Course Title：An Introduction to Qualitative Research in the Social Sciences

This course introduces the fundamental skills required to design and conduct qualitative research in the social sciences. Students will be encouraged to make connections between research and their own lives and become familiar with the basic procedures used in qualitative research (e.g.,focus groups, interviews, observation, data analysis, etc.) Areas of emphasis include interpreting research literature (articles); conducting a literature search; planning and implementing a research study, selecting appropriate procedures for analysis; and presenting a research proposal. Students will be expected to read and interpret research articles and assigned documents. They will prepare a research proposal of their own making, demonstrating an understanding of qualitative research design. The focus for this course will be on qualitative research methodology and design. Topical areas that will be discussed will acquaint students with a number of different approaches to qualitative research that may be employed by a researcher to arrive at answers to a set of research questions. The research designs to be studied (e.g., case study, ethnography, narrative inquiry, action research, etc.) are not intended to be exhaustive, but are those that are commonly used by researchers working within the area of social science. This course will be taught in English. No prerequisite requirements. Open to ALL undergraduate students.