JMS 711
GUA 1120
M 5:30-8:20 p.m.
Instructor: Gregory Borchard, Ph.D.
Telephone: (O) 702-895-4868
Office: 2134 Greenspun Hall
gregory.borchard@unlv.edu
Office Hours: M: 1-3pm; T 2:30-3:30pm; R11-noon;
and by appointment

Course Overview: Welcome to Qualitative Methods. You should leave this course with a basic understanding of methods used in developing research for studies in journalism and the media. The course will provide practice in the fundamentals of humanistic research methodologies, examining them in case studies provided by scholars from various academic disciplines, relative to topics in JMS. In accordance with the graduate school's assessment goals, you will demonstrate skills in critical thinking, research, writing, evaluating, and the use of professional research tools. The course also provides a contextual basis for interpreting Quantitative Methods, another course (JMS 712) required in your studies as a graduate student.

Required Textbooks: Check the schedule for assigned readings. Weekly reading assignments are subject to change at the instructor's discretion.
• Barzun, Jacques and Henry F. Graff. The Modern Researcher. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning, 2004.
• Berg, Bruce L. Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences, 7th ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2009.
• Startt, James D. and Wm. David Sloan. Historical Methods. Northport, AL: Vision Press, 2003.
Note: The bookstore should have these issues in stock. You may purchase paperback or hardcover (most recent edition preferred).

Course Requirements: You will complete a research paper for a major portion of your grade. Another major portion of your grade will be based on weekly discussion and group presentations based on assigned readings. Extensions for assignments will be issued at the instructor's discretion. Late submissions not approved by the instructor in advance will result in a lower grade on the assignment.

Attendance: Please attend every class. Your success in this course depends upon active class participation and discussion. If you miss class, the quality of your work will suffer, as will your final grade. If you know you cannot attend a particular class, please notify me in advance. We can arrange a time to discuss key items, or you will be directed to an appropriate resource for help. You will also benefit from reviewing course materials with classmates.

Academic Honesty: Be aware of UNLV's commitment to academic honesty. Review policies on cheating, plagiarism, and academic dishonesty at <http://catalog.unlv.edu/> (see "Academic Policies"). Students enrolling in UNLV assume the obligation to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with UNLV's function as an educational institution. An example of academic misconduct is plagiarism.
• Plagiarism is a serious offense – in this course, at the university, and in media careers. You must attribute information to a source appropriately. If you use information from a publication, you must credit that publication. Using someone else's work as your own will result in a zero ("F") for an assignment. Plagiarism may also result in an "F" for the class, and in some cases, it can lead to expulsion from the University.
• When you have time out of class to work on an assignment, you must do your own work. Friends may proofread, but the research and writing must be yours.
• Please notify me if you are aware of a climate that promotes academic dishonesty.

Copyright: The University requires all members of the University Community to be familiar with and to follow copyright and fair use requirements. You are individually and solely responsible for violations of copyright and fair use laws. The University will neither protect nor defend you nor assume any responsibility for employee or student violations of fair use laws. Violations of copyright laws could subject you to federal and state civil penalties and criminal liability as well as disciplinary action under University policies. To familiarize yourself with copyright and fair use policies, the University encourages you to visit its copyright Web site at <http://www.unlv.edu/committees/copyright>.

Office Hours: I will be in my office during the hours listed in this syllabus, and I can be available at other hours by appointment. We can discuss specific questions you may have or review your work to see how it may be refined. I will not discuss grades in class. If you have a question about how I've evaluated your work, please see me during office hours. If you do have a question about a specific grading issue on an assignment, you must talk to me within two weeks after the assignment deadline.

Students with Disabilities: If you have a documented disability that may require accommodations, you will need to contact the Disability Resource Center for the coordination of services. The DRC coordinates all academic accommodations for students with documented disabilities, and is the official office to review and house disability documentation for students, and to provide them with an official Academic Accommodation Plan to present to the faculty if an accommodation is warranted. The DRC strongly encourages faculty to provide accommodations only if and when they are in receipt of said plan. Faculty should not provide students accommodations without being in receipt of this plan. UNLV complies with the provisions set forth in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, offering reasonable accommodations to qualified students with documented disabilities. The DRC is located in the Student Services Complex (SSC), Room 137, and the contact numbers are: VOICE (702) 895-0866, TTY (702) 895-0652, FAX (702) 895-0651. For additional information, please visit <http://studentlife.unlv.edu/disability/>.

