Field Research Methods

This short course introduces students to qualitative and quantitative field-based research methods for developing and testing theories in the social sciences. In terms of qualitative methods, the course will provide an introduction to ethnography, participation observation, interviews, and focus group discussions. In addition, the course will introduce quantitative methods, including surveys, survey experiments, lab-in-the-field experiments, and field experiments. Our study of these methodologies will combine theoretical considerations of the different methodologies with practical and logistical considerations for the scholars who employ them. Assigned readings will focus on methodology and applications, while assignments will be geared toward developing students’ own field-based research designs.

Dates

The course will take place online from the 22th to the 24th May 2024, from 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm. Please note that this course is open for external participants.

About the lecturer

Amanda Lea Robinson is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Ohio State University. Her research focuses on the ways in which identity and culture – defined by nationality, ethnicity, race, and gender – influence political behavior, and how political processes affect identity change, primarily in Africa and among the African diasporas. She has conducted field research in Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, the United States, and Zambia.