NCHU Course Outline

Course Name	(中) 質性研究方法(6089)
	(Eng.) Qualitative ResearchMethods
Offering Dept	Graduate Institute of International Politics
Course Type	Elective	Credits	3	Teacher	Yu-Chuan Shen
Department	Transcontinental International Master Program/Graduate	Language	English	Semester	2026-SPRING
Course Description	This course provides an advanced examination of qualitative inquiry within educational settings. The curriculum is designed to bridge the gap between high-level philosophical paradigms and the gritty, practical realities of fieldwork and data analysis. By integrating the latest methodologies, the course prepares students to execute rigorous studies that are both theoretically sound and methodologically innovative.
Prerequisites				self-directed learning in the course	Y

Relevance of Course Objectives and Core Learning Outcomes(%)			Teaching and Assessment Methods for Course Objectives
Course Objectives	Competency Indicators	Ratio(%)	Teaching Methods	Assessment Methods
1. Critique & Paradigm Construction: Understand the advantages/limitations of qualitative research; articulate philosophical foundations. 2. Methodological Mastery: Familiarity with diverse qualitative traditions (Phenomenology, Ethnography, Grounded Theory, Case Study). 3. Execution & Analysis: Ability to execute a pilot qualitative study (Interviewing, Observation, Coding). 4. Ethics & Integrity: Ability to navigate ethical dilemmas, including AI ethics and participant protection.			topic Discussion/Production Exercises Discussion Other Lecturing	Written Presentation Attendance Oral Presentation Assignment Study Outcome Quiz Other
Course Content and Homework/Schedule/Tests Schedule
Week Course Content Week 1 Introduction to Qualitative Inquiry Week 2 Philosophical Assumptions and Interpretive Frameworks Week 3 The Five Traditions of Qualitative Inquiry (Part I) Week 4 The Five Traditions of Qualitative Inquiry (Part II) Week 5 Designing the Study and Selecting a Sample Week 6 Ethics, Integrity, and AI Governance in Research Week 7 The Art of In-Depth Interviewing Week 8 Focus Groups and Digital Data Week 9 Participant Observation and Field Notes Week 10 Coding Fundamentals (First Cycle Methods) Week 11 From Codes to Categories to Themes (Second Cycle Methods) Week 12 Computer-Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Week 13 Generative AI in Qualitative Analysis Week 14 Trustworthiness and Validity Week 15 Writing Qualitative Research Week 16 Final Symposium and Course Conclusion self-directed learning    01.Participation in professional forums, lectures, and corporate sharing sessions related to industry-government-academia-research exchange activities.    02.Viewing multimedia materials related to industry and academia.    03.Preparing presentations or reports related to industry and academia.
Evaluation
*This syllabus is subject to further change or revision, as needed, to best realize the educational goals of the course. Necessary modifications will be announced in class or on course materials with fair prior notice. Participation: 30% Midterm paper: 30% Final presentation & research paper: 40% --- *Important Notice: Plagiarism in assignments and cheating in exams are strictly prohibited in this course. The semester grade will be zero if substantial evidence confirms plagiarism in assignments or cheating in exams. *Generative AI Ethics Statement: Students are encouraged to use Generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT) as a brainstorming and editing partner for this course. However, the following rules apply: 1. Transparency: You must include a brief "AI Disclosure Statement" in any assignment that utilized GAI, specifying the tool used and the nature of the collaboration. 2. Accountability: You are 100% responsible for the accuracy of your submission. "The AI said so" is not a valid defense for factual errors. 3. Academic Honesty: Submitting AI-generated text as your own without proper citation is considered plagiarism and will result in a failing grade for the assignment. 4. Security: Do not upload any private data or proprietary course materials into public AI platforms.
