CODI 610
                          Seminar: Qualitative Analysis of Social Action
                                                 Spring 2002


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Instructor:  Jack S. Damico, Ph.D.                      Class Location: UL Conference Center
Phone:        318-482-6551                                                                  Dogwood Room
E-mail:       JSDamico@Louisiana.edu                Class Time:       9:30 - 12:15 Thursdays
Office Hours:  T-Th 12:30 -3:45                                                       or by appointment

This seminar actually revolves around two issues: the complexity of meaning-making in all of its manifestations and the necessity of embracing complexity rather than ignoring it in research.  In this seminar we will seek a greater understanding of the various ways that humans engage in face-to-face social action; that is, the myriad ways that individuals accomplish their goals and objectives within the social and cultural contexts that make up their environments.  We will focus on a number of demonstrations of meaning-making complexity and we will devote time to a number of qualitative discovery procedures and analyses that enable a view of authentic social activity. This is a very large area of investigation that encompasses a number of academic disciplines.  As such, we cannot cover the entire subject matter nor can we focus on any one area in great depth. At the end of the course, however, the students will have a much greater appreciation of the complexity, richness, and systematicity of meaning-making and will have a number of discovery procedures and qualitative research methodologies from which to choose when undertaking the investigation of complex social/symbolic/semiotic phenomena.

Each class will typically comply with the following format: There will be initial comments by Dr. Damico followed by a discussion of the previous assignments or a demonstration and then a lecture/discussion expanding on the day's topic by Dr. Damico. At some point, Dr. Damico will engage in a long-term demonstration of the process of qualitative research in class. .Since this is a seminar, the students are expected to read the material assigned for each day and be ready to discuss that material. The outline and schedule presented here may change as the semester progresses due to the needs and interests of the class members.



                                                     Course Requirements

Grades will be determined by class participation and successful completion of the class requirements.  These requirements are as follows:
     1.   Complete assigned readings by appropriate deadlines listed in the syllabus.  Students
            will be expected to discuss the assigned papers and extended topics in the seminar  On
            or about January 29th, readings will be placed on reserve at Dupre Library.
      2.   Complete all class assignments as specified during the course.
      3.   Take part in class discussions.
      4.    Complete a research term paper on a topic or issue relevant to this course and
             approved by  Dr. Damico.

Class Assignments
There will be two types of class activities:
           Active Learning Assignments
                  -- Both within and outside of class activities will be assigned
                  -- Based on lecture from previous class/readings
                  -- Based on reading assignments
                  -- Some focus on use of procedure
                  -- Some focus on problem solving and analysis
                  -- Discussion of particular topics using various grouping strategies
                                   Problem solving
                                    Structured Controversy
                                    Brainstorming
                  – These will account for 50% of the class assignment points
           Reflection Journals
                  -- You must keep a reflection journal and enter comments at least three times a
                      week.  That is, every Thursday starting on 1-31, you should have entered
                      three new and separate reflections.
                  -- Comments should be in response to the material that has been covered in
                      class or that you have read.
                  -- These comments may take the following form:
                            Reactions to something read or heard
                             Reflection on an experience that meshes with the course content
                             Attempts at integration of material into practical implications based on
                                    planning and experience
                             Questions about the material and plans to follow up
                  -- Comments may not take the following form:
                            Notes taken from readings or class
                             Summations of notes or readings without practical (and creative)
                             implications
                  -- Comments need not be any longer than ½ to 1 handwritten page per day.
                  -- Place in a loose leaf binder and date each page.
                  -- Please place your name and mailbox number on each page
                  -- Dr. Damico will ask for the Journal every Thursday to review, respond and assign
                              a grade.  The journal must be turned in at that time
                  -- Failure to turn in the journal will result in a "0" for that particular review.
                  -- Not having an up-dated journal will result in a "0" for that particular review.
                  – This will account for 50% of class assignment points.

Research/Term Paper
             Students will be required to write a data-based research term paper on a topic of your
             choice employing one of the discovery procedures discussed in the seminar.  This paper
             should be written in a format appropriate for submission to a refereed journal The topics
             and methodologies should be selected by 3-7-02 and should be approved by Dr. Damico
             in advance.  This paper is to be creative and independent work, properly referenced and
             following APA style and requirements.  It is Dr. Damico's intention that these papers
             will be of sufficient quality that they will be submitted for publication at the end of the
             semester (or the summer).

             During the weeks of 2-18 and 2-25 Dr. Damico will have individual interviews/
             conferences with each student in the seminar to assist in the selection of topics and/or
             methodologies for this research term paper. If you have any questions or concerns
             regarding this task, please see Dr. Damico.

                                                                          Grading

Students will accumulate points for all assignments, on class discussion and the research
term paper.  The final grade will be based on the total number of points accumulated by the student on all requirements and expressed as a percentage (%) of the total points possible during the semester.  Points will be deducted for all assignments that are turned in late unless the student presents a written excuse that is acceptable to Dr. Damico. Letter grades will be assigned using the following percentage scale:
      91  - 100       -    A
      82  -   90       -    B
      73  -   81       -    C
      65  -   72       -    D
      Below 65      -    F

Distribution of Points:
1. Class Assignments:    Approximately 15 percent of the course grade
2. Class Participation:   Approximately 15 percent of the course grade
3. Term Paper:               Approximately 70 percent of the course grade.

