Qualitative Research and Fieldwork
12 weeks · 0 milestones
Conduct a real qualitative study — semi-structured interviews (minimum 6 participants) or ethnographic observation (minimum 4 documented sessions with location and date records). Document your research question, methodology rationale, participant recruitment process, ethics consideration, coded analysis, and findings. Anonymised transcript or observation note excerpts must be available to your verifier as evidence of real fieldwork. Proof is your research report plus a methodology challenge from a sociologist or qualitative researcher who questions your coding scheme and sampling approach — your written response addressing their challenge is a required part of the proof.
Milestone map
Milestone map
3 milestones
Qualitative research begins with a research design that justifies why qualitative is appropriate for the specific question, and an ethics protocol that protects participants. Develop a complete research design specifying: research question, methodological approach (ethnography, grounded theory, thematic analysis, or IPA — choose one and justify), sampling strategy (purposive or theoretical), and data collection method. Include an ethics protocol covering informed consent, confidentiality, right to withdraw, data storage, and participant harm assessment.
Proof required
Submit: (a) the research design document (minimum 1,000 words) covering all four elements: question, methodology with justification, sampling strategy, and data collection method, (b) the ethics protocol covering all five areas listed, and (c) a written methodology review from a social scientist (academic or professional researcher with postgraduate training) confirming the methodology is appropriate for the question and the ethics protocol is adequate.
What gets checked
- Methodology choice is justified with reference to the specific research question — not just 'I chose qualitative methods'
- Ethics protocol addresses participant harm specifically, not just consent
- Methodology reviewer confirms appropriateness — not just general encouragement