A lot of the research conducted in international studies requires field work, defined as qualitative methods of data collection. Often we aim at understanding complex political processes such as policy change of international organization or the motivational factors of non-governmental organizations to engage in particular policy fields. In order to do so, we often choose specific case study designs and employ mainly three qualitative methods, these are interviewing, text analysis and observation. The objective of this course is to provide students with an understanding of how to conduct qualitative research in international studies. The primary focus of the course is to introduce qualitative case study designs with a focus on how to produce, analyze and write up qualitative research using the above-mentioned techniques. On successful completion of the course, the student should be able to formulate and operationalize a research problem that is suitable for treatment by means of the three qualitative methods, and account for the relationship between theory and methods in the process, and critically assess strengths and weaknesses of the discussed methods in relation to specific research problems. The course is structured in 3 components: interactive lectures that provide space for plenary discussion (1), substantial group work applying qualitative methods in a mini-research project (2), and a workshop, in which students will present the results of their projects (3).
- Lehrende/r: Antje Vetterlein