THE STATUS OF INSTRUCTION IN QUALITATIVE COMMUNICATION-RESEARCH METHODS

While qualitative methods show a respected presence within communicati on scholarship questions remain about whether these methods have infus ed communication education. This national survey assesses whether and hotel qualitative methods are being taught in graduate and undergradua te communication curricula. Results demonstrate general agreement abou t the units, specific topics, and activities that should be covered in the course. However, while instruction at the graduate level is fairl y healthy, instruction at the undergraduate level receives less attent ion than instruction in either quantitative methods or rhetorical crit icism. Moreover, respondents do not expect overall instruction in qual itative methods to increase. The essay concludes by challenging educat ors to respect and promote all three methodologies ill communication p edagogy.