Playful Strategies to Engage STEM Students in Qualitative Research Methods

Faced with the unique challenge of teaching qualitative research methods to quantitatively minded STEM students, the authors use a range of playful pedagogy techniques to help students understand the value of qualitative information, as well as develop skills and strategies to employ these tools outside the classroom successfully. A core component of this is helping students make connections between the adaptability of the qualitative skills they are learning in class and how they will help students as they enter the workforce. Employers value twenty-first-century skills such as teamwork, communication, leadership, critical thinking, creativity, adaptability, and the ability to understand the many facets of a problem—social, humanistic, political, and ethical alongside the technical. Finding connections between students’ past, present, and future experiences and the role of qualitative data already present in their lives helps STEM students bridge the gap between quantitative and qualitative data. This chapter will discuss playful strategies used to help STEM students develop an appreciation and healthy respect for the power of qualitative data and enhance their teamwork, communication, and leadership skills. The playful pedagogies discussed include role play, humor, awkward conversations, and even M&M’s!