GDEV 5740

Qualitative Research Methods

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2024-2025.

This class provides students with an introduction to qualitative research methods. While we will center our attention on questions, problems, and issues related to the field of global development, the class will also be relevant for students from other fields. In class lectures, discussions, and assignments, we will learn about, draw from, and interweave frameworks and tools from a wide variety of fields. In doing so we will explore the challenges and benefits of both "multidisciplinary" and "transdisciplinary" research. Questions of ethics, responsibility, and relationality will be taken up throughout the class, including our obligation to reject extractive "colonial" methods and ways of knowing. On this theme, we will explore theorists and practitioners of publicly engaged, participatory, feminist, indigenous, emancipatory, and action-oriented research.

When Offered Spring.

Forbidden Overlaps Forbidden Overlap: due to an overlap in content, students will not receive credit for both COMM 6830 and GDEV 3740/GDEV 5740.

• Formulate and produce a robust qualitative research design and proposal.
• Justify the choice of methods in qualitative research projects.
• Devise and defend choice of qualitative data collection and analysis strategies.
• Produce research findings in written and oral formats.
• Determine appropriate ethical principles in creating research designs.
• Model in research projects an attitude of openness, humility and respect in interactions with others, including those who hold different perspectives and worldviews, or who differ along lines of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual identity, socioeconomic class or political or religious affiliation.

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