An English-language workshop will be held at DEAMS between March and May 2025 by Dr. Marco Balzano, Research Fellow and Adjunct Professor in Management:  "Qualitative Research in Social Sciences: Local Entrepreneurs and Sustainable Development Goals".

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The course is designed to expose students to a broad foundation of qualitative research in social sciences. With this grounding, the course will delve into the core issues of qualitative research design, providing an in-depth analysis of the different qualitative research approaches, with a particular focus on narrative inquiry methodology. This methodological approach is grounded on top-tier studies published in management journals. The course will entail the development of effective research protocols, data collection techniques, data analysis strategies, and the presentation of emerging insights. Sessions incorporate theoretical and empirical reflections, giving students an opportunity to improve their skills in inductive reasoning and methodological rigor. The key context of the qualitative analysis lies in the theme of entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

COURSE OBJECTIVES

A. Each student should develop a solid understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of inductive reasoning in social sciences and become aware of diverse qualitative methodologies.

B. Each student should gain awareness of the ways in which entrepreneurs tackle various SDGs.

C. Each student should acquire the skills necessary to design and execute original narrative research inquiries. This includes critically assessing prior knowledge, collecting and analyzing data with methodological rigor, and presenting valuable insights that emerge from their analysis.

COURSE DURATION

The course will run from November 2024 to May 2025. It will consist of four laboratory sessions, each lasting approximately two hours. The time intervals between these sessions are designed to afford students the opportunity to apply acquired theoretical frameworks and methodological tools in a practical context. This temporal spacing also facilitates stages of data collection, rigorous data analysis, and final delivery preparation.

COURSE FORMAT

To facilitate quick and effective interactions, the course will be held in a presence-only modality, and will adopt a seminar-style approach, blending traditional lectures with interactive discussions to delve into a range of views and emerging insights. The instructor will serve as the primary facilitator of these activities. Eventually, students will be asked to carry out brief presentations of their progresses with the aim of enhancing the quality of their activities. Active student participation is essential and may encompass raising original ideas, conducting curiosity-driven analyses, and maintaining a positive attitude toward learning. To fully engage in the proposed laboratory activities, students are expected to attend each session prepared, having completed the necessary prerequisites.

The course will be held in Room 3_C in Building D. 

The introductory lesson will be held on Monday  March 31st at 3 pm in room T_B.