INFO 272. Qualitative Research Methods introduction

Course Materials http://courses.ischool.berkeley.edu/i272/s09/index.html Lofland and Lofland, Analyzing Social Settings Course Reader (at Copy Central) Course equipment (audio recording device and some notecards)

What is Qualitative Research? In this course we’ll be considering specifically: Field-based research An inductive analytical approach Researcher reflexivity “the attempt to understand another life world using the self … as the instrument of knowing” - Sherry Ortner.

Term Goals Gain hands on experience and get feedback on your technique Learn to match research questions with appropriate methodological approaches and to understand what can and can’t be said about a certain corpus of data Learn how to negotiate the logistical limits and ethical issues inherent in any research practice Data vs. knowledge and the relationship between

New Additions this Semester More time spent on analysis (in class, workshop activities) More readings demonstrating how qualitative research is written up Additional material on studying work process, complex instrumented environments, expert interviews, etc.

Epistemology “The Nature of Knowing, Social Reality, and Procedures for Comprehending these Phenomena” [Bauer and Gaskell] epistemology - the branch of philosophy that deals with knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope [OED] .

Epistemology Habermas, Knowledge and Human Interests Technical Control - ‘empirical-analytic’ Establishing Consensus - ‘historical-hermeneutic’ Empowerment - ‘critical’

Nuts and Bolts getting in, getting along, getting out, and consequences: framework within which the ‘real’ research is conducted administrative aspects of research ethical issues see Lofland and Lofland

The Study of Information and Technology Incorporating the object world (‘technology’ in particular) into research practice as object of analysis as ‘probes’ in data elicitation strategies

The status of ‘things’ in society In social theory - a new appreciation of the material world and the socializing effect of ‘things’ (in contrast to a social theory fixated on language, discourse, and a dematerialized social structure) “the performative and integrative capacity of ‘things’ to help make what we call society.” [Pels, pg. 2]

Background

Qualitative Research in the ‘Real’ World the wider perspective theory development and testing / academia advocacy / non-profit sector, NGOs, journalism policy design and development / government, NGOs public information service / media, journalism product design, marketing, business strategy / corporate domain innovation, inspiration, creativity / design research, fine arts

Qualitative Research in the ‘Real’ World time factors # of informants funding ‘validity’ requirements level of formality marketing policy design and development # of informants product design advocacy Out in the ‘real world’ – these practices exist along a sort of continuum This is partly why we talk about ‘logistics’ in this course journalism innovation & inspiration informal formal methodological approach

Assignments Field Notes, due 3/3/09 (15%) A participant-observation exercise the whole class will collaborate on

Assignments Interviews, due 4/7/09 (20%) Two interviews (transcribed) Get outside of your comfort zone and beyond the campus community

Assignments Final Project, due 5/7/09 (55%) Your choice Build on earlier assignments Do some preliminary work for your thesis Or do something entirely new

A Mind-Mapping Exercise What are the hallmarks of high quality, well-conducted research? What terms come to mind? [Social Research Update, University of Surrey]