Naturalistic research methods
Dr P C Gronn
Second semester * Clayton
This subject comprises a series of seminars from a symbolic interactionist perspective. It is concerned with the naturalistic methodology and fieldwork techniques. The program caters for a wide variety of interests from teachers, nurses and nurse educators, those in other helping professions, educational and other administrators. Topics will include the theoretical paradigms influencing research and the importance of theoretical perspectives in designing a research proposal; the implications of adopting applied research or pure research aims in research design; critical ethnography and `politics' of research; choosing research fields and negotiating entry; styles of naturalistic fieldwork and data-gathering techniques, including interviewing, documentary analysis, life history and conversational analysis and use of tape recorders; case study approaches; methods of sorting and recording data; writing up reports; projects; preserving confidentiality and other ethical issues; limitations and strengths of the naturalistic research approach.
Assessment
Written (6000 words)
Recommended texts
Burgess R G In the field: An introduction to field research Allen and Unwin, 1984
Hammersley M and Atkinson P Ethnography: Principles in practice Tavistock, 1983
Schatzman L and Strauss A L Field research strategies for a natural sociology Prentice-Hall, 1973
Strauss A L and Corbin J Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques Prentice-Hall, 1990
Woods P Inside schools ethnography in educational research RKP, 1986