Qualitative Methods and Techniques in Social Sciences

During the meetings of the course Qualitative Methods & Techniques in the Social Sciences, the tradition of qualitative research in the social sciences and its relationship with methodological issues and issues of use of various research techniques are presented in detail. In particular, emphasis will be given on the one hand to the multiple issues of designing the methodological strategy followed and on the other hand to the various problems of applying the various research techniques (e.g. biographical-narrative interview, open questionnaire, semi-structured & group interviews, focus groups, participatory observation, diaries, archives, correspondence, documents of multiple types, etc.). Initially, the most important theoretical traditions of interpretive microsociology, a consequence of which is the qualitative approach, will be analyzed (e.g. phenomenology, symbolic interaction, grounded theory, critical ethnography, ethnomethodology, etc.) in order to have a theoretical overview of the relevant discussion.
Subsequently, the concerns raised by the different theoretical proposals will be related to a multitude of methodological issues of their application to the study of the "real" social world and acting subjects.
Also, the different methodological techniques of data collection (e.g. participant observation, ethnography, biographical-narrative interview, interviews with experts, in-depth interview, semi-structured interview, focus groups, etc.), the combination and complementarity of different types of empirical material (e.g. written documents and oral sources) and the ethical and political issues raised by the study of various individuals and social groups, etc. will be critically analyzed. At the end of the lectures, students will be asked to draft a, at least preliminary, research plan, that is, a short proposal that summarizes a research program in its various phases.
Week 1: Introduction
Week 2: Science as a classification system
Week 3: Positivism
Week 4: Interpretation
Week 5: Microsociology and qualitative research
Week 6: Symbolic Interaction, Critical Ethnography and Grounded Theory
Week 7: Phenomenology and the social construction of reality
Week 8: Ethnomethodology and the study of the performance of everyday life
Week 9: Entering the research field. Participant observation and field ethnography
Week 10: The interview and focus groups
Week 11: Moral and ethical issues
Week 12: Moral and ethical issues
Week 13: Closing of the Course