URBDP 519 Spring 2018 – Approved Soc W 506 sub

Note: This course is an approved substitution for Soc W 506 for students who have completed 505 but dropped out from the series in a previous quarter due to illness or other circumstances.  Students enrolled in Soc W 505 in Winter 2018 should continue in Soc W 506 in Spring 2018.

Qualitative Research Methods

URBDP 519 A / Arch 547

Spring, 2017

Bob Mugerauer

drbobm@u.washington.edu

Tues 1:30-4:20/  Gould 322

Educational Objectives

The course will examine traditional and innovative research methodologies appropriate for both archival research and field work. (The approaches to be covered are appropriate for theses and

dissertations.)  The goal is to cover the theoretical foundations and the applications of the most important methodological strategies for a variety of disciplines—responding to their differences as well as shared

features: planning, architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, forest resources, geography, anthropology, public health, public policy, social work, environmental-cultural studies.

Format

The course will be limited to a small enough size to be conducted as a seminar, that is, through active discussion and interaction among all members.  The professor will present the most difficult material and gently keep the discussion focused; the students will need to be prepared (e.g. carefully read the assignments), contribute to discussions, and make presentations concerning their research projects. The intention is to gather a variety of students from multiple disciplines with differing interests to ensure rich discussions.  The emphasis is on exploration, discovery, and interpretation, not on “proof.”

Major Dimensions to be Covered

1. The Problem of History As/Versus Science II.   Issues involved in using Case Study Approach III. Traditional Behavior-Perceptual Field and Archival Methods 1.    Close Observation and Description 2.    Interviews:
2. Cognitive & Mental Mapping
3. Newly Promising Empirical-Social Research (Actor Network, Assemblage, …) V.   Major Theoretical and Critical Approaches 1.    History: Henri Lefebvre on Critical Theory—may be replaced with another work 2.    Human Sciences: de Certeau on Urban Anthropology (using an accessible secondary source) 3.    Self-Organization: de Landa on the science of reading historical assemblages VI. Specialized Readings on Reserve for Architecture Thesis Work

Course Work and Grading

Each member of the class will decide on her/his choice of subject matter to investigate, perhaps in a variety of formats.  Then, students will be expected to do the reading in their area of specialization, briefly try out (at least) one approach to their chosen subject matter, report to the class on the successes and failures of the projects as they go along, and then undertake one substantial research project (reported, with a clear statement and “justification” of method used, in a 15-20 page paper, due the last class day of the quarter).  Note, the intention is to emphasizing and practice our skills of explorations, discovery, and interpretation. We will consider how “wicked problems”—those where the real problem only emerges in the course of trying to solve what appears as an initial problem—and the dynamic complexity of phenomena require non-reductive approaches that yield multiple fruitful strategies and perspectives rather than “the” solution. Failures and problems are perfectly normal and, while not always cheerful, often are generate deeper understanding—this class is a “low risk” or “safe” zone to encourage exploration.

Grades will be determined as follows:

Class Participation and short project report — 25% Substantial research project — 75%

Registration

BE College majors Period 1 (2/9/2018-2/25/2018) All other grad students beginning March 2.

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