Lab. Qualitative Methods and Empirical Research: Space
A.Y. 2026/2027
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 can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Third trimester
Teaching activities will be conducted online
Course syllabus
LESSON 1 - Introduction to qualitative research: the research question; the research design; the ethnography; the principle methodological techniques like participant observation, various types of qualitative interview, focus group, shadowing, visual methods for documents analysis, the access to the research field.
LESSON 2 - Focus on the methodological technique of the qualitative interview: the semi-structured interview. How to construct the structure of the interview; the access to the field; how to conduce the interview; the ethical and methodological issues.
LESSON 3 - Practice exercise 1: how to construct and conduce an interview
LESSON 4 - Analysis of the interview and the qualitative data. How to communicate the research results: ethnographic writing.
LESSON 5 - Practice exercise 2: presentation of the research results by the students
LESSON 2 - Focus on the methodological technique of the qualitative interview: the semi-structured interview. How to construct the structure of the interview; the access to the field; how to conduce the interview; the ethical and methodological issues.
LESSON 3 - Practice exercise 1: how to construct and conduce an interview
LESSON 4 - Analysis of the interview and the qualitative data. How to communicate the research results: ethnographic writing.
LESSON 5 - Practice exercise 2: presentation of the research results by the students
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 alternate frontal lessons, which will include an interactive part, with practical exercises through which the students will experiment the technique of semi-structured interview. The lessons will take place in the class and there will be individual or group activities; students will have the opportunity to practically implement the knowledge learned during the Lab. At the end, students will prepare a small presentation and data analysis based on the few interviews collected during the Lab. Since the course is a Lab, attendance is strongly advised.
Teaching Resources
Lectures will be based on diverse sources, among which (not compulsory for students):
- Cardano, M., 2020. Defending qualitative research: design, analysis, and textualization. Routledge.
- Flick, U. ed., 2017. The Sage handbook of qualitative data collection. Sage.
- Cardano, M., 2020. Defending qualitative research: design, analysis, and textualization. Routledge.
- Flick, U. ed., 2017. The Sage handbook of qualitative data collection. Sage.
Assessment methods and Criteria
There will be no final exam.
In order to obtain the 3 ECTS associated to the Lab,
· Attending 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,
· Attending 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.
GSPS-08/B - Sociology of Environment and Territory - University credits: 3
Laboratories: 20 hours
Professor:
Fontanari Elena
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Fontanari ElenaProfessor(s)