COM 751: DOCTORAL SEMINAR IN INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION: THEORETICAL ISSUES IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

Fall Semester, 1995

DOCTORAL STUDIES PROGRAM

COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION AND THE ARTS

Professor: Benson P. Fraser, Ph.D.

Telephone: (804) 579-4220

Fax: (804) 424-7051

E-mail: bensfra@beacon.regent.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Significant changes in the study of human communication have taken place in recent years. Many of these changes are the result of the use of several so called "new" methods of communication research. These "new" methods are known as qualitative research--although some prefer to identify them as ethnography, field study, naturalistic study and case study. Students and scholars of qualitative research seek to discover and describe complex patterns of human behavior and in doing so face a number of serious theoritical and methodological issues. For example, it is difficult to know in qualitative interviews how much of what is said is a reflection of the culture, how much is a reflection of the speaker's personal interpretation, and how much is due to the interview situation itself. This course will examine many of the theoretical issues important to the study of qualitative research methods. Of particular interest will be the use of qualitative research methods in the study of communication behavior within interpersonal and intercultural contexts.

COURSE PROCEDURES

1. Each student is responsible for assigned readings and course assignments. Discussion and debate are crucial for the successful integration of scholarly materials. Missing assignments will result in supplementary readings and additional assignments.

2. A brief analysis of Bell's book Childerley: Nature and Morality in a Country Village will be required. This paper should address the strengths and weaknesses of the methodology employed in this study as well as the usefulness of the study to our understanding of the major theoretical issues raised by the author.

3. Three one page single spaced abstracts of significant scholarly articles relating to qualitative research are required. These articles are to be chosen by you and are intended to contribute to your understanding of the area. Hopefully this assignment will help acquaint you with the literature in this area and will be an apportunity for you to add to your knowledge of qualitative research in areas you feel you need to strengthen.

4. Each student is required to undertake a significant qualitative study as part of the course requirements. Each student is to write an article for publication based on one of the qualitative methodologies examined in this course. The paper along with the data analyzed is to be turned in during the last week of the course.

TEXTS (Required)

  • Bell, M.M. (1994). Childerley: Natural and Morality in a Country Village. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.

  • Berger, P.L. & Luckmann, T. (1966). The Social Construction of Reality. New York, NY: Anchor Press.

  • Denzin, N.K. (1989). Interpretive Interactionism. Newbury Park: Sage Publications.

  • Geertz, C. (1973). The Interpretation of cultures. New York: Basic Books.

  • Maanen, J.V. (1988). Tales of the Field. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.

  • Riessman, C.K. (1993). Narrative Analysis. Newbury Park: Sage Publications.

    ADDITIONAL READING (Recommended)

    If you are unfamiliar with qualitative research these books are strongly recommended. While each of these books have their specific areas of strengths perhaps the most useful introduction and overview is Qualitative Evaluation and Research Methods by M. Q. Patton.

  • Bantz, C. (1993). Understanding Organizations. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press.

  • Mishler, E.G. (1986). Research Interviewing. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

  • Patton, M.Q. (1990). Qualitative Evaluation and Research Methods. (2nd Ed.). Newbury Park: Sage Publications.

  • Strauss, A. & Corbin, J. (1990). Basics of Qualitative Research. Newbury Park: Sage Publications.

  • Wilcott, H.F. (1994). Transforming Qualitative Data. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

    COURSE SCHEDULE

    August 29

    Reading:
    None

    Assignment:
    Please respond to each assigned reading with an e-mail raising two questions related to the subject matter under investigation. Also write an e-mail making a brief comment regarding the theoretical issues raised by the assigned readings.

    August 31

    Reading:
    Dentine, N.K. & Lincoln, Y.S. Introduction: Entering the Field of Qualitative Research (Chapter 1).
    Vidich, A.J. & Lyman, S.T. Qualitative Methods (Chapter 2).
    Denzin, N.K. & Lincoln, Y.S. Handbook of Qualitative Research.

    Assignment:
    Please respond to each assigned reading with an e-mail raising two questions related to the subject matter under investigation. Also write an e-mail making a brief comment regarding the theoretical issues raised by the assigned readings

    September 5

    Reading:
    Bell, M.M.Childerley: Nature and Morality in a Country Village.

