Invitation from Qualitative Transparency Deliberations

Dear Colleagues,

We are delighted to announce the launch of Stage 2 of the Qualitative Transparency Deliberations and invite you to take part.

Sponsored by American Political Science Association’s organized section for Qualitative and Multi-Method Research, the QTD is an inclusive process through which political scientists are gaining a better understanding of the meaning, costs, benefits, and practicalities of transparency in qualitative research. Following an agenda-setting process last spring, the QTD is now moving into a phase of intensive and differentiated deliberations on a wide range of topics, led by a set of specialized Working Groups.

The QTD Working Groups now seek your views, ideas, and suggestions via their discussion fora on the QTD website. On this site, you can join a conversation about the meaning, merits, drawbacks, and practice of transparency for the particular kinds of qualitative inquiry in which you engage. You can also take part in a broad discussion of the ethics, epistemology, or politics of research openness. You will find below a list of the QTD Working Groups and a link to the discussion forum for each.

All political scientists, located in any country, are welcome to contribute to this open process. There is no need to be a member of the APSA. To participate “on the record,” please click on “Register” or “Login” in the top righthand corner of the QTD homepage. Alternatively, you can contribute anonymously by simply posting without registering or logging in. If you prefer, you can also offer your input in private by emailing a Working Group member directly (membership listed on the site).

The Groups’ discussion fora will be open until December 1. We very much look forward to hearing from you. Broad participation is vital to making this deliberative effort a success.

All the best,
Alan Jacobs and Tim Buthe
On behalf of the QTD Steering Committee and Working Groups