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3860F-001

Psychology 3860F-001

Qualitative Research Methods

If there is a discrepancy between the outline posted below and the outline posted on the OWL course website, the latter shall prevail.

1.0    CALENDAR DESCRIPTION

An overview and in-class practice of qualitative research methods including in-depth interviewing, focus groups, naturalistic observation, content analysis, and thematic analysis of textual information. The course includes an introduction to five qualitative research perspectives: grounded theory, phenomenology, narrative psychology, ethnography, and case studies.  Students will conduct individual projects.

Antirequisite: Psychology 4991G if taken in 2014/15 and Psychology 3990G if taken in 2015/16

Antirequisites are courses that overlap sufficiently in content that only one can be taken for credit. So if you take a course that is an antirequisite to a course previously taken, you will lose credit for the earlier course, regardless of the grade achieved in the most recent course.

Prerequisites: Psychology 2820E or both Psychology 2800E and 2810

3 seminar hours, 0.5 course.

Unless you have either the prerequisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enroll in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites.

2.0    COURSE INFORMATION

Instructor: Dr. Paul F. Tremblay                                     

Office and Phone Number: Rm 6336 SSC (519-661-2111 ext. 85644)

Office Hours: by appointment                      

Email: ptrembla@uwo.ca                                       

Time and Location of Classes: Thursdays, 1:30 to 4:30, HSB Rm 11 (Arthur & Sonia Labatt Health Sciences Building)

If you or someone you know is experiencing distress, there are several resources here at Western to assist you.  Please visit:  http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/ for more information on these resources and on mental health.

Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you. You may also wish to contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) at 519-661-2111 ext 82147 for any specific question regarding an accommodation.

3.0  TEXTBOOK

Creswell, John W. (2013). Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design. Third Edition. Sage. 

4.0    COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course provides an overview of qualitative research methods used in Psychology and in the Social and Health Sciences in general. Qualitative methods subsume broad categories of thematic, narrative, language analysis, and naturalistic observation approaches. These methods are valuable for collecting rich textured data and discovering themes and categories from data, meaning from experience and the stories we tell, ways in which language is used for communicating different underlying motives, and in-depth views of human behaviour and social interaction.

The first part of each class will consist of lecture material and discussion on theory and methodology. The second half will be dedicated to hands on class activities such as practicing interviews and focus groups. Taken together, the lectures, class activities and assigned projects will help students develop skills in the areas outlined below.

The qualitative research process from start to finish. The course covers the entire qualitative research process. Students develop and complete a small empirical pilot project from start to finish. In a previous year, students have developed projects on topics of their choice such as “how two cultures affect one’s identity,” “resilience of emergency responders,” “emotion and reasoning in important life decisions,” and “body image in young women.” Opportunities also arise to work on common service projects. For example, last year students in the course conducted interviews with fourth-year psychology students about their experiences in the Psychology program at Western as part of a curriculum evaluation in the department.

Conducting in-depth interviews. Students will gain extensive experience in conducting one-on-one in-depth interviews through in class mock-ups and real project interviews. Students also practice other data collection techniques including focus groups and observation methods.

Analytic skills. Data in qualitative methods consist mainly of words, whether from the transcripts of in-depth interviews or focus groups or from archival sources such as newspaper or magazine articles, speeches, songs, movie transcripts, accident reports, or field notes. The next stage is the systematic interpretation of these data using a combination of inductive and deductive thinking. The researcher typically combs through the text, word by word, line by line, or sentence by sentence to extract meaningful units of information and patterns, categories, or themes. These units are evaluated as part of a theory “grounded in the data” or simply as an emerging meaningful classification of concepts.

Critical thinking skills. Students will learn to apply validation and reliability concepts in qualitative research such as transferability, trustworthiness, inter-coder agreement, triangulation, auditing, member checks, and clarifying researcher bias through systematic reflexivity.

Writing well. Qualitative researchers need to be able to communicate interpretation and meaning from their findings, being aware and taking into account how their own lenses through which they see the world (i.e., reflexivity) probably differ from those of their participants. Students will develop their skills at uncovering themes from their data and presenting these in a research report. They will present describe their original ideas in three mini proposals that apply specific qualitative methods.

