MPP 6051 - Community Based Research Methods

Cross-Listed As: MPP 4051

This graduate course in qualitative methods is designed to introduce students to the traditions and research design of qualitative methods in the social sciences, and to provide a foundation for understanding them. It presents opportunities to learn, hands-on, the primary techniques of the major data collection methods in qualitative methods. Students taking this course will design their own research project from conceptualization to the finished product and presentation. The project will require data to be collected using qualitative methods. This course is guided by the conviction that in order to make a difference, we need good and useful data derived from sound methodological approaches to research-quantitative or qualitative. Whenever we do research with a community, however, we must have “qualitative” skills regardless of how we do the actual research. This depends on the strength of the relationship between the researcher and the community. All of the skills of good qualitative research–good listening skills, good interviewing skills, good observational skills, are crucial in the design and implementation of even a quantitative survey.

3 Hours Lecture
3 Credits