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Introduction to qualitative research methods for summer school on Popular Culture & the City, july 2009.
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Researching the city
Research methods of cultural studies
Summer school Popular culture & the city
Teaser
• Interest in culture, i.e. processes of meaning making
• But this culture is not necessarily our own (in terms of class, ethnicity, age, gender, sexuality etc).
• And we are aware of our and their particular position in the socio-political landscape
Outline
2. Qualitative research methods• The nature of…• Doing participant observation• Other forms of qualitative research
3. Doing cultural studies (discussion)• Distaste for rules• Interdisciplinary nature
4. A bit about me…
Linda DuitsAssistant Professor
Qualitative methods of communication research
Youth, religion and popular culture
• Headscarves and porno-chic
• Young evangelicals
Ethnographic approach
• Critical, respectful,
‘whole’ culture
Lecture
1. Qualitative research methods• The nature of…• Doing participant observation• Other forms
• What do you want to research?• Why would you want to do this?• How can you do this?
1. What am I interested in?
2. Choose a topic that has wider implications
3. Define a theoretical context
4. Be practical
doing research What?
doing research Why?
• Because you have to (i.e. contractor)
• For political reasons cultural studies
• Societal relevance
• Scientific relevance
• Processes of making meaning
• Interest in – people, – culture – understanding (verstehen)
Qualitative research methods
doing research How?
doing qualitative research What?
doing qualitative research What?
• Qualitative research = • An inductive research strategy, that emphasizes the social
construction of phenomena that can only be known through interpretation.
• Quantitative research =• A deductive research strategy, that emphasizes
quantifying phenomena in an objective reality.
doing qualitative research Why?
• Induction= theory derives from research
• Construction (ontology)= social properties are outcomes of interactions
• Interpretation (epistemology)= how people make sense of their social world
doing qualitative research How?
• Seeing through the eyes of those you study• Description of and emphasis on context• Emphasis on process• Flexibility and limited structure• Concepts and theory they are grounded in data Using qualitative research methods
doing participant observation What?• Method of data collection where the researcher immerses
him/herself for a prolonged period of time in a social setting • It implies
– Participation• Get active• Talk
– Observation• Look• Listen
doing participant observation Why?• Emphasis on data derived in context• Analysis of what people do and of what people
say (triangulation)• Relevant for those interested in culture (i.e.
groups, group processes etc instead of individuals – compare psychology and sociology)
doing participant observation How?• Participation only = not research• Observation only = does not fit with quali
• Roles change– Participant-as-observer– Observer-as-participant– Overt/covert
doing participant observation How?Topic list
• Research always start with a RQ• Research question
areas of interest subquestions
What do you want to know? What will you look/listen/ask for?
doing participant observation How?
Other forms of qualitative research What?
• Interviews
• Focus groups
• Existing documents
• Creative visual methods– Photovoice
Not discussed
• Doing qualitative analysis
Doing cultural studies Complexities• Interdisciplinary nature• Distaste for rules• Researching (and thus representing) the Other• Position of privileged researcher vis-à-vis
marginalized informant
Discuss this idea
Problematic yes or no?
Why (not)?
Any solutions or advice?
ConclusionYou now know:
• What qualitative research entails (globally)
• When to chose participant observation
You are now able to:
• Start your (first) participant observation
• Discuss the peculiarities of doing cultural studies research
More resources
• Recommended readingPractical, clear instructions
Davis, A. (2008). Investigating cultural producers.
Meyer, A. (2008). Investigating cultural consumers.
• Website Bryman bookhttp://www.oup.com/uk/orc/bin/9780199202959/
See you soon!
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