Grading for the Course: Your grade will be determined by your performance in the following areas – failure to complete an item will result in a zero for that portion of the course.

CITI exam = 5 percent (see instructions for Jan. 11)
You will need to pass UNLV's IRB exam before completing this course. If you have done so already, you will need to submit verification (print the completion report and submit a copy for me).

Presentations #1, #2, #3 = 15 percent each; 45 percent total
On three occasions this semester, you will meet with members of a group (TBA) and prepare materials to lead class. While everyone in class will have read the assigned readings for each week, your group will be graded on the following.
• On the day of your presentation, your group will distribute copies of one (1) paper (3-5 pages) to the class that describes the main points of your presentation. This portion of your group project counts for 5 percent of your presentation score.
• For the first part of your group activity (approx. 20 minutes), have one or two members deliver a lecture on the assigned topic using visual materials or additional handouts. This portion of your group project counts for 5 percent of your presentation score.
• For the second part of your group activity (a half hour or more) develop a project for the entire class that features the particular methodological approach you have described. This portion of your group project counts for 5 percent of your presentation score.
Note: For the first two sets of presentations (Feb. 1, 8, 22, and March 1) I have included references to group activities supplied in the Berg text. You may choose to use them or another activity, but if you develop a group activity other Berg's, please check with me first. For the third set of group activities, you will develop your own, original idea for the project.

Book Review = 10 percent
You will review one of the three assigned texts using a scholarly approach, writing in a style appropriate for an academic publication. The review is due April 5, and we will discuss additional instructions in class.

Schedule

Jan. 11: Intro Discussion and Readings
Berg: Ch. 1, Intro; Ch. 3, Ethical Issues; Ch. 12, Writing Research Papers
By Jan. 18: E-mail a research topic to Dr. Borchard, detailing in 1 paragraph your w/w/w/w/w/h + "so what?" Also send citations (in APA) for at least three secondary sources you have read on the subject.
Assignment 1: Complete (and pass) the exam required by UNLV's Institutional Review Board. <https://www.citiprogram.org/>. Print a copy of the completion report and bring it to class Jan. 25 (5 percent of final grade).

Jan. 18: MLK, class does not meet
Berg: Ch. 9, Historiography and Oral Traditions
Sloan: Ch. 1, The Nature of History; Ch. 2, Interpretation in History; Ch. 3, The Fundamentals of Good History

Jan. 25: Searching Archives; Library Tour
Berg: Ch. 8, Unobtrusive Measures in Research

Feb. 1: Developing a Topic (Presentation from Group 1)
Berg: Ch. 2, Designing Qualitative Research (Suggestion #3, p. 56)

Feb. 8: Content Analysis Presentation (Presentation from Group 2)
Berg: Ch. 11, An Introduction to Content Analysis (Suggestion #2, p. 373)

Feb. 15: Washington’s Birthday, Class does not meet
Berg: Ch. 4, Dramaturgical Look at Interviewing; Ch. 5, Focus Group Interviewing

Feb. 22: Working with Live Subjects (Presentation from Group 1)
Berg: Ch. 6, Ethnographic Field Strategies (Suggestion #1, p. 238)

March 1: Working with Live Subjects (Presentation from Group 2)
Berg: Ch. 7, Action Research; Ch. 10, Case Studies (Suggestion #1, p. 264)

March 8: Historiography; Constructing Your Paper
Sloan: Chs. 4-9
Book Review Assignment distributed and discussed, Due April 5

March 15: Research Principles (Presentations from Group 1)
Barzun and Graff: Chs. 1-7

March 22: Conferences and Conventions (Presentations from Group 2)
Barzun and Graff: Chs. 8-14
Sloan: Chs. 10 & 11

March 29: Spring Break, class does not meet

April 5: Editing Sessions; Book Review Assignment Due

April 12: Research Presentations (Round 1)

April 19: Research Presentations (Round 2)

April 26: Study Week; May 3: Final Papers Due