CIQ214 | “Is This Even Real Research?”: Qualitative Research Methods And The Law

In this, the day and age of interdisciplinary methods, we are no longer bound by the strict constraints of what constitutes the law, and what ‘proper’ legal research methods should look like. However, it is abundantly clear that the Indian legal education system devotes a considerable amount of time towards doctrinal analyses of various aspects of the law, be it public or private, often at the cost of other methodologies. There is a lacunae in the training available for students who are looking to conduct in-depth research to provide evidence towards supporting their claims. Through this course, I hope to bridge this gap by providing an introduction to qualitative research methods, rooted in the social sciences (such as anthropology or sociology), but applicable to empirical legal work in different contexts.

The course is intended to be in the style of a seminar, where we will workshop the different stages of the qualitative research process. Students are expected to participate actively in the classroom, and are required to come prepared for in-class activities. In the event that you have any particular needs or accommodations which will ease this process for you, please reach out to me via email. Students will gain the experience of drafting a research proposal from the start to the finish, and will work (mostly in the classroom, but on occasion, outside) on assignments. Various case studies will be discussed during the course, with a focus on the different aspects that constitute qualitative research.

Given that anthropological investigation as a discipline was spawned from the nefarious demands of colonialism and imperialism, it is imperative that we understand the grave ethical considerations involved in conducting such research.

This understanding will ground the entire course. Students must accordingly adhere to respectful behavioural standards in the classroom.