Applying ethical principles and critical thinking in the evaluation of qualitative research. We will see that the researcher-participant interaction in qualitative research can be fairly extensive and deserves particular attention to conveying empathy and appreciation. Researchers listen and have conversations with their participants in in depth interviews, often in the field (e.g., a hospital, an addiction centre, a music studio) about potentially sensitive topics.

4.1    STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, successful students will:

• Be able to describe the foundational frameworks (e.g., ontology, constructivism), methods (e.g., grounded theory, phenomenology) and concepts (e.g., reflexivity, transferability) of qualitative research and contrast them with quantitative approaches in the discipline.

• Be able to articulate the above concepts when reviewing or producing their own research.

• Be able to formulate and rationalize a research problem and design a qualitative study from beginning to end.

• Be able to conduct in-depth interviews, direct and focus conversation in focus groups, empathic listening, writing clearly to convey understanding to a level where a reader can say “Now I know what this feels like.”

• Become conscious of and articulate the perspectives and biases they bring to their research project.

• Develop an awareness, sensitivity, and appreciation for the in-depth communication process.

5.0     EVALUATION

Project: Students will have the opportunity to conduct an individual small project on a topic of their choice (approved by the instructor). The project will entail a collection of qualitative data from in-depth interviews (or focus groups, naturalistic observation, or content analysis), transcription, coding and data analysis using a thematic approach. (50% total)

Interviewer practice performance (5%). Students will have opportunities to practice developing their interview skills in class mock-up sessions. They will be evaluated in one of these sessions. (Every student will practice interviews even if their projects involve a different data collection method).

Pilot interview and one-page report (15%; due Oct 20; marked reports will be available in your OWL drobox by Oct 31). Students who select the interview method as their data collection approach will conduct one preliminary 30-60 min interview related to their topic with a participant, transcribe the interview, and write a one-page summary report summarizing the experience and suggested modifications, especially with respect to the interview script. Students who conduct observation research will be expected to report on an observation session 30-60 min and prepare a similar report. Students can also elect to do a content analysis (qualitative or quantitative) of archival textual material. In this case, students will be expected to report on a preliminary subset of the coding and prepare a one-page summary report.

Complete project (30%) (due Dec 7 by midnight, one week after last class). Students will conduct 2 to 3 additional interviews (the total should add up to approximately 120 minutes of interviewing). The interviews will then be transcribed and coded using the steps described in class for a thematic analysis. Students who elect to do a content analysis or observation study will be evaluated with comparable criteria (i.e., comparable amounts of time in data collection, transcription, and analysis). Students will write a 10-page (roughly 2,500 words) research report. A marking rubric will be described in class.

Three thought papers (10% each = 30%). There will be five lectures each focusing on one of the following five methods: Grounded theory, Narrative research, Phenomenological approaches, Ethnography/Field observation, and Case studies. Students will be required to select three of these topics and write one-page thought papers (approximately 500 words each) of how they could use the method for a project in psychology. These will be due the week following the lecture on the topic. (See topic schedule below).

Pecha Kucha presentation (20%). Students will select one of their thought papers and expand on the idea in an oral-visual presentation known as Pecha Kucha. This is a fairly new presentation format that consists of presenting 20 slides for no more than 20 seconds each (total of 6 min 40 sec).  We will view some examples in class but see also: http://www.pechakucha.org/ or http://www.pechakucha.org/presentations

Although the Psychology Department does not require instructors to adjust their course grades to conform to specific targets, the expectation is that course marks will be distributed around the following averages:

70%     1000-level and 2000-level courses
72%     2190-2990 level courses
75%     3000-level courses
80%     4000-level courses
   
The Psychology Department follows the University of Western Ontario grading guidelines, which are as follows (see http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf ):

A+  90-100      One could scarcely expect better from a student at this level
A    80-89        Superior work that is clearly above average
B    70-79        Good work, meeting all requirements, and eminently satisfactory
C    60-69        Competent work, meeting requirements
D    50-59        Fair work, minimally acceptable
F    below 50    Fail

