This ARP responds to student needs by addressing qualitative research methods in the field of intercultural communication. It prepares them to bring evidence and research-based solutions to the current challenges that societies, organizations, and governmental/public institutions face in the globalized world. These challenges arise from, among other things, the linguistic and cultural diversity of the workforce and stakeholders due to migration and internationalization. This ARP also prepares students to write their theses at the Institute for Slavic Languages / Intercultural Communication.

ARP Outline:

1. A map of research on intercultural communication (actors: migrants, representatives of stakeholders, and units of public administration; topics: issues and challenges related to migration, interactions, and policies in culturally diverse workplaces, remote collaboration across the globe, issues in organizational culture; solutions: strategies for managing diversity and inclusion, developing communication strategies that resonate with the socio-cultural environment)

2. A toolkit for research in intercultural communication – a brief overview (ethnographic methods of data collection: observation, audiovisual recordings, documentary methods, interviews; methods of data analysis: grounded theory, qualitative content analysis, discourse analysis)

3. Engaging in qualitative research in intercultural communication – data collection in the field, data processing and preparation, qualitative analysis, analytic generalization and relevance of the findings to the literature, outlining possible solutions in the light of the findings, writing project reports. Students will also be provided with input regarding ethical considerations (negotiating access to the setting, protection of the privacy and interests of the participants, data management, anonymization and pseudonymization techniques, sensitive and respectful treatment of the data in the analysis and reports, etc.) and put them into practice within their projects.

4. Wrapping up a qualitative research project in intercultural communication – presenting the research design, findings, and solutions; exploring the possibilities of disseminating their findings, approaching relevant stakeholders, and empowering the participants.

• Students will be able to identify research problems, formulate research questions, and explore solutions in the field of intercultural communication. They pitch their ideas for a research project.
• Students will be able to match research problems, questions, and methods of data collection and analysis.
• Students will be able to design a research project and pitch it to the instructors.
• Students will be able to collect and analyze data in organizations.
• Students will be able to review relevant literature as they explore the key concepts, context, solutions, and other research findings.
• Students will be able to formulate solutions and suggest possible implementation of the solutions.
• Students will be able to write a qualitative research project report.
• Students will be able to present their projects to the instructors.
• Students will be able to disseminate their findings, approach relevant stakeholders, and empower the participants.
• Students will be able to conduct the above activities with respect to the privacy and interests of the research subjects and organizations, i.e., in line with the ethical standards in the field.

Attendance is mandatory in at least 80% of in-class sessions.

The course is based on students’ project work, which will be accompanied by presentations, group discussions, input from the instructors, and self-study.

• Analysis of empirical studies (25 points) - individual
• Initial pitch (15 points) – groups
• Final presentation (20 points) - groups
• Final report (40 points) – groups

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