    Assignment:
    Analysis of Bell's Childerley: Nature and Morality in a Country Village.

    September 7

    Reading:
    Any readings from the "suggested texts" reading list.

    Assignment:
    Please respond to each assigned reading with an e-mail raising two questions related to the subject matter under investigation. Also write an e-mail making a brief comment regarding the theoretical issues raised by the assigned readings

    September 12

    Reading:
    Berger, P.L. & Luckmann, T.The Social Construction of Reality.

    Assignment:
    Please respond to each assigned reading with an e-mail raising two questions related to the subject matter under investigation. Also write an e-mail making a brief comment regarding the theoretical issues raised by the assigned readings

    September 14

    Reading:
    Schwandt, T.A. Constructivist, Interpretivist, Approaches to Human Inquiry (Chapter 7).
    Denzin, N.K. & Lincoln, Y.S. Handbook of Qualitative Research.
    Banister, E.M. & Peavy, R.V. The Erosion of Self: An Ethnographic Study of Women's Experience of Marriage to Alcoholic Husbands.

    Assignment:
    Please respond to each assigned reading with an e-mail raising two questions related to the subject matter under investigation. Also write an e-mail making a brief comment regarding the theoretical issues raised by the assigned readings

    September 19

    Reading:
    Denzin, N.K.Interpretive Interactionism.

    Assignment:
    Please respond to each assigned reading with an e-mail raising two questions related to the subject matter under investigation. Also write an e-mail making a brief comment regarding the theoretical issues raised by the assigned readings

    September 21

    Reading:
    Agar, M. Stories, Background Knowledge and Themes: Problems in the Analysis of Life History Narrative.

    Assignment:
    Abstract #1. Please respond to each assigned reading with an e-mail raising two questions related to the subject matter under investigation. Also write an e-mail making a brief comment regarding the theoretical issues raised by the assigned readings

    No class meeting September 26.
    September 28

    Reading:
    Agar, M. & Hobbs, J.R. Interpreting discourse: Coherence and the Analysis of Ethnographic Interviews.
    Watson-Gegeo, K.A. Thick Explanation in the Ethnographic Study of Child Socialization: A Longitudinal Study of the Problem of Schooling for Kwara'ae (Solomon Islands) Children.

    Assignment:
    Abstract #2. Please respond to each assigned reading with an e-mail raising two questions related to the subject matter under investigation. Also write an e-mail making a brief comment regarding the theoretical issues raised by the assigned readings

    October 3

    Reading:
    Geertz, C. The Interpretation of Cultures.

    Assignment:
    Please respond to each assigned reading with an e-mail raising two questions related to the subject matter under investigation. Also write an e-mail making a brief comment regarding the theoretical issues raised by the assigned readings

    October 5

    Reading:
    Fiske, J. Audiencing: Cultural Practice and Cultural Studies.
    Denzin, N.K. & Lincoln, Y.S. Handbook of Qualitative Research (Chapter 11).

    Assignment:
    Abstract #3. Please respond to each assigned reading with an e-mail raising two questions related to the subject matter under investigation. Also write an e-mail making a brief comment regarding the theoretical issues raised by the assigned readings.

    October 10

    Reading:
    Riessman, C.K. Narrative Analysis. & Theoretical Overview (Chapter 1) in Narrative and Social control: Critical Perspectives.

    Assignment:
    Please respond to each assigned reading with an e-mail raising two questions related to the subject matter under investigation. Also write an e-mail making a brief comment regarding the theoretical issues raised by the assigned readings.

    October 12

    Reading:
    Maanen, J.V. Tales of the Field.

    Assignment:
    Please respond to each assigned reading with an e-mail raising two questions related to the subject matter under investigation. Also write an e-mail making a brief comment regarding the theoretical issues raised by the assigned readings.

    October 17

    Reading:
    None

    Assignment:
    Paper proposal.

    December 8

    Reading:
    None

    Assignment:
    Final paper presentation.

    This syllabus is subject to change without notice. Updated: August 28, 1995