SOC 18A: Observing the Social World: Doing Qualitative SociologyInstructor: Sanchita Dasgupta Prerequisites: May not be taken for credit by students who took SOC 118a in prior years. Course Description: “Go and sit in the lounges of the luxury hotels and on the doorsteps of the flophouses; sit on the Gold Coast settees and on the slum shakedowns; sit in the Orchestra Hall and in the Star and Garter Burlesque. In short, gentlemen [sic], go get the seats of your pants dirty in real research.”</br> -Robert Park (1920s)</br> </br> This course will introduce you to the basic tools and concepts of qualitative social research. We begin by exploring how to choose and develop research topics and research questions, which includes engaging with the academic literature, considering our own identities, and attending to research ethics and guidelines. We then focus primarily on two qualitative research methods used regularly by sociologists – participant observation and interviews – and how they can be used in various study designs. We learn how to code data, develop concepts, and write up qualitative research findings. We conclude by considering the next steps for your projects. </br></br> To learn how to do qualitative research you have to, in the words of Robert Park, “get the seat of your pants dirty.” In addition to completing weekly reading, writing reflections, and participating in class discussions, this class is built around learning the literature, doing participant observation, and conducting interviews focused on a topic that you select. The memo essay in the course asks you to reflect on the process of doing research, and what is your research question of interest. You will also need to justify the topic and the method you want to focus on in the research proposal. After that, you will be invited – in the final essay for the class – to develop a more in-depth analysis. But don’t panic! Nobody expects you to write a full ethnography in 5 weeks. Instead, you will learn how to do research with a few brief deliverables. However, I will encourage you to continue with your research in subsequent semesters through independent studies, summer projects, and senior theses. Undergraduate Research and Creative Collaboration Office is a key partner for you moving forward and has funding available to support you while you do your research. </br></br> Spoiler alert! Your topic may be something as seemingly straightforward as eating in the dining hall or something more complex such as gender and sports, religious identities and observances, or political organizing on campus. This course is meant to guide you in the process of becoming a social science researcher. As your instructor, I am very excited to learn with you. Session: Session II Day: M, T, Th Time: 1:50pm - 4:20pm Credit Hours: 4 Credits Course Format: On-Campus Course for Summer 2026 Brandeis Graduation Requirement Fulfilled: DL, SS Enrollment Limit: Course Classification: Undergraduate Level Course Course Tuition: $3,825 Course Fees: None Open to High School Students: Yes |
