Art of Questioning in Analytic Qualitative Sociology

Dingxin Zhao

Date: April 16, 2025 

Time:  18:00 ‐19:30 

Venue: Room 301,

Sophia University Building 10

In person only / No registration required

Formulating research questions based on observed differences is a common approach in analytic qualitative sociology. This talk explores the advantages of this method in qualitative social science research, the pitfalls to avoid, and the challenges associated with this type of questioning. It will conclude with six criteria for formulating strong research questions in analytic qualitative social sciences. 

Dingxin Zhao is director of the Center for Advanced Studies in Humanities at Zhejiang University and Max Palevsky Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the University of Chicago. His research covers historical sociology, methodology, political sociology, social movements, social change and economic development. His current research project is on the epistemological and ontological aspects of social science methodologies. He is author of award-winning books The Power of Tiananmen (2001) and The Confucian-Legalist State (2015) in English, and several other books in Chinese including Social and Political Movement, Limits of Democracy, Politics of Legitimacy, What is Sociology, and Art of Asking Analytical Research Questions for Qualitative Sociology. His work also appears in journals such as American Journal of Sociology, American Sociological Review, American Behavioral Scientist, Social Forces, Mobilization, and Sociology. Additionally, he has authored numerous commentaries on current affairs in Chinese. 

This talk is organized by James Farrer (Professor, Sophia University).