Many important questions in political science depend on human-coded data, where researchers systematically turn qualitative information into quantifiable data. In this session, Dr. Edgell will share practical tips for creating and documenting datasets that are transparent, traceable, and easy to understand. Drawing on recent innovations and her experience tracking state responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, she’ll share different tools and tips that can help improve dataset quality. Come learn strategies for evaluating and producing accessible, high-quality human-coded data. 

Reading: Edgell, Amanda B., Jean Lachapelle, and Seraphine F. Maerz. 2025. "Achieving Transparency, Traceability, and Readability with Human-Coded Data." PS: Political Science & Politics 58(2): 346-351. 

Participant observation, first developed in anthropology, is a method where researchers take part in the everyday lives and activities of a community while also carefully observing and recording those experiences. This dual role of participating and observing generates rich, deep insights that participants themselves may not articulate in interviews or surveys alone. Trained as an ethnographic researcher, Dr. Clay-Robison will introduce participant observation as a cornerstone of qualitative research and explore practical strategies for planning and recording observations, discuss the ethical complexities of this method, and consider how reflexivity shapes findings. 

As a trained focus group moderator, Dr. Znamirowski will host a session introducing the fundamentals of focus group methodology, including participant recruitment, question design, facilitation techniques, and basic approaches to analysis. This session will be ideal for students and faculty planning qualitative data collection or stakeholder engagement.