“Qualitative political science, the use of textual evidence to reconstruct causal mechanisms across a limited number of cases, is currently undergoing a methodological revolution. Many qualitative scholars – whether they use traditional case-study analysis, analytic narratives, structured focused comparison, counter-factual analysis, process tracing, ethnographic and participant observation, or other methods – now believe that the richness, rigor, and transparency of qualitative research ought to be fundamentally improved.” Prof. Andrew Moravcsik, Princeton University.

This one-day course aims to address three important subjects in current qualitative research from the perspective of transparency and analytical rigor.

• First, it seeks to enhance students’ understanding on how to connect design and conceptualization of studied factors with practical tips on how to gather data during field research.
• Second, the course seeks to discuss data collection techniques while being in the field, strategies for interviewing, and how one can become aware and record the choices made while being in the field, for transparency purposes.
• Third, the course seeks to expose students to how to code their interviews so that the codes relate to earlier developed concepts, and how to potentially develop new theorizing by finding new explanatory and intervening factors.
• Finally, the course will expose the students to advanced techniques on how to enhance the transparency and replicability of qualitative research.

Pre-requisits

There are no pre-requisites for this workshop but students need to be familiar with ways of thinking in positivist methodologies. Please note that this is not a course on interpretative methods.

Schedule of the day

• 9:00- 9:30 Welcome with refreshments
• 9:30 – 11:00 Session 1
• Break
• 11:15 – 13:15 Session 2
• 13:15 – 14:00 lunch provided
• 14:00 – 15:30 Session 3
• Break
• 15:45 – 17:00 Session 4 - concluding

Book your place

You can book your place on this workshop through our booking form. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis with ESRC funded MGS Institution students taking priority.

Monday 21st January 2019

9am-5pm including catered lunch

Wolfson Research Exchange, University of Warwick Library

Booking form