                                            Cursory Notes on the Lectures

Dr. Damico has provided a set of "cursory notes" for most of the lectures that he will present in class meetings.  These are reduced versions of his own notes, providing most of the significant content of the lecture (but not necessarily all of the important content).  These notes are intended to help the students follow the lecture and to only take notes that they feel are necessary.  These notes will be placed on Dr. Damico's Web page when they will be used in class and they will
remain at his web site for one week.  If students want these notes, it is their responsibility to get them from his Web site.  Use of the provided "Cursory Notes" in highly recommended (but not required).  The Web site address is
                    http://www.ucs.louisiana.edu/~jsd6498/damico/damicohomepage.html

                                                                     Readings

We will not use a textbook in this course.  Rather, a set of articles/chapters will be utilized.  These are the required readings for the course.  Each student is required to read these articles/chapters and you will be responsible for them during class discussions.These readings are available in the Reserve Room at Dupre Library.

                                                              Course Evaluation

Students will have the opportunity to evaluate the course by completing the student evaluation of instruction administered by the University towards the end of the semester.

                                                             Academic Misconduct

Academic misconduct guidelines are strictly upheld.  Cheating on a quiz or assignment or permitting someone to cheat will result (at least) in a zero on the assignment or quiz.  Greater penalties will be assessed by Dr. Damico if possible.  Similarly, plagiarism will not be tolerated and will carry similar penalties.  If you have any questions, consult your Graduate Bulletin under "Academic Honesty" or contact Dr. Damico.

                                                                Lecture Schedule

1-24-02            Overview of seminar
                        Introduction
                                The complexity of social phenomena
                                The necessity of authentic and descriptive work
                                Qualitative methodology - Overview
                                               As Bricolage
                                                A working definition
                                                Objectives
                                                 Criteria
                                                 Strengths
                                                "Weaknesses"
                                                Data Collection Procedures
                                                Primary Qualitative Traditions
1-31-02           Data Collection: Participant Observation
2-  7-02           Qualitative Methodology: Ethnography
2-14-02           Qualitative Methodology: Ethnography
2-21-02           Data Collection: Interviews (Ethnographic and Focus Groups)
2-28-02           Qualitative Methodology: Conversation Analysis
3-  7-02           Qualitative Methodology: Conversation Analysis
3-14-02           Qualitative Methodology: Life Studies
                                           Biographical Study
                                            Case Study
                                            Historical Research
3-21-02           Qualitative Methodology: Grounded Theory
3-28-02           EASTER BREAK
4-  4-02           Data Collection: Analysis of Transcripts
4-11-02           Data Collection: Analysis of Transcripts
4-18-02           Data Collection: Artifactual Analysis
4-25-02           Data Collection: Opinioning (Surveys and Lamination)
5-  2-02           Data Collection: Introspection

                                                                  Readings

Each lecture has required readings.  The required readings are listed under each date.

