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	10/9/2026, Noon - 1:00, Zoom Qualitative Research Office Hours This is an open online meeting for all interested in qualitative research methods, where participants may choose to present to other qualitative researchers their research project, proposal, manuscript, or idea for discussion and feedback. A short basic methods presentation will also be planned, such as using conceptual models, immersion/crystallization, or developing a coding structure.
Katie Sveinson, PhD	9/25/2026, Noon - 1:00 Zoom Title: Introduction to Discourse Analysis as Theory and Methodology Abstract: Communication in our multimodal world goes beyond spoken words and written text. Images, videos, symbols, icons, body language, sound, music, body language, and physical arrangements make unique contributions to effective messaging. Discourse analysis allows for the study of these elements of communication in social processes. With a focus on meaning-making, discourse analysis highlights how the relationship between language and what language represents is far from straightforward (Gee, 2011; Sveinson, 2026). This approach offers opportunities to investigate and to be conscious of artifacts that may communicate (un)intended and implicit messaging that may reveal hidden assumptions and power structures encoded in common documents. It goes past literal words to show how other aspects of messaging content may shape beliefs and behaviors. In this talk, Dr. Sveinson will discuss the inextricably linked theory, methodology, methods, and analysis of discourse analysis, with a focus on the uniqueness of this approach compared to other qualitative methodologies. Emphasis will be placed on how this work links micro-level language use to macro-level structures. Examples of her work will be provided as well as suggested areas of interest to utilize this approach. Bio: Dr. Sveinson has published 13 articles utilizing (critical) discourse analysis, including empirical pieces, methodological perspectives, and scoping reviews and has received the Isenberg School of Management Outstanding Research Award. She serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Sport Management, Sport Management Review, and Sociology of Sport Journal and is a NASSM Research Fellow.
Heidi M. Levitt, PhD	4/24/2026, Noon - 1:00, Zoom Title: An Introduction to Critical-Constructivist Grounded Theory - Considerations of Methodological Integrity Abstract: Methodological integrity is a concept that was developed to encourage researchers to design methods by thinking about their capacity to reflect the specific phenomenon under study and to produce meaningful findings (Levitt et al., 2017). This concept is central in standards for qualitative research and is used by journal editors to evaluate qualitative studies. In this talk, Dr. Levitt will describe the method of Critical-Constructivist Grounded Theory (Levitt, 2021), a form of grounded theory that is tailored to the understanding of both internal/interpersonal, and cultural/systemic meanings, and will discuss its features that enhance methodological integrity. Bio: Dr. Levitt is Editor-in-Chief of Qualitative Psychology and past-president of the Society of Qualitative Inquiry in Psychology (SQIP), section of Division 5 of the American Psychological Association. She chaired the development of the SQIP recommendations for reviewing and designing qualitative research (Levitt et al., 2017). Dr. Levitt also chaired the development of the inaugural APA Journal Article Reporting Standards for qualitative, qualitative meta-analytic, and mixed methods research (JARS-Qual; Levitt et al., 2018). In 2020, she received the University of Massachusetts Boston Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Scholarship as well as the Distinguished Contributions in Qualitative Inquiry Award from APA Division 5 for a distinguished history of scientific contributions within the field of qualitative research methods.