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Home > Degree Programs > Teaching & Courses > 2009-2010 Course Listing > Qualitative Methods in Policy Research
API-207: Qualitative Methods in Policy Research
Faculty: Timothy Nelson
Schedule
| Day | Time | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Day | 9/3 | ||
| Meet Day | T/Th | 10:10 AM - 11:30 AM | T401 |
| Review |
Description
re>Qualitative methods are often essential in policy research,
offering crucial insights into how a policy or program is actually
implemented on the ground, how participants understand it, and how
it plays out for individuals in specific cultural contexts living
complex daily lives. The first half of the course introduces
students to a variety of qualitative data collection techniques,
including participant observation and in-depth interviewing, as
well as how to formulate a research question, develop a research
design, negotiate access to a research site or population, and
satisfy human subjects’ concerns. The second half of the course is
devoted to qualitative analysis. In addition to readings and
discussion, students will try their hand at a variety of
data-collection and analysis techniques. The course’s emphasis will
be on the types of data-gathering techniques and analytical
approaches that are most effective in policy-relevant research.