QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS

 

ANTHROPOLOGY 305                                                                    Dr. Pamela Erickson      

Fall 2006, 2:30-4:30 Wednesday                                                       Office: 431 Beach Hall

Beach Colloquium Room                                                                   Phone: 486-1736    

                                                                                                            Office Hours: by appointment

 

Course Description and Objectives

 

This course is an intensive seminar-field course in the collection and analysis of ethnographic data.  Emphasis is placed on observation, interviewing, and analysis of text data.  Students will apply ethnographic data collection techniques through a series of short field exercises. They will also write written field reports that provide both candid, self-reflective analysis of the research process and analysis and interpretation of the data they collect.

 

Assignments and Evaluation

 

The course will be conducted in seminar style, although text processing and analysis will require hands-on work using Anthropac (need to purchase) and ATLAS.ti (available in the computer lab in Beach Hall).  Readings should be read by the date under which they appear in the syllabus for discussion on that day.

 

There will be eight written reports based on fieldwork outside of class.  These reports are due by noon in my mailbox on the Tuesday before the class in which they will be discussed (typed, double spaced, 12 pt. font). Your report must include:

 

1)     your raw field notes

2)     your findings

3)     a critique of the process: what you learned about the technique and about yourself as a researcher (e.g., what went well, what would you do differently, kinds of problems this technique addresses, etc.)

 

CITI - Social/Behavioral Research Course

 

In addition to the eight field assignments, all students are required to take and pass the CITI Social/Behavioral Research Module and present documentation of passing by October 12.  More information can be found at UConn's Research Compliance site: http://www.irb.uconn.edu/.  The website for the CITI course is: https://www.citiprogram.org/default.asp.  The course is free and is required by UConn for all investigators. You must pass it before submitting your own research protocol to the IRB. The Social/Behavioral Research course has 11 modules with a quiz at the end of each, which can be completed in several sessions.  It will take you some time to do this (allow at least 8-10 hours), so you should start immediately.

 

Grades will be based on field reports (75%) and class participation (25%).  There will be no formal examinations.  You cannot complete the work for this class without also passing the CITI course.

Field Assignments_______________________________________            Due     Discussion

 

1.     Observe a person eating (2-5 page report)                                                  9/5              9/7

2.     Observe a waiting room for 1 hr. (5-8 page report)                                     9/19            9/21

3.     Participant observation (5-8 page report)                                                    10/3            10/5

4.   Pass CITI test and bring certification                                                     10/12

5.   Kinship interview and diagram  (2-5 page report)                                        10/17          10/19

6.   Pile sort (2-5 page report)                                                                          10/31          11/2

7.   Informal Interview I (2-5 page report)                                                         11/7            11/9

8.   Informal Interview II and transcript (2-5 page report)                                  11/14          11/28

9.   Discussion of ATLAS.ti coding and queries (2-5 page report)                                 12/5            12/7

 

 

 

Required Books

 

1) Bernard, H. Russell  2005.  Research Methods in Anthropology.Fourth Edition.  AltaMira Press.

 

2) DeWalt, Kathleen M. and Billie R. DeWalt   2002.  Participant Observation. A Guide for Fieldworkers. AltaMira Press.

 

3) Emerson, Robert M., Rachel I. Fretz, and Linda L. Shaw   1995.  Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.

 

4) Wolcott, Harry F.   2001.  Writing Up Qualitative Research. 2nd Edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.

 

5) Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.  Fifth Edition.

 

These books can be purchased at the UCONN CO-OP Bookstore. 

 

 

Recommended Books

 

1) Zinsser, William  2001.  On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction.  New York: Harper Collins Publishers

 

 

Required Qualitative Data Analysis Programs

 

1) Ucinet (available from Analytic Technologies - http://www.analytictech.com/)

Ucinet information @ http://www.analytictech.com/anthropac/apacdesc.htm - costs $50 for students.  We will use this for free list and pile sort data.

 

2) ATLAS.ti is available in the Anthropology Computer Lab. We will use this for coding and analyzing text data.  If you don't have a user ID or key to the Lab, please see Tracey Andrews, our administrative assistant, in Beach 438.

