Lab. Qualitative Methods and Empirical Research: Space
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
By the end of the Lab, students will:
- Understand the foundations of qualitative research, including the formulation of research questions, the logic of qualitative research design, and the role of theory in empirical inquiry.
- Acquire familiarity with key qualitative methods, including participant observation, in-depth interviews, and focus groups.
- Reflect critically on issues of transparency, validity, and triangulation in qualitative research.
- Collaborate and communicate effectively through group exercises and student presentations.
- Understand the foundations of qualitative research, including the formulation of research questions, the logic of qualitative research design, and the role of theory in empirical inquiry.
- Acquire familiarity with key qualitative methods, including participant observation, in-depth interviews, and focus groups.
- Reflect critically on issues of transparency, validity, and triangulation in qualitative research.
- Collaborate and communicate effectively through group exercises and student presentations.
Expected learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the Lab, students will be able to:
- Design a small-scale qualitative research project, including a clear research question, data collection strategy, and ethical considerations.
- Apply qualitative research methods (e.g., interviewing, participant observation, focus groups) in a systematic and reflexive way.
- Critically assess published qualitative research in terms of methodological rigor and transparency.
- Collaborate in teams, showing the ability to share tasks, discuss findings, and integrate different perspectives.
- Design a small-scale qualitative research project, including a clear research question, data collection strategy, and ethical considerations.
- Apply qualitative research methods (e.g., interviewing, participant observation, focus groups) in a systematic and reflexive way.
- Critically assess published qualitative research in terms of methodological rigor and transparency.
- Collaborate in teams, showing the ability to share tasks, discuss findings, and integrate different perspectives.
Lesson period: Third trimester
Assessment methods: Giudizio di approvazione
Assessment result: superato/non superato
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Third trimester
Course syllabus
Lesson 1 Introduction to qualitative research: the research question and the research design
Lesson 2 Doing fieldwork: definition, access to the field, research ethics
Lesson 3 Ethnography and participant observation 1: theory and practice
Lesson 4 Ethnography and participant observation 2: presenting results/ethnographic writing
Lesson 5 Interviewing: different types of interviews, planning and conducting interviews
Lesson 6 Mock interview session
Lesson 7 Focus groups
Lesson 8 Analysis and presentation of interview and focus group material
Lesson 9 Best practices, triangulation, other issues
Lesson 10 Student presentations, lab recap
Lesson 2 Doing fieldwork: definition, access to the field, research ethics
Lesson 3 Ethnography and participant observation 1: theory and practice
Lesson 4 Ethnography and participant observation 2: presenting results/ethnographic writing
Lesson 5 Interviewing: different types of interviews, planning and conducting interviews
Lesson 6 Mock interview session
Lesson 7 Focus groups
Lesson 8 Analysis and presentation of interview and focus group material
Lesson 9 Best practices, triangulation, other issues
Lesson 10 Student presentations, lab recap
Prerequisites for admission
The Lab is open to: first-year and second-year students who have already the basic knowledge of social research methods, notably qualitative and quantitative research. The Lab will be especially useful for those students who plan to conduct (or are conducing) empirical research for their dissertation with qualitative methods.
Teaching methods
The Lab alternates frontal-interactive lessons with practical exercises through which the students will apply the interviewing techniques. The Lab will include discussions and dissections of published case studies of qualitative research, allowing students to critically examine how qualitative methods are applied in practice. The lessons will take place in the class and there will be individual and group activities and student presentations.
Teaching Resources
Lectures will be based on diverse sources, among which (not compulsory for students):
· Moravcsik, A. (2014). Transparency: The revolution in qualitative research. PS: Political Science & Politics, 47(1), 48-53.
· Gonzalez-Ocantos, E., & Masullo, J. (2024). Aligning interviewing with process tracing. Sociological Methods & Research, 00491241241258229.
· Geertz, C. (2008). Thick description: Toward an interpretive theory of culture. In The cultural geography reader (pp. 41-51). Routledge.
· Kelemen, R. D., & Pavone, T. (2023). Where have the guardians gone? Law enforcement and the politics of supranational forbearance in the European Union. World Politics, 75(4), 779-825.
· Fox, J. E. (2013). The uses of racism: whitewashing new Europeans in the UK. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 36(11), 1871-1889.
· Moravcsik, A. (2014). Transparency: The revolution in qualitative research. PS: Political Science & Politics, 47(1), 48-53.
· Gonzalez-Ocantos, E., & Masullo, J. (2024). Aligning interviewing with process tracing. Sociological Methods & Research, 00491241241258229.
· Geertz, C. (2008). Thick description: Toward an interpretive theory of culture. In The cultural geography reader (pp. 41-51). Routledge.
· Kelemen, R. D., & Pavone, T. (2023). Where have the guardians gone? Law enforcement and the politics of supranational forbearance in the European Union. World Politics, 75(4), 779-825.
· Fox, J. E. (2013). The uses of racism: whitewashing new Europeans in the UK. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 36(11), 1871-1889.
Assessment methods and Criteria
There will be no final exam.
In order to obtain the 3 ECTS associated to the Lab,
· Students should take part in at least 80% of the Lab (16 hours out of twenty) and do the in-class activities and the suggested assignments;
In order to obtain the 3 ECTS associated to the Lab,
· Students should take part in at least 80% of the Lab (16 hours out of twenty) and do the in-class activities and the suggested assignments;
SPS/10 - URBAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIOLOGY - University credits: 3
Laboratories: 20 hours
Professor:
Kyriazi Anna
Professor(s)