LEARNING OUTCOMES, ACTIVITIES and ASSESSMENT

Learning Outcome

Learning Activities

How Assessed

Depth and Breadth of Knowledge.   Describe the foundational frameworks (e.g., ontology, constructivism), methods (e.g., grounded theory, phenomenology) and concepts (e.g., reflexivity, transferability) of qualitative research and contrast them with quantitative approaches in the discipline.	Readings (text, prototypical journal articles) Class discussion Videos (TED, documentaries) Guest presentations Exercises (e.g. Kelly repertory grid) Individual project Three mini proposals using three different methods	Project Three thought papers (mini research proposals) Presentation
Application of Knowledge.   Articulate the above concepts when reviewing or producing their own research	Individual project Mini proposals	Project Three thought papers (mini research proposals) Presentation
Application of Methodologies.   Formulate and rationalize a research problem. Design a qualitative study from beginning to end.	Class discussion (group thinking) of formulating research questions, developing interview questions and script. Practicing in-depth interviews (as interviewer or interviewee) in front of the class with feedback. Practicing focus groups. Observation exercise Individual project Mini proposals	Project Three thought papers (mini research proposals) Presentation
Communication Skills.   Ability to conduct in-depth Interviews, direct and focus conversation in focus groups, empathic listening, writing clearly to convey understanding to a level where a reader can say “Now I know what this feels like”	Class discussion Interviews practice Focus group practice Providing feedback to other students Class presentation Research report and three mini research proposals using three different qualitative methods	Interview and focus group practice participation mark   Preliminary pilot interview and one page report Project Three thought papers (mini research proposals) Presentation
Awareness of Limits of Knowledge.   The concept of reflexivity refers to the researcher clearly stating their perspective and biases in the research project. Becoming conscious of these biases and relating them in the research report.	The researcher is encouraged to maintain a reflexivity journal (specifically noting thoughts after each interview about bias, impact). Research reports include a section of reflexivity. Empathic listening during interviews and focus groups.	Project (section on reflexivity)   Presentation (section on reflexivity)
Autonomy and Professional Capacity.   Developing an awareness, sensitivity, and appreciation for the in-depth communication process.	Students take turns to play different roles as interviewer/interviewee and provide feedback to each other. Discussion of sensitive topics and marginalized group (participatory action-oriented research). Ethical concerns for in-depth interviews.	Indirectly in class participation and project

6.0  TEST AND EXAMINATION SCHEDULE

None.

7.0   CLASS SCHEDULE

 

*Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3, 77-101.doi: 10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

8.0     STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC OFFENCES

Students are responsible for understanding the nature and avoiding the occurrence of plagiarism and other scholastic offenses. Plagiarism and cheating are considered very serious offenses because they undermine the integrity of research and education. Actions constituting a scholastic offense are described at the following link:  http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf

As of Sept. 1, 2009, the Department of Psychology will take the following steps to detect scholastic offenses. All multiple-choice tests and exams will be checked for similarities in the pattern of responses using reliable software, and records will be made of student seating locations in all tests and exams. All written assignments will be submitted to TurnItIn, a service designed to detect and deter plagiarism by comparing written material to over 5 billion pages of content located on the Internet or in TurnItIn’s databases. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between Western and Turnitin.com http://www.turnitin.com

Possible penalties for a scholastic offense include failure of the assignment, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.

9.0    POLICY ON ACCOMMODATION FOR MEDICAL ILLNESS

Western’s policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness can be found at:
http://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/2016/pg117.html

Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain accommodation:
http://counselling.ssc.uwo.ca/procedures/medical_accommodation.html


10.0        OTHER INFORMATION

Office of the Registrar web site:  http://registrar.uwo.ca

Student Development Services web site: http://www.sdc.uwo.ca

Please see the Psychology Undergraduate web site for information on the following:

    http://psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/student_responsibilities/index.html

- Policy on Cheating and Academic Misconduct
- Procedures for Appealing Academic Evaluations
- Policy on Attendance
- Policy Regarding Makeup Exams and Extensions of Deadlines
- Policy for Assignments
- Short Absences
- Extended Absences
- Documentation
- Academic Concerns
- 2016 Calendar References

No electronic devices, including cell phones, will be allowed during exams.