POL S 559 (A) Qualitative and Mixed Methods
Winter 2026
W 1:30pm-4:20pm
Savery Hall (SAV), Room 167
“The complexity of our research problems calls for answers beyond simple numbers in a quantitative sense or words in a qualitative sense. A combination of both forms of data can provide the most complete analysis of problems.”
– Creswell & Plano Clark. Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research (2017: 23)
Overview
Building on the department’s main methods sequence (POL S 500, 501, and 503), this course delves more deeply into qualitative and mixed methods approaches in Political Science research. The first part of the course focuses on learning about some of the most commonly used qualitative methodologies, while the second part then expands on mixed methods approaches. Each week combines theoretical treatments with more hands-on instruction on how to execute a specific methodological technique in practice through an examination of applied examples and students’ own work. Applications are drawn from various topics and subfields, and engage a range of specific methods, including case studies, process tracing, comparative historical analysis, archival research, and interviews. Along with an introduction to mixed methods approaches, designs will consider combinations within each general category of qualitative and quantitative methods, in addition to those combining across qualitative and quantitative methods (which include large-N observational data, surveys, experiments, and formal models). Throughout the course, we will consider a wide range of practical and ethical issues that arise in the social scientific research process in general, and for qualitative and mixed methods in particular.
In a quarter-length course, certain topics, by necessity, cannot be covered. Similarly, many of the week’s topics could constitute entire courses on their own. Nevertheless, the course aims to provide students a firm foundation for further research and instruction using qualitative and mixed methods.
The course should be viewed as complementary to other offerings in the department (e.g., POL S 504 Multi-Method Field Research). For additional course offerings, see UW’s Qualitative Methods Concentration (QUAL).
Although there are no prerequisites, some experience with general principles of research design and quantitative methods is recommended (e.g., POL S 500 and 501, or equivalents).
Learning Objectives
- Introduce students to qualitative and mixed methods research approaches generally, and how they should be conducted.
- Increase knowledge of philosophical underpinnings of qualitative and mixed methods research.
- Recognize and understand the various mixed methods designs that exist, their key/distinguishing features and characteristics, and the main considerations in using them.
- Gain an understanding of how to execute these methods in practice through analysis of applied examples.
- Assist students in developing their own qualitative or mixed methods proposal using an appropriate research design.
Course Requirements
- Class Participation: 25%
- Short Assignments: 45%
- Research Proposal: 30%