 

 

CLASS SCHEDULE

 

 1. AUGUST 31                      Organizational Meeting    NOTE: Readings are assigned.

 

PART 1.  OBSERVATIONAL METHODS

 

 2. SEPTEMBER 7                Observational Methods

                                                            1) Discussion of Eating Observation (due 9/ 5)

 

 3. SEPTEMBER 14              Structured Observational Methods, Writing Description

 

 4. SEPTEMBER 21              Participant Observation

                                                            2) Discussion of Waiting Room Observation (due 9/19)

                                               

 5. SEPTEMBER 28              Participant Observation

                                                            Atlas.ti Intro

 

PART 2.  MAPPING, LISTING, AND SORTING

 

 6. OCTOBER 4                    Eliciting and Mapping Kinship

                                                            3) Discussion of Participant Observation (due 10/3)

 

 7. OCTOBER 11                   Free Listing and Pile Sorting,

                                                             Anthropac intro

                                                            4) Documentation of passing IRB test due                                     

 

PART 3.  INTERVIEWING AND ANALYSIS OF TEXT DATA

 

 8. OCTOBER 17                   Interviewing Techniques

                                                            5) Discussion of Kinship Interview (due 10/17)

 

 9. OCTOBER 25                  Informal Interviewing

                                                            Turn in your pile sort data today - Anthropac data demo

                                               

10. NOVEMBER 2                Free List and Pile Sort Discussion (Antrhopac results)

                                                            6) Discussion of Pile Sort (due Halloween­ 10/31)

                                   

                                   

11. NOVEMBER 9                            7) Discussion of First Informal Interviews (due 11/7)

 

12. NOVEMBER 16              NO CLASS - AAA meetings 11/15-19 – San Jose, CA                                                      

                                                            Put your text files of Interview 2 in shared folder

 

13. NOVEMBER 23             NO CLASS - Thanksgiving Recess 11/19-26

 

14. NOVEMBER 30                          8) Discussion of Second Informal Interviews (due 11/28) (Atlas.ti Q&A)

 

15. DECEMBER 7                            9) Discussion of Atlas Analysis of Interviews (due 12/5)

 

 

READINGS

 

* Indicates readings available in Mail Room and on WEB CT.

 

AUGUST 31               INTRODUCTION

 

Bernard, H. Russell  2005. Research Methods in Anthropology.

            Chapter 1. Anthropology and the Social Sciences, pp. 1-27.

            Chapter 2. The Foundations of Social Research, pp. 28-68.

 

* LeCompte, Margaret D. and Jean J. Schensul   1999.  Designing and Conducting Ethnographic Research. Volume 1, Ethnographer’s Toolkit.  AltaMira Press.

            Chapter 3. Paradigms for Thinking about Ethnographic Research, pp. 41-60.

            Chapter 9. Ethical Treatment of Research Participants and Care for Human Relationships,

                        pp. 183-204.

 

* Fluehr-Lobban, Carolyn  1998.  In H. Russell Bernard (Ed.) Handbook of Methods in Cultural Anthropology.  AltaMira Press.

            Ch. 5. Ethics, pp. 173- 202.      

 

 

SEPTEMBER 7         OBSERVATIONAL METHODS                         

Discussion of Eating Observation.

 

Bernard, H. Russell  2005. Research Methods in Anthropology.

Chapter 15. Direct and Indirect Observation, pp. 413-450.

 

* Hall, Edward T.  1966. The Hidden Dimension. New York: Doubleday.

            Chapter IV. Perception of Space: Distance Receptors - Eyes, Ears, and Nose, pp. 41-50.

            Chapter X. Distances in Man, pp. 113-129.

 

* Kidder, Louise H. and Charles M. Judd   1986. Research Methods in Social Relations.  New York: CBS College Publishing.

            Chapter 12. Observational and Archival Data, pp. 279-311

 

Emerson, et al.  1995.  Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes.

            Chapter 1. Fieldnotes in Ethnographic Research, pp.1-16.

            Chapter 2. In the Field: Participating, Observing, and Jotting Notes, pp. 17-38.

 

 

SEPTEMBER 14       STRUCTURED OBSERVATION, WRITING DESCRIPTION

 

* Johnson, Allen and Ross Sackett  1998.  In H. Russell Bernard (Ed.) Handbook of Methods in

Cultural Anthropology.  AltaMira Press.

            Ch. 9. Direct Systematic Observation of Behavior, pp. 301-332.

 

Emerson, et al.  1995.  Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes.

            Chapter 3. Writing Up Field Notes I: From Field to Desk, pp. 39-65.

            Chapter 4. Writing Up Field Notes II, Creating Scenes on the page, pp.66-107.

 

Wolcott, Harry F.  2001.  Writing Up Qualitative Research. 2nd Edtion.  Sage Publications.

 

Recommended:

Zinsser, William  2001.  On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction.  New York: Harper Collins Publishers. 

 

 

SEPTEMBER 21       PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION

Discussion of Waiting Room Observation.

 

DeWalt, Kathleen M. and Billie R. DeWalt  2002.  Participant Observation. A Guide for Fieldworkers. AltaMira Press.

            Chapters 1-5, pp. 1-91.

 

Bernard, H. Russell  2005.  Research Methods in Anthropology.

Chapter 3. Preparing for Research, pp. 69-95.

Chapter 13. Participant Observation, pp. 342- 386.

Chapter 14. Field Notes: How to Take, Code, and Manage Them, pp.387-412.

