Qualitative Data Analysis

This course focuses on the theories and practices that inform qualitative data analysis from a variety of interpretive research traditions, including phenomenological, ethnomethodological, post-structural and critical traditions. Students will be expected to understand how philosophical and theoretical underpinnings and the techniques of different interpretive methodologies guide the production of knowledge and meaning making in data analysis. In addition, students will be required to demonstrate proficiency in the use of several different critical interpretive approaches of research.

In this course, we will focus on a number of forms of analysis (which may include critical, institutional, auto and other ethnographies; critical and post-structural grounded theory; critical discourse, textual and conversational analysis; hermeneutic and other phenomenological perspectives; deconstruction and other poststructural methods; life history, autobiography and other narrative approaches; queer methodologies; antiracist, anticolonial and decolonizing methodologies; arts-informed approaches; participatory and community based approaches; and/or others). The course will also familiarize students with the use of electronic qualitative research software (such as NVIVO).