URP 800, Section 1

The purpose of this course is to critically explore ways of conducting theoretically-informed and empirically grounded social research through an examination of different approaches to knowledge production. In specific, the course is designed to develop skills in research design for social inquiry with a particular emphasis to policy analysis and urban planning. Throughout the course, students will be exposed to a wide range of qualitative social research methodologies useful of planners and social scientists alike. Students will become familiar with a variety of techniques in collecting and analyzing qualitative data and in deciding what information is useful and what is not.