Qualitative Research Methods in Psychology

This is primarily aimed at first- and second-year undergraduates interested in psychology, data analysis, and qualtitative research methods along with high school students and professionals with similar interests. This course delves into the variety of interviewing methods used in qualitative research in psychology, focusing on phenomenology, narrative inquiry, and grounded theory, relating each of these to common philosophical stances taken by qualitative researchers. Students will explore the history and evolution of these methodologies, understand the types of questions they seek to answer, and learn about the unique methods utilized. Descriptions and explanations of the various methods are amplified by illustrative examples drawn from the qualitative research literature. The course emphasizes the role of the researcher as the core instrument of data collection and highlights best practices in interviewing. Real-world examples and case studies will be used to illuminate the distinctive characteristics of each methodology.

This is primarily aimed at first- and second-year undergraduates interested in psychology, data analysis, and qualtitative research methods along with high school students and professionals with similar interests. This course delves into the qualitative research traditions of ethnographic inquiry and case study in psychology, emphasizing the use of participant observation. Students will explore the unique practices, data gathering and analysis methods, and researcher involvement in these traditions. This course explores the interviewing methods used in qualitative research in psychology. The course emphasizes the importance of researcher positionality and the distinctive characteristics of ethnography and case study. Students then learn to apply basic qualitative data analysis (QDA) techniques to the data gathered. The course also covers the utility of observation in understanding context, identifying tacit patterns, and providing direct personal experience and knowledge. It further discusses the role of coding in data analysis, including initial, focused, and axial coding. The course concludes with a look at how to move from categorization to interpretive representation in QDA. This comprehensive exploration prepares students to conduct their own qualitative research, equipped with a deep understanding of various research traditions and methodologies.