82216 - Laboratory Of Qualitative Social Research 1

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to design and conduct a study using qualitative research techniques (participant and/or naturalistic observation, discursive interview, focus group, digital ethnography) through small group exercises on specific phenomena of social interest. At the end of the laboratory course, students will be able to formulate precise research questions, translate and operationalise these questions in data collection and analysis techniques, understand and critically evaluate the results of qualitative empirical research on topics typical of the social sciences.

Course contents

The laboratory activities combine lectures and practical exercises.
Through the lectures, the laboratory deepens the epistemological premises and the logics that guide qualitative research, as well as the different steps of fieldwork, such as the conception of the research design (formulation of questions/objectives and work plan), the exploration of some of the main data collection techniques (mainly interview), the analysis and interpretation of empirical data with the aim of writing the research report.

The practical exercises invite the students to try their hand at fieldwork, starting from the choice of a topic among those proposed by the professor at the beginning of the laboratory.

Attending studens are expected to reach no more than5 absences.

Readings/Bibliography

 Readings (in Italian and English) on specific techniques will be suggested during the course.

 

Non attending students are expected to study the following texts:

- Cardano M. (2011), La ricerca qualitativa, Il Mulino, Bologna

- Murthy, D. (2008), “Digital ethnography: An examination of the use of new technologies for social research”, Sociology, 42(5), 837-855

International students are asked to contact the professor in order to define a specific programme.

Teaching methods

The course is structured in lectures and practical exercises. In particular, an interactive mode is favoured, with feedback activities both between students and between them and the professor. Students will be asked to proceed progressively with the study and activities aimed at direct experimentation with the main data collection techniques in the fieldwork. 

Assessment methods

For attending students, the assessment of the preparation and acquired skills during the laboratory activities will take place in written and oral form.

The learning assessment will consist of two parts:

1. an (individual) evaluation of conducting a semi-structured interview

2. a (collective) evaluation of the research report

Evaluation criteria include:

• knowledge of the educational program
• ability for critical argumentation regarding the topic outlined in the research project
• spontaneous exploration of national/international literature

Additionally, the project will be presented during the final classroom sessions.

Non attending students will study the indicated texts.

Marks and criteria of assessment: 18-20: sufficient knowledge in relation to indicated contents and criteria; 21-23: more than sufficient knowledge in relation to indicated contents and criteria; 24-26 good knowledge in relation to indicated contents and criteria; 27-28: very good knowledge in relation to indicated contents and criteria; 29-30: excellent knowledge in relation to indicated contents and criteria; 30 cum laude: outstanding knowledge in relation to indicated contents and criteria.

 

 

 

Teaching tools

PC, Video projector, slides, scientific papers. 

Office hours

See the website of Alessandro Martelli