Qualitative research methods in social sciences

This course introduces students to social science research (from developing a topic to writing a report), with an emphasis on qualitative methods. It consists mainly of field research on the general theme of nature management in cities. It aims to introduce students to the social dimensions of environmental management issues, as well as to the methods of producing and processing qualitative data in the social sciences. In this regard, it trains students to develop diagnoses of environmental management situations by working on three main types of skills: (i) Producing and analyzing heterogeneous data (written, oral, observational), (ii) Analyzing multidimensional, complex, and unique situations, (iii) Communicating the complexity of these situations to an audience.

"-1. Understand the main characteristics of social science epistemology.

2. Implement an inductive-iterative approach

3. Understand the main assumptions of the sociology of organized action

4. Apply the theoretical framework of the sociology of organized action

5. Conduct a semi-structured interview.

Prepare a semi-structured interview

8. Describe and explain the gap between official and actual functioning within an organization and between organizations.

9. Develop and present an argument based on qualitative data.

EU supported by AgroParisTech (shared with EPI)