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, seminars 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 (interview and participant observation), the analysis and interpretation of empirical material with the aim of writing the research report.
The laboratory makes use of the seminar sessions in order to present concrete cases of qualitative research and to make students more familiar with the characteristics of qualitative research, its applications in the sociological field and its main challenges.
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.
As stated in the Teaching Regulations of the course, attendance at the laboratory is compulsory. A maximum of 4 absences is allowed.

Readings/Bibliography

 The course does not follow a specific textbook.

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

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

Teaching methods

The course is structured in lectures, seminars 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

The preparation and skills acquired during the laboratory activities will be assessed by written and oral examinations.
Students will be asked to write a paper on their experience in the fieldwork, which will be discussed during the oral examination.
Further details will be given at the beginning of the course.
As stated in the Teaching Regulations of the programme, attendance is compulsory. A maximum of 4 absences will be allowed.

Teaching tools

PC, Video projector, slides, scientific papers. 

Office hours

See the website of Stella Volturo