotes and Field Focus. Chapters 4 and 6 in Qualitative Research Methods: Collecting
Evidence, Crafting Analysis, Communication Impact, pp. 65-86 and 117-129.
Katz J. (2011). From How to Why: On Luminous Description and Causal Inference in Ethnography
(Part I). Chapter 14 in SAGE Qualitative Research Methods.
Week 11. Researching the Visual (March 28, 30)
Emmison M. & Smith P. (2007). Introduction: Putting Visual Data into Focus, Two-dimensional
visual data: images, signs and representations, Three-dimensional visual data: settings, objects and
traces. In Researching the Visual: Images, Objects, Contexts and Interactions in Social and Cultural
Inquiry.
Crang M. & Cook I. (2007). Filmic Approaches. Chapter 7 in Doing Ethnographies, pp. 104-128.

Due: Research Exercise 1.

PART III. DATA ANALYSIS

Week 12. What to do with the Data? (April 4, 6)
Tracy S. (2013). Data Analysis Basics: A Pragmatic Iterative Approach. Chapter 9 in Qualitative
Research Methods: Collecting Evidence, Crafting Analysis, Communication Impact, pp. 183-202
Taylor S., Bogdan R. & DeVault M. (2015). Working with Data: Data Analysis in Qualitative Research.
Chapter 6 in Introduction to Qualitative Methods, pp. 161-196.
Week 13. Holy Week Break
Week 14. Working with Data (April 18, 20)
Gee P. (2011). Sample of Discourse Analysis 1. Chapter 10 in An Introduction to Discourse Analysis,
pp. 148-164.
Crang M. & Cook I. (2007). Analysing Field Materials. Chapter 8 in Doing Ethnographies, pp. 104128.
Due: Research Exercise 2.
Week 15. Writing Up (April 25, 27)
Taylor S., Bogdan R. & DeVault M. (2015). Writing and Publishing Qualitative Studies. Chapter 7 in
Introduction to Qualitative Methods, pp. 199-214.
Henn M., Weinstein M. & Foard N. (2006). Writing Up and Presenting Research Results. Chapter 9
in A Short Introduction to Social Research, pp. 218-248.
Week 16. Research Break (May 2, 4)
Week 17. Ethics (May 9, 11)
Berg B. (2001). Ethical Issues. Chapter 3 in Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences.
Henn M., Weinstein M. & Foard N. (2006). Ethics in Social Research. Chapter 4 in A Short
Introduction to Social Research, pp. 66-95.
Due: Research Proposal.

GENERAL GUIDELINES
1. Plagiarism. All written assignments shall be uploaded to Turnitin. Students who have
plagiarised any written work will be subject to disciplinary action as prescribed by the
university rules and the students magna carta. For tips on how not to commit plagiarism,
click here.
2. Referencing. I am used to the APA style, but you can use others as long as its consistent. For
various formatting guides, click here.
3. Oral Examination. I may require a short oral examination on your final paper.
4. Attendance. Per university rules, you cannot exceed six absences in the duration of the
semester. If you come 10 minutes after the bell has rung, you will be marked late. If you come
30 minutes after the bell has rung, you will be marked absent. Absences will not be recorded
if you can provide documentary evidence that you were sick, indisposed or off on an official
university activity.
5. Absences/Sickness/Other Issues. If you have health issues that you think may affect your
performance in class, please do not hesitate to approach me at the beginning of the semester
so we can make necessary adjustments.
6. Late Submissions. All late submissions will garner a 0.5-point deduction per 12 hours after
the deadline.
7. Consultations. Please e-mail to set an appointment during the hours listed above. If you
cannot make it during those periods, we can arrange to have a virtual chat by Skype at a time
convenient to us both.
8. E-mail. These are great for short queries. I usually reply within 24-48 hours. If I do not reply,
please re-send your message.