Qual Methods in Comm Research

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

Whether you plan to pursue academia or industry, an understanding of how to gather qualitative data in a systematic way is invaluable to decision making. Through this broad-based qualitative methods course, students will develop a working knowledge of text-based qualitative methods and different types of fieldwork used in communication research. Text-based methods include grounded theory, textual analysis, content analysis, and rhetorical analysis. Fieldwork includes ethnography, observation, interview, and focus groups. Opportunities for practice using the various methods will be provided through exercises involving the application of methods to the collection and analysis of data. Students will demonstrate competence in each method through mini papers as well as a chosen method(s) through an original research project and paper.