 

 

SEPTEMBER 28       PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION

 

DeWalt, Kathleen M. and Billie R. DeWalt  2002.  Participant Observation. A Guide for Fieldworkers. AltaMira Press.

            Chapters 6-10, pp. 92-208.

 

 

OCTOBER 5              ELICITING KINSHIP RELATIONSHIPS

Discussion of Participant Observation.

 

* Eriksen, Thomas Hylland  1995.  Small Places, Large Issues. An Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology.  East Haven, CT: Pluto Press.

            Chapter 6. Kinship, pp. 82-94.

 

 

 

OCTOBER 12            FREE LISTING AND PILE SORTING     

Intro to Anthropac

 

* Schensul, Jean J., Margaret D. LeCompte, Bonnie K. Nastasi, and Stephen P. Borgatti  1999.  Enhanced Ethnographic Methods.  Volume 3. Ethnographer's Toolkit. AltaMira Press.

            Ch. 3. Elicitation Techniques for Cultural Domain Analysis, pp. 115-151.

            NOTE: we will not be discussing triads, pp. 143-147.

 

* de Munck, Victor C. and Elisa J. Sobo (Eds.)  1998.  Using Methods in the Field. A Practical Introduction and Casebook.

            Chapter 4.  Fleisher, Mark S. and Jennifer Harrington, Freelisting: Management at a Women's

            Federal Prison Camp, pp. 69-84.

            Chapter 5. Flinn, Juliana, Freelists, Ratings, Averages, and Frequencies: Why So Few Students

            Study Anthropology, pp. 85-96.

            Chapter 6. Roos, Gun, Plie Sorting: "Kids Like Candy", pp. 97-110.

 

 

OCTOBER 19            INTERVIEWING TECHNIQUES

Discussion of Kinship Interview

 

Bernard, H. Russell  2005.  Research Methods in Anthropology.

            Chapter 9. Interviewing: Unstructured and Semistructured, pp. 210-250.

 

Gorden, Raymond L.  1987.  Interviewing, Strategy, Techniques, and Tactics. 4th Edition.  Chicago: The Dorsey Press.

Chapter 14. Nonverbal Techniques, pp. 347-387.

 

* Rubin, Herbert J. and Irene S. Rubin. 1995.  Qualitative Interviewing, The Art of Hearing Data. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications

            Chapter 5. Building Conversational Partnerships, pp. 93-121.

 

 

 

OCTOBER 26            INFORMAL INTERVIEWING & INTERPRETATION

Bring your pile sort data for data entry today.

Anthropac data entry and analysis demo

 

* Denzin, Norman K.  1994.  In Norman K. Denzin and Yvonna S. Lincoln (eds.)  Handbook of Qualitative Research.  Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.

Chapter 31. The Art and Politics of Interpretation, pp. 500-515.

 

Emerson, et al.  1995.  Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes.

            Chapter 5. Pursuing Members' Meanings, pp. 108-141.

(Readings continued on next page)

* LeCompte, Margaret D. and Jean J. Schensul   1999.  Designing and Conducting Ethnographic Research. Volume 1, Ethnographer’s Toolkit.  AltaMira Press.

            Chapter 7. Data Analysis: How Ethnographers Make Sense of Their Data, pp. 147-159.

 

* Schensul, Stephen, Jean J. Schensul, and Margaret D. LeCompte  1999.  Essential Ethnographic Methods. Volume 2, Ethnographer’s Toolkit. AltaMira Press.

            Chapter 5. In-Depth, Open Ended Interviewing, pp.121-148.

 

 

NOVEMBER 2          FREE LISTING AND PILE SORTING RESULTS

Discussion of Free List and Pile Sort Data

 

                                   

NOVEMBER 9          QUALITATIVE DATA ANALYSIS

Discussion of First Informal Interview

 

Bernard, H. Russell  2005. Research Methods in Anthropology.

            Chaprer 16. Introduction to Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis, pp. 451-462.

            Chapter 17. Qualitative Data Analysis I: Text Analysis, pp. 463-521.

 

Emerson, et al.  1995.  Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes.

            Chapter 6. Processing Fieldnotes: Coding and Memoing, pp. 142-168.

 

 

NOVEMBER 16        NO CLASS - AAA Meetings, 11/15-19 – San Jose, CA

Bring your text files of Interview 2 to share.

 

Emerson, et al.  1995.  Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes.

            Chapter 7.  Writing an Ethnography. pp. 169-208.

            Chapter 8. Conclusion, pp. 211-216.

 

 

NOVEMBER 23        NO CLASS - Thanksgiving

 

 

NOVEMBER 30        INFORMAL INTERVIEW RESULTS

Discussion of Second Informal Interview

 

 

DECEMBER 7          TEXT ANALYSIS RESULTS

Discussion of ATLAS Analysis of Interview