Textbook & other References
PDFs and online papers. Some books and articles may be available in the library. --- Selected Textbooks Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2024). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches (5th ed.). SAGE. Dyson, A. H., & Genishi, C. (2005). On the Case: Approaches to Language and Literacy Research (an NCRLL volume). Teachers College Press. Hurst, Allison. (2023). Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods: A Helpful Guide for Undergraduates and Graduate Students in the Social Sciences. Oregon State University. https://open.oregonstate.education/qualresearchmethods/ Merriam, S. B., & Tisdell, E. J., & Stuckey-Peyrot, H. L. (2025). Qualitative Research: A Guide to Design and Implementation (5th ed.). Jossey-Bass. Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods (4th ed.). SAGE. Saldaña, J. (2025). The Coding Manual for Qualitative Researchers (5th ed.). SAGE. --- Selected References Becker, H. S. (2008). Tricks of the rade: How to Think About Your Research While You’re Doing It. University of Chicago Press. Boylorn, R. M., & Orbe, M. P. (Eds.). (2014). Critical Autoethnography: Intersecting Cultural Identities in Everyday Life (Vol. 13). Left Coast Press. Brown, R. N., Carducci, R., & Kuby, C. R. (2014). Disrupting Qualitative Inquiry. Peter Lang Publishing Incorporated. Charmaz, K. (2004). Premises, Principles, and Practices in Qualitative Research: Revisiting the Foundations. Qualitative Health Research, 14(7), 976-993. Creswell, J. W., & Miller, D. L. (2000). Determining Validity in Qualitative Inquiry. Theory Into Practice, 39(3), 124-130. Davis, D. A., & Craven, C. (2016). Feminist Ethnography: Thinking through Methodologies, Challenges, and Possibilities. Rowman & Littlefield. Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2011). The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research. Sage. Dill, L. J. (2015). Poetic Justice: Engaging in Participatory Narrative Analysis to Find Solace in the “Killer Corridor.” American Journal of Community Psychology, 55(1-2), 128-135. Emerson, R. M., Fretz, R. I., & Shaw, L. L. (2011). Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes. University of Chicago Press. Few, A. L., Stephens, D. P., & Rouse‐Arnett, M. (2003). Sister‐to‐Sister Talk: Transcending Boundaries and Challenges in Qualitative Research with Black Women. Family Relations, 52(3), 205-215. Harvey, I. S., & Alston, R. J. (2011). Understanding Preventive Behaviors Among Midwestern African-American Men: A Pilot Qualitative Study of Prostate Screening. Journal of Men’s Health, 8(2), 140-151. Hennink, M., Hutter, I., & Bailey, A. (2010). Qualitative Research Methods. Sage. Jones, N. (2008). Working the Code: On Girls, Gender, and Inner-City Violence. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology, 41(1), 63-83. Kegler, M. C., Rigler, J., & Honeycutt, S. (2010). How Does Community Context Influence Coalitions in the Formation Stage? A Multiple Case Study Based on the Community Coalition Action Theory. BMC Public Health, 10(1), 90. Lim, W. M. (2024). What Is Qualitative Research? An Overview and Guidelines. Australasian Marketing Journal, 33(2), 199-229. https://doi.org/10.1177/14413582241264619 Martin, E., Litchfield, G., Mandefro, M., Parvez, F., Holmes, S. M., Lindemann, D., & Hansen, H. (2013). Enhancing the Public Impact of Ethnography. Social Science & Medicine, 99, 205-208. Maynard, K., & Cahnmann‐Taylor, M. (2010). Anthropology at the Edge of Words: Where Poetry and Ethnography Meet. Anthropology and Humanism, 35(1), 2-19. Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2013). Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods Sourcebook. SAGE Publications, Incorporated. Paris, D., & Winn, M. T. (2013). Humanizing Research: Decolonizing Qualitative Inquiry With Youth and Communities. Sage. Ryan, G. W., & Bernard, H. R. (2003). Techniques to Identify Themes. Field Methods, 15(1), 85-109. Sandelowski, M., & Barroso, J. (2003). Writing the Proposal for a Qualitative Research Methodology Project. Qualitative Health Research, 13(6), 781-820. Small, M. L. (2009). ‘How Many Cases Do I Need?’ On Science and the Logic of Case Selection in Field-Based Research. Ethnography, 10(1), 5-38. Thomas, S. P. (2005). Through the Lens of Merleau‐Ponty: Advancing the Phenomenological Approach to Nursing Research. Nursing Philosophy, 6(1), 63-76. Ulin, P. R., Robinson, E. T., & Tolley, E. E. (2004). Qualitative Methods in Public Health: A Field Guide for Applied Research. John Wiley & Sons. Woods-Giscombé, C. L. (2010). Superwoman Schema: African American Women‘s Views on Stress, Strength, and Health. Qualitative Health Research, 20(5), 668-683.
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