MB556/756/856: Qualitative Research (4 units)

Roberta R. King, Associate Professor of Communication and Ethnomusicology
Fall 2004 Pasadena

DESCRIPTION:

The goal of this course is to demonstrate the role of qualitative research in aiding church and mission leaders to effectively communicate the Gospel within varying contexts. Dynamic communication requires learning to understand your audience and obtaining their feedback. Qualitative research provides effective tools for speaking to these needs. After surveying the breadth of qualitative research, the course will focus in-depth on case study, grounded-theory, and focus-group research methodologies, allowing students to interact with issues and problems that commonly arise in the midst of carrying out fieldwork. Methodologies to be used in field research will be developed and tested in class. Students will have opportunity to:
• Integrate qualitative research methodologies into their overall research design,
• Examine the appropriateness of methodologies in doing research cross-culturally, and
• Investigate compelling ways for reporting research findings.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• Gain an understanding of qualitative methodologies and their application to missiology.
• Establish a foundation for critical selection of appropriate qualitative methodologies in relation to the research question.
• Develop skills and expertise in carrying out a qualitative research project, including collection and analysis of significant date.
• Gain competence in reporting of research findings, both written and orally.

COURSE FORMAT:

The course is highly interactive. It will include some lecture, but class evaluations of various qualitative research designs and in-class research activities will dominate the course. students will develop, carry out, and report on a qualitative research project.

REQUIRED READING: If you have read any of the required texts for another course, please select an alternative text from the recommended reading list or a book approved by the instructor.

Bloor, Michael.  Focus Groups in Social Research. Thousand Oaks, CA:  Sage Publications, 2001.
Krueger, Richard A.  and Mary Anne Casey. Focus Groups: A Practical Guide for Applied Research, 3rd Ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2000.
Kvale, Steinar. InterViews: An Introduction to Qualitative Research Interviewing.  Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1996.
Silverman, David Doing Qualitative Research: A Practical Guide. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2000.
Stauss, Anselm and Juliet Corbin.  Basics of Qualitative Research: Techniques and Procedures for Developing Grounded Theory.  Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1998.
Yin, Robert K.. The Case Study Anthology.  Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2004.
Wolcott, Harry F. Writing Up Qualitative Research. 2nd Ed.  Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Bernhard, H. Russell.  Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches.  Thousand Oaks, CA:  Sage Publications, 2000.
Denzin, Norman K. and Yvonna S. Lincoln. Strategies of Qualitative Inquiry. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1998.
Greenbaum, Thomas L.  Moderating focus Groups: A Practical Guide for Group Facilitation, . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1999.
Maxwell, Joseph A. Qualitative Research Design: An Interactive Approach. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications,1996.
Neuendorf, Kimberly, The Content Analysis Guidebook. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2002.
Søgaard, Viggo. Research in Church and Mission. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 1996.
Sumser, John,  A Guide to Empirical Research in Communication: Rules for Looking.  Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2001.

ASSIGNMENTS:

• Evaluation reports on 3 different qualitative research methods: 500 words each.
• Group Research Oral Reports in Class with comparative paper (1,000 words.)
• A 2500 word research paper (PhD students – 3000 word methods paper).
• Th.M. & Doctoral Students:  A 1250 - 2500 word evaluation report on two School of Intercultural Studies Dissertations that employed qualitative research.

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets research requirement for MAICS and ThM programs. Available for credit as a doctoral-level methods course. This course is not available as a 0-unit supporting course.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.

Last Date Edited: June 29, 2004