The qualitative approach and its research techniques

This course presents an overview of research approaches based on qualitative methods, emphasizing their main characteristics and the theoretical and methodological debates that underpin them. The course is structured around a series of lectures that introduce students to the origins and evolution of qualitative perspectives, their epistemological foundations, and their connection to different theoretical traditions within the social sciences. It then addresses the specifics of research design, sampling procedures, data collection and production, and analysis strategies. Finally, it examines the ethical considerations associated with qualitative research.

• That the participants critically reflect on research activities, their foundations and their social impact.
• That the participants become familiar with the specificities of qualitative research, its designs, selection procedures, information collection and analysis.
• That the participants can apply these qualitative methodological tools to specific research situations and problems.
• That the participants develop a critical perspective on qualitative research methods and techniques, and that they are able to use them creatively.

• The qualitative/quantitative debate in the social sciences: origins, phases and arguments
• Quantitative and qualitative approaches in historical perspective
• Origins and evolution of the qualitative tradition in anthropology and sociology.
• Foundations and characteristics of qualitative research. The theoretical traditions on which it is based
• The design of qualitative research
• The components of design. Different types and models of design. Flexibility, interactivity, and recursion.
• Qualitative sampling. Purposive sampling and its various levels of scope: cases, spaces, events, behaviors, actors, moments, etc.
• Heterogeneity, typicality, and negative cases. Other sampling criteria and procedures in qualitative research: opportunistic and snowball sampling. The saturation principle.
• Case studies in the context of qualitative approaches. Background and contributions of the Chicago School
• Consensus and dissent surrounding case studies: Methodological strategy or choice of object of study?
• The biographical perspective and qualitative approaches. Temporality and spatiality
• Models of temporality in biographical studies
• The heterogeneity of representations of the future. Analyses of bifurcation, rupture, and the turning point. Postlinearity and unpredictability.
• Data collection techniques in qualitative research: in-depth interviews and focus groups
• Participant observation: Distinctive characteristics of the technique and uses in the social sciences
• Use and analysis of documents
• Ethical considerations in social science research. The researcher's work and commitment. Confidentiality and anonymity: methods and strategies researchers use to guarantee them.

• ARZALUZ SOLANO, S. (2005). “The use of case studies in local analysis”, in Religion and Society, 32.
• BERTAUX, D. (2005). The life stories. Ethnosociological perspective. Barcelona: Bellaterra. (Chap. 1: The ethnosociological perspective).
• CASTRO, M. (2016). “Ethics in social sciences: reflections on research practices in an anthropological study of indigenous knowledge”, in Studies in Social Anthropology-New Series- 1(2).
• COHEN, N. and GOMEZ ROJAS, G. (2019). Research Methodology: What For? Buenos Aires. Teseo / CLACSO (Chapter 7: Production and analysis of qualitative data).
• FREIDIN, B. (2016). “Reviewing the use of focus groups in social research”, in Latin American Journal of Social Science Methodology, 6(1).
• GUBER, R. (2010). “Participant observation as a system of contextualization of ethnographic methods: Esther Hermitte's field research in the Highlands of Chiapas, 1960-1961”, in Latin American Journal of Social Science Methodology, 1(2).
• GUBER, R. (2011). Ethnography. Method, field and reflexivity. Buenos Aires: Siglo Veintiuno. (Chapter 1: A brief history of ethnographic fieldwork).
• MARRADI, A., ARCHENTI, N. and PIOVANI, JI (2018). Manual of Social Science Methodology. Siglo XXI. Buenos Aires (Chapter 2: Contemporary Methodological Debates).
• MARRADI, A., ARCHENTI, N. and PIOVANI, JI (2018). Manual of Social Science Methodology. Siglo XXI. Buenos Aires (Chapter 5: Research design).
• MARRADI, A., ARCHENTI, N. and PIOVANI, JI (2018). Manual of Social Science Methodology. Buenos Aires. Siglo XXI (Chapter 12: The in-depth interview).
• MARRADI, A., ARCHENTI, N. and PIOVANI, JI (2018). Manual of Social Science Methodology. Buenos Aires. Siglo XXI (Chapter 13: Focus group and other forms of group interview).
• MARRADI, A., ARCHENTI, N. and PIOVANI, JI (2018). Manual of Social Science Methodology. Buenos Aires. Siglo XXI (Chapter 10: Observation).
• MARRADI, A., ARCHENTI, N. and PIOVANI, JI (2018). Manual of Social Science Methodology. Buenos Aires. Siglo XXI (Chapter 17: other forms of analysis).
• MUÑIZ TERRA, L, (2020). “Intertwined reflexivities: methodological contributions from the biographical perspective”, in Revista Contenido, Cultura y Ciencias Sociales N° 10.
• MUÑIZ TERRA, L. (2012). “Careers and work trajectories: a critical review of the main theoretical-methodological approaches for their study”, in Latin American Journal of Social Science Methodology. 2 (1).
• PIOVANI, J. I, E. RAUSKY and J. SANTOS (2012). “On participant observation in the Chicago School: an analysis of the foundational monographs”, in Revista Temas Sociológicos 14.
• PIOVANI, JI (coord.) et al (2006). “Production and reproduction of meanings around the qualitative and the quantitative in sociology”, in COHEN, N. and PIOVANI, JI (comps., 2008), The methodology of research in debate. La Plata: Edulp - Eudeba.
• PIOVANI, JI; RAUSKY, ME and SANTOS, J (2011). “Methodological definitions of the case study in early publications of the American Journal of Sociology (1915-1934)”, in GALLEGOS ELÍAS, C. and LINCE CAMPILLO, RM Latin American reflections on the methodology of the social sciences. Vol. I. Mexico: UNISON-UNAM.
• PIOVANI, JI and MUÑIZ TERRA, L. (2018). Condemned to reflexivity? Notes for rethinking the social research process. CLACSO/ BIBLOS. Buenos Aires. (Second part. Reflexivity in the social research process: between design and practice).
• PUJADAS MUÑOZ, JUAN JOSÉ (1992). The biographical method: The use of life histories in social sciences. Methodological Notebooks No. 5. Madrid. CIS. (Chapter 4: Elaboration of a life history).
• VALLES, M. (1997). Qualitative techniques of social research. Methodological reflection and professional practice. Síntesis, Madrid. (Chapter 1: Historical genealogy and current approaches to qualitative research).
• VERD, JM and LOZARES, C. (2016) Introduction to qualitative research. Phases, methods and techniques. Madrid: Síntesis. (Chapter 11 The interpretation and analysis of qualitative information)

The basic requirements for taking a seminar are:

• Availability of at least 4 hours per week to dedicate to the seminar course.
• Internet access.
• Reasonable handling of communication and computer tools.
• Language proficiency in the language in which the course will be taught. The official languages ​​are Spanish and Portuguese.

The seminars last 10 weeks, plus the completion of a final project. A total of 90 hours of dedication will be credited.

A course consists of twelve classes, each accompanied by required reading bibliography, supplementary bibliography, discussion forums and training activities proposed by the teaching team, partial deliveries and a final project.
The course is online and asynchronous. Some instructors may propose synchronous activities. In those cases, the time and date will be agreed upon beforehand between the teaching team and the students to ensure everyone's participation.
To pass the seminar, you must participate in at least 80% of the discussion forums and activities proposed by the teachers, have completed the scheduled partial deliveries, and pass the final work.

The possible payment methods are by credit card or bank transfer.