Qualitative Research Methods for CSCW: Challenges and Opportunities

This workshop is part of CSCW 2019, held in Austin, Texas November 9-13, 2019.

Overview

Qualitative methods have long been an important component of CSCW research. However, it can be challenging to make qualitative work legible to a broader set of researchers, which is critical as mixed methods research becomes more common. Moreover, the shift towards larger scales of data and increasing calls for open data and more transparency pose new questions for qualitative methods in terms of data collection, analysis, reporting, and sharing. This workshop brings together researchers to discuss these challenges as well as new opportunities for qualitative methods, with goals to help build norms and best practices for (1) conducting qualitative research, (2) reporting that research, and (3) engaging and collaborating with CSCW researchers from other methodological traditions.

For more detail, see our full workshop proposal.

Important dates

Submission deadline: September 13, 2019

Submission notifications: October 4, 2019

Final version deadline: October 11, 2019

Date of workshop: Saturday, November 9, 2019

How to participate

To be considered for participation in the workshop, potential participants should submit a short (2-4 page) statement of interest, which will be reviewed by the workshop organizers. Submissions should also include a brief biographical sketch that includes current affiliation, research area, and (if not included elsewhere) experience with qualitative methods.

Submissions can be structured in multiple ways: (1) a discussion of a specific topic in the area related to qualitative methods, e.g., one of the provocative topics we proposed; or (2) a case study discussion of a specific experience regarding qualitative methods. We encourage submissions that are frank or even confessional about their own work and doubts; a case study might even be drafted as an “overly honest” methods section. Submissions should be related to at least one of the four topic areas discussed in the proposal: collection, analysis, reporting, or sharing.

Note that participants need not have prior experience with qualitative methods, but instead may have complementary perspectives to offer (e.g., on transparency or on mixed methods) and are interested in learning more about qualitative methods.

We invite and encourage submissions from researchers from academia, industry, non-profits, and governments (national, regional, local, Tribal), and welcome a wide range of disciplinary perspectives.

How to submit

Submissions should be sent to: qualitativemethodscscw2019@gmail.com.

Submissions will be peer-reviewed by the workshop’s program committee. Acceptance decisions will be sent out by October 4th, 2019 and final versions are due October 11, 2019. At least one author of each accepted position paper must attend the workshop and all participants must register for both the workshop and for at least one day of the conference.