K6ET 2010 - Qualitative Research Methods

This course provides an introduction to qualitative methods used in the so-cial sciences, with an emphasis on urban research. It aims at developing the skills necessary for students to undertake research in urban sociology and urban policy analysis. Classes will provide an overview of the main issues of qualitative research and methods, including ethnography, interviewing and the analysis of documentary sources. In a learning by doing approach, stu-dents will develop along the course a research question and lead a short-term field research project in the Paris metropolis using observation and inter-views. By the end of the semester, students should be able to:
- Critically read, discuss, and engage with qualitative studies
- Formulate a research question
- Collect and analyze qualitative data
- Understand the benefits and limits of different methods

Marcela ALONSO FERREIRA

Atelier

English

Each student will be asked to hand in: - at the start of the semester, a critical note on one ethnography book from the list provided by the instructor; - short reading memo on the weekly readings, to prepare for discussions held in class; - a final project developed in groups along the semester and based on the fol-lowing assignments: a research question, a research note based on secondary data, a literature review, memos of observations of two sites of interests, and the transcription of two interviews.

None.

Autumn 2023-2024

1 – Individual evaluation (60% of the final grade) Critical note on an ethnography book: 10% Fieldwork memos and transcripts: 30% Participation in class: 10% Reading notes: 10% 2 – Collective project (40% of the final grade) Final paper: 40%

Classes will be organized around three elements: - an instructor-led discussion of central issues to qualitative research and methodology; - a discussion of shared reading material and debates surrounding issues identified in the reading; - work on the collective projects, which will take the form of a seminar during the class.