{"id":1174,"date":"2020-09-02T16:33:12","date_gmt":"2020-09-02T16:33:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/connect.apsanet.org\/interpretationandmethod\/?page_id=1174"},"modified":"2020-09-10T18:39:45","modified_gmt":"2020-09-10T18:39:45","slug":"methods-cafe-2020","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/connect.apsanet.org\/interpretationandmethod\/methods-cafe-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Methods Caf\u00e9 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chairs<\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Sarah Wiebe<\/strong>, University of Hawai’i at M\u0101noa, swiebe@hawaii.edu<\/a>
\n\"\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

Biko Koenig<\/strong>, Franklin & Marshall College, bkoenig@fandm.edu<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The 2020 APSA theme, \u201cDemocracy, Difference, and Destabilization,\u201d invites scholars to investigate questions related to the threats and stresses experienced by democracies worldwide, the importance of diversity as a strength of democratic performance, the limits of achieving equity and inclusivity in heterogeneous publics throughout the globe, and their implications for the resilience of democratic institutions. Since political scientists\u2019 research methods are crucial to this exploration, the virtual Methods Caf\u00e9 brings together a group of scholars experienced in a variety of interpretive research methods, ranging from interviews to participant observation. At the caf\u00e9, these scholars are available to anyone who wishes to discuss the area of study or method they specialize in.<\/p>\n

The caf\u00e9 is not a panel or roundtable session where presenters prepare formal presentations on their topics and speak in sequence. Instead, it is an informal, virtual setting\u2014\u201ca caf\u00e9\u201d with multiple spaces to meet and chat\u2014that allows for one-on-one and group discussions, networking and support. Here, cafe “visitors” will find online break-out rooms within the virtual caf\u00e9 space. Each break-out room is dedicated to a methodological topic (e.g., \u201cInterviewing\u201d), and run by \u201cspecialists\u201d in that research method. The caf\u00e9 will also include spaces with book publishers, journal editors, and representatives from funding agencies who are familiar with these methods. Topics and the names of the specialists are listed below and in the conference program. The Methods Caf\u00e9 chairs will be available during the event to help visitors find and join the different discussions.<\/p>\n

\u201cVisitors\u201d to the caf\u00e9 are invited to arrive at any point in the time block allotted, visit any break-out room they like, and stay as long as they like. A visitor might join a room and ask the specialist to talk about how s\/he uses the method on offer in that room. If a conversation is already under way, others can join in or just sit and listen. One need not worry about having questions that are \u201ctoo elementary\u201d\u2014it is fine to ask anything about that method, at any level!\u2014and visitors may leave a room at any time. Altogether, we encourage visitors to circulate among as many rooms and conversations as they wish, and we ask only they sign in at each table they visit\u2014our way of evaluating the demand for each topic.\u00a0This year we are excited to add new tables such as Indigenous Interpretive Methods and Intersectional approaches to gender and sexuality.<\/p>\n

Visitors at past caf\u00e9s have ranged from doctoral students to full professors. The range of questions is equally broad and might include:<\/p>\n