1-24-02             Damico, J.S., Simmons-Mackie, N.N., Oelschlaeger, M., Elman, R., &
                                   Armstrong, E. (1999).  Qualitative methods in aphasia research:
                                   Basic issues. Aphasiology. 13, 651-666.
                         Janesick, V.L. (1994),  The dance of qualitative research design:
                                   Metaphor, methodolatry, and meaning.  In N.K. Denzin and Y.S.
                                   Lincoln (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research. (pp. 209-219),
                                   (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage).
1-31-02            Atkinson, P. & Hammersley, M. (1994).  Ethnography and Participant
                                   Observation.  In N.K. Denzin andY.S. Lincoln (Eds.),  Handbook
                                   of  qualitative research. (pp. 209-219), (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage)
                         Damico, J.S. (1990).  Prescriptionism as a motivating  mechanism:
                                   An ethnographic study in the public schools. Journal of Childhood
                                   Communication Disorders, 13, 85-92.
2-  7-02            Simmons-Mackie, N.N. & Damico, J.S. (1999).  Qualitative methods in
                                   aphasia research:  Ethnography.  Aphasiology. 13, 681-689.
                         Agar, M. (1986),  Speaking of ethnography.  Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
2-14-02            Hurst, L. (1991), Mr. Henry makes a deal: Negotiated teaching in a junior
                                   high school.  In M. Buraway et al (Eds.)  Ethnography Unbound:
                                   Power and resistance in the modern metropolis.  (Pp. 183-202).
                                   Berkeley, CA:  University of California Press.
                         Crago, M.B. (1990).  Development of communicative competence in Inuit
                                   children: Implications for speech-language pathology.  Journal of
                                   Childhood Communication Disorders, 13, 73-84.
2-21-02             Damico, J.S. & Augustine, L.E. (1995).  Social considerations in the labeling
                                    of  students as attention deficit hyperactivity disordered. Seminars in
                                    Speech and Language. 16, 259-274.
                          Westby, C. (1990).  Ethnographic interviewing:  Asking the right  questions
                                    to the right people in the right ways.  Journal of Childhood
                                    CommunicationDisorders, 13, 101-112.
2-28-02              Damico, J.S., Oelschlaeger, M., & Simmons-Mackie, N.N. (1999).
                                   Qualitative methods in aphasia research: Conversation analysis.
                                   Aphasiology, 13, 667-680.
                           Goodwin, C. & Heritage, J. (1990).  Conversational analysis. Annual
                                    Review of Anthropology, 19, 283-307.
3-  7-02              Oelschlaeger, M. & Damico, J.S.  (1998)  Spontaneous verbal repetition: A
                                    social strategy in aphasic conversation.  Aphasiology, 12, 971-988.
                           Goodwin, C. & Goodwin, M. 1992.  Interstitial argument.  In A.D.
                                    Grimshaw (Ed.), Conflict Talk: Sociolinguistic investigations of
                                     arguments in conversations. (pp. 85-117). Cambridge: Cambridge
                                    University Press.
                           Jefferson, G. 1974.  Error correction as an interactional resource.
                                    Language in Society, 2, 181- 199.
3-14-02              Stake, R.E. (1994).  Case studies.  In N.K. Denzin & Y.S. Lincoln (Eds.),
                                   Handbook of qualitative research. (pp. 236-248), Thousand Oaks,
                                    CA: Sage.
                           Damico, J.S. (1988). The lack of efficacy in language therapy:  A case
                                    study. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, 19, 51-67.*
                           Smith, M.D., Gould, D., Marsh, L., & Nichols, A. (1995).  The metaphysics
                                    of ADHD: A unifying case scenario.  Seminars in Speech and Language,
                                    16, 303-314.*
                           Young, L.W.L. (1982). Inscrutability revisited. In J.J. Gumperz (Ed.).
                                    Language and social identity (pp. 72-84). Cambridge: Cambridge
                                     University Press.*
                           Wilcox, S. & Corwin, J. (1990).  The enculturation of BoMee: looking at
                                      the world through deaf eyes.  Journal of Childhood Communication
                                      Disorders, 13, 63- 73.*
3-21-02               Strauss, A. & Corbin, J. (1994).  Grounded theory methodology: An
                                      overview. In N.K. Denzin & Y.S. Lincoln (Eds.), Handbook of
                                      qualitative research. (pp. 273-285), Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
                            Reid, R., Hertzog, M., & Snyder, M. (1996).  Educating every teacher,
                                      every year:  the public schools and parents of children with ADHD.
                                     Seminar in Speech and Language, 17, 73-87.
                            Brown, S., Maxwell, M.M., & Browning, L.D. (1990).  Relations in
                                       public: Hearing parents and hearing impaired children.  Journal
                                       of Childhood Communication Disorders, 13, 43-62.
3-28-02                                                 EASTER BREAK
4-  4-02               Maxwell, M. (1993b). Introduction: Linguistic theories and language
                                       interaction.  In Kovarsky, D., Maxwell, M.M., & Damico, J.S.
                                       (Eds.)  Language interaction in clinical and educational settings.
                                      ASHA Monographs, 30, 1-9.
                            Simmons-Mackie, N.N. & Damico, J.S. (1996).  The contribution of
                                       discourse markers to communicative competence in aphasia.
                                      American Journal of  Speech-Language Pathology5, 37-43.
4-11-02                Damico, J.S. & Damico, S.K. (1997).  The establishment of a
                                       dominant interpretive framework in language intervention.
                                      Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, 28, 288-296.
                             Simmons-Mackie, N.N., Damico, J.S., & Damico, H.L. (1999).  A
                                       qualitative study of feedback in aphasia treatment.  American Journal
                                        of Speech-Language Pathology, 8, 218-230.
                             Prelock, P.A. & Lupella, R.O. (1993).  View of children's word-finding
                                       difficulties: Disciplinary influences.  In Kovarsky, D., Maxwell,
                                        M.M., & Damico, J.S. (Eds.)  Language interaction in clinical
                                        and educational settingsASHA Monographs, 30, 41-49.
4-18-02                Duchan, J.F. (1999).  Reports written by speech-language pathologists:
                                        The role of agenda in constructing client competence.    In D.
                                         Kovarsky, J. Duchan, & Maxwell, M. (Eds.)  Constructing
                                         (In)Competence: Disabling evaluations in clinical and social
                                         interaction. (Pp. 223-244) Mahwah, HJ: Lawrence Erlbaum
                                         Associates.
4-25-02
5-  2-02


                                            Click here to Return to CODI 610 Page
                                     Click here to Return to Dr. Damico's Homepage
Click here for Cursory Notes


                                                  This site is maintained by Jack S. Damico, Ph.D., Dept. of Communicative Disorders
                                                                   Document last revised Sunday 27-January-2002 10:35:23 CST.
                                                                       ©Copyright 2001 by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
                                                                  CommunicativeDisorders Dept., P.O. Box 43170, Lafayette LA 70504
                                                            Phone:318/482-6721 · Fax: 318/482-6195 mailto: jsdamico@louisiana.edu