In this immersive, quarter-long activity embedded in an existing course, RSCH 715: Qualitative Research Methods II, students will collaboratively conduct a qualitative descriptive study exploring how older adults (age 65+) living in Philadelphia perceive climate change, including their lived experiences, concerns, coping strategies, and hopes for the future. Using semi-structured interviews and conventional content analysis, students will engage in the full arc of qualitative research - recruitment, data collection, analysis, and scholarly writing, with the goal of producing a conference abstract and possible collaboration on a future manuscript.
This project supports the course learning objectives for RSCH 715 (Qualitative Research Methods II) by enabling students to:
Apply a qualitative descriptive approach aligned with health sciences research.
Develop and refine interview techniques through active data collection.
Code and analyze data using both manual techniques and qualitative software.
Practice collaborative research writing, including methods and findings.
Engage with ethical issues in qualitative interviewing and representation.
Contribute to actionable scholarship on aging, climate, and health justice.
Personal experiences with weather/climate change in Philadelphia
Concerns about heat, flooding, or air quality
Strategies for coping (e.g., cooling, accessing help)
Intergenerational perspectives: what do younger people need to understand?
Views on government, healthcare, and community action
Upon successful completion of RSCH 715: Qualitative Research Methods II, students will be able to:
Design and implement a qualitative descriptive study rooted in a real-world health and social issue, demonstrating the application of theoretical knowledge to practice.
Develop and refine qualitative data collection skills, including participant recruitment, informed consent, and conducting semi-structured interviews with diverse older adult populations.
Conduct conventional content analysis using standard manual techniques and qualitative data analysis software, collaboratively developing codebooks, coding transcripts, and identifying key themes.
Produce a methodologically sound and ethically rigorous qualitative research report, suitable for a conference presentation, and possible future manuscript.
Demonstrate advanced scholarly writing skills, including articulating philosophical and methodological underpinnings, clearly presenting findings, and engaging with the literature on aging, climate, and health equity.
Critically appraise and engage with published qualitative research in the health and social sciences, using that engagement to guide their own scholarly development.
Reflect on their positionality and ethical responsibilities as qualitative researchers working in community-based settings with historically marginalized populations.
Collaborate across disciplinary perspectives, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and skill-sharing within the qualitative research process.
These outcomes support students in building a strong foundation for independent qualitative inquiry and future scholarly dissemination.