140063 UE MM2 - Methods of Qualitative Research (2016W)

Undertaking empirical research related to development (or even in the global South itself) is an exciting enterprise. A variety of qualitative research methods exist, which are commonly used to pursue questions of interest to students of development studies. They usually involve either speaking to people, reading material and/or scrutinizing events.

Depending on the particular research setting, which includes the area of interest and the researcher’s own background, certain methods appear more attractive or feasible than others. Few fields are as interdisciplinary or attempt to reconcile theory with practice as development studies does. Apart from studying grey literature, analysing media reports and observing interactions, researchers frequently consult 'experts' to garner insights about social and political relations. Elite (or expert) interviews can be used to understand how politics and policies unfold or which appraisals around certain topics exist. When conducting such interviews, scholars encounter practical, ethical and theoretical issues that shape their research outcomes. The class addresses qualitative research as a process by discussing pertinent general literature on the 'how to' of it and reading texts that reflect on different authors’ own experiences of doing empirical research. It seeks to explore how the North-South divide affects the collection of empirical data and its possible interpretation.