Sociology 2209: Qualitative Social Analysis Seminar
Semester: Spring
Offered: 2019
The course will cover the basic techniques for collecting, interpreting, and analyzing qualitative data. Throughout the semester, the course will operate on two interrelated dimensions, one focused on the theoretical approaches to various types of qualitative research, the other focused on the practical techniques of data collection, such as identifying key informants, selecting respondents, collecting field notes, analyzing data, writing, and presenting findings.
Sociology 2209 is organized with the following four objectives in mind:
(1) To give you basic training in qualitative research. This requires exposing you to issues of conceptualization, theory, research design, and strategies for framing questions.
(2) To consider the various domains or topical areas in sociology where qualitative work has made major contributions. This includes reflecting on the usage of qualitative method in interpretive, descriptive, and explanatory research.
(3) To examine the ethical responsibilities of qualitative researchers, who have closer contact with “subjects” and “informants” than other researchers typically do.
(4) To think collectively and critically about the forms of writing (articles, dissertations, books, etc.) and professional presentations that sociologists must master to present qualitative work to their peers and the public.
Related Materials
In recent years Lamont has taught undergraduate courses on “Successful Societies: Markers and Pathways,” "Culture, Power, and Inequality," "Racism and Anti-Racism in Comparative Perspective," and "Knowledge Production and Evaluation." At the graduate level, she taught "Qualitative Data Analysis," "Classical Sociological Theory," and "Culture and Inequality." Since 2004, she has co-organized the Culture and Social Analysis Workshop in the Department of Sociology, where faculty, post-doctoral researchers, graduate students and visitors come together to share their work in progress. Since 2005, she has also been the co-organizer of the Study Group on Exclusion and Inclusion at the Center for European Studies.
An active mentor of post-doctoral fellows, graduate students, and undergraduate students, Lamont advises research on a wide range of topics. She received the 2010 Everett Mendelsohn Excellence in Mentoring Award, given by the Harvard Graduate Students Council. For a list of current and past graduate students and post-docs, click here. She was also one of eight Harvard faculty across all schools to be recognized as "master mentor" by the Office of the Senior Adviser for Faculty Development and Diversity in 2010.