Качественные и этнографические методы в исследовании политик

Магистратура 2026/2027

Статус: Курс по выбору (Политика. Экономика. Философия / Politics. Economics. Philosophy)

Кто читает: Департамент политики и управления

Где читается: Факультет социальных наук

Когда читается: 1-й курс, 3, 4 модуль

Охват аудитории: для своего кампуса

Язык: английский

Кредиты: 6

Контактные часы: 40

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Abstract

This course is designed to provide students with a review of qualitative research methods in policy research, with a specific focus on participant observation and interviewing. In the course, we will unpack major debates on ethnographic and interview-based research, covering epistemological, ethical, and practical matters. We will also discuss issues of positionality, self-reflexivity, and power dynamics in the fieldwork. This is a ‘learning-by-doing’ course with fieldwork being a key component of the course: students formulate a preliminary research question, select a field site (physical or virtual), and then conduct several weeks of actual qualitative research. Дисциплина посвящена изучению качественных методов в областях анализа политических процессов и публичной политики с особым акцентом на включенном наблюдении и интервью. В ходе курса анализируются ключевые теоретические дискуссии в области этнографии и исследований на основе интервью, затрагивающие эпистемологические, этические и методологические аспекты исследований с качественными методами. Также в рамках курса изучаются вопросы позициональности, рефлексивности и отношений между исследователем и участниками исследования. Курс реализуется в формате ‘обучение через практику’: студенты самостоятельно формулируют исследовательский вопрос, выбирают объект исследования (в офлайн и/или онлайн-среде) и на протяжении нескольких недель проводят полевую работу с применением освоенных качественных методов.

Learning Objectives

To provide students with a solid understanding of qualitative and ethnographic methods used in policy and political science research
To develop skills in designing qualitative research, with a focus on its fundamental principles and philosophical toolkit
To train core skills in qualitative methods, such as qualitative interviews and focus groups
To introduce students to ethnographic research methods and, following the learning-by-doing principle, give them the opportunity to practice real research
To familiarize students with ethical awareness, reflexivity, and sensitivity to power, inequality, representation, and positionality in field-based research

Expected Learning Outcomes

explain the main methodological foundations of qualitative and ethnographic research
addresses ethical issues in qualitative and ethnographic research, including consent, confidentiality and anonymity, trust, and researcher positionality
applies qualitative methods in practice, particularly interviews and focus groups
demonstrates proficiency in real-world ethnographic research methods, including participant observation, reflexive practices, and making field notes
produces a coherent analysis of qualitative data through coding, interpretation, and conceptualization
able to collect and analyze qualitative insights and naturally occurring data using qualitative data analysis
demonstrates particular understanding of qualitative and ethnographic methods used in policy and political science research

Course Contents

Designing qualitative research
Considering qualitative design: sampling, ethical issues, and reflexivity
Interviews
Focus groups
Ethnographic research
Analyzing qualitative data
Drawing conclusions: qualitative methods and policy / political science research

Assessment Elements

Written Assignment
This is a written assignment that asks students to produce a small but coherent qualitative research design focused on either a social / political / policy issue, or on the term paper
Interviewing practicum
The assignment includes the preparation of the interview instrument required for conducting a qualitative interview – an interview guide – as well as the demonstration of qualitative interview moderation skills, which will be assessed during a practical class
Ethnographic Research Project
This is the main assignment of the course: conducting a real ethnographic project over several weeks. You will carry out a few weeks of ethnographic research in a field site of your choosing, either physical or virtual. Each week, you will be asked to complete short ethnographic assignments and produce fieldnotes, which will be exchanged and discussed in class. Your project may focus on any topic approved by the course lecturer. It may be based on the main research question of your term paper or on any social / political / policy issue of your choice. At the end of the project, you will present your ethnographic research in the format of an immersive presentation.
Workshop
Students present their mini qualitative research designs and take part in an integrative workshop with the discussion of how qualitative evidence can make policy / political science research convincing, feasible, ethical, and scientifically relevant. The session also includes peer feedback and collective discussion.
Seminar Participation
Student participation and activity in class will be graded throughout the course – they are expected to participate actively in discussions and to respond to questions related to the topic discussed. The final grade for this component will be calculated as the average of these grades.

Interim Assessment

2026/2027 4th module
Written Assignment * 0,1 + Interviewing * 0,15 + Ethnography Project * 0,4 + Workshop * 0,15 + Seminar Participation * 0,2 Written Assignment: 10% • Description: This is a written assignment which asks students to produce a small but coherent qualitative research design focused on either a social / political / policy issue, or on the term paper • Suggested length: 1,000–1,500 words • Required assignment elements: a research problem and research question suitable for qualitative methods, a justification for the qualitative approach, case selection, a sampling strategy, proposed methods, ethical considerations, the expected analytical contribution • Results: (1) explain the main methodological foundations of qualitative and ethnographic research and (2) address ethical issues in qualitative and ethnographic research, including consent, confidentiality and anonymity, trust, and researcher positionality Interviewing: 15% • Description: The assignment includes the preparation of the interview instrument required for conducting a qualitative interview – an interview guide – as well as the demonstration of qualitative interview moderation skills, which will be assessed during a practical class • Required assignment elements: coherence with the research question, methodological appropriateness, clarity, feasibility, ethical awareness, and moderation skills • Results: (1) practical skills of conducting a qualitative method, namely interviewing, including the development of the appropriate research instrument Ethnography Project: 40% • Description: This is the main assignment of the course: conducting a real ethnographic project over several weeks. You will carry out a few weeks of ethnographic research in a field site of your choosing, either physical or virtual. Each week, you will be asked to complete short ethnographic assignments and produce fieldnotes, which will be exchanged and discussed in class. Your project may focus on any topic approved by the course lecturer. It may be based on the main research question of your term paper or on any social / political / policy issue of your choice. At the end of the project, you will present your ethnographic research in the format of an immersive presentation. • Required assignment elements: the overall quality of the research project will be assessed based on its key components, including ethical considerations, fieldnotes, and project findings+ the presentation and the overall project flow • Results: (1) proficiency in real-world ethnographic research methods, including participant observation, reflexive practices, and making field notes Workshop:15% • Description: Students present their mini qualitative research designs and take part in an integrative workshop with the discussion of how qualitative evidence can make policy / political science research convincing, feasible, ethical, and scientifically relevant. The session also includes peer feedback and collective discussion. • Required assignment elements: course knowledge in qualitative and ethnographic research methods of data collection and analysis, and the ability to argue for and against the use of such approaches in policy / political science studies, quality of oral presentation, and engagement with peer feedback and workshop discussion • Results: (1) knowledge of qualitative data collection and analysis Seminar Participation: 20% • Description: Student participation and activity in class will be graded throughout the course – they are expected to participate actively in discussions and to respond to questions related to the topic discussed. The final grade for this component will be calculated as the average of these grades. • Required assignment elements: regular participation in class discussion, ability to answer questions related to the topic of the discussion, overall contribution to seminar work, and relevance and clarity of answers and arguments • Results: (1) knowledge and skills in qualitative and ethnographic methods acquired during the course

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Bhattacharya, K. (2017). Fundamentals of Qualitative Research : A Practical Guide. New York: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1486859
Doing Qualitative Research in Politics, Integrating Theory Building and Policy Relevance, Angela Kachuyevski, Lisa M. Samuel, Palgrave Macmillan Cham, The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2018, 978-3-319-72230-6, published: 05 March 2018
Hammersley, M., & Atkinson, P. (2019). Ethnography : Principles in Practice (Vol. Fourth edition). Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=2102503
Interview research in political science ed. by Layna Mosley. (2013).
Mark Israel, & Iain Hay. (2006). Research Ethics for Social Scientists. SAGE Publications Ltd.
Nicola Boydell MSc, Gillian Fergie MSc, Lisa McDaid PhD, & Shona Hilton PhD. (2014). Avoiding Pitfalls and Realising Opportunities: Reflecting on Issues of Sampling and Recruitment for Online Focus Groups. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.B47C2324
Oxford Handbook of Qualitative Research : Oxford Handbook of Qualitative Research, edited by Patricia Leavy, Oxford University Press, Incorporated, 2014. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/hselibrary-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1657789.
Taylor, S. J., DeVault, M. L., & Bogdan, R. (2016). Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods : A Guidebook and Resource (Vol. 4th edition). Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1061324

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Auerbach, C. F., & Silverstein, L. B. (2003). Qualitative Data : An Introduction to Coding and Analysis. NYU Press.
Being ethnographic : a guide to the theory and practice of ethnography, Madden, R., 2010
Cross-cultural research methods in sociology. (2015) (Vol. 5). https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-08-097086-8.44014-6
Golden-Biddle, K., & Locke, K. (2007). Composing Qualitative Research (Vol. 2nd ed). Thousand Oaks, Calif: SAGE Publications, Inc. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=294624
Milinki, A. K. (2017). Cases in Qualitative Research : Research Reports for Discussion and Evaluation. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1346658
Moran, J. (2008). Mass-Observation, Market Research, and the Birth of the Focus Group, 1937-1997. Journal of British Studies, 47(4), 827–851. https://doi.org/10.1086/590170
Paul S. Levy, & Stanley Lemeshow. (2008). Sampling of Populations : Methods and Applications: Vol. 4th ed. Wiley.
Underberg, N. M., & Zorn, E. (2013). Digital Ethnography : Anthropology, Narrative, and New Media (Vol. 1st ed). Austin: University of Texas Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=548651

Authors

PILKINA MARINA VASILEVNA
Lebedeva Olga Nikolaevna

Course Syllabus