June 2026
The 2026 AERA Virtual Research Learning Series continues with two upcoming courses today, June 24, and July 13. The series includes four professional development and training courses designed to strengthen research skills and expand research capacity. The first two courses were held on June 10 and June 17; recordings will be available in the Virtual Research Learning Center.
Developing Theory Through Qualitative Inquiry Today, June 24 | 1:00–5:00 p.m. ET Led by Johnny Saldaña (Arizona State University)
Taking place today, this course provides focused guidance for developing theory by reviewing a qualitatively derived theoretical statement’s six elements: concepts, propositional logic, parameters and/or variation, causation, generalization and/or transferability, and the improvement of social life.
After a review of foundation principles in theory and theorizing, participants will explore skill-building activities in each of the six elements, followed by synthesis and visual modeling exercises, and recommended criteria for evaluating theoretical statements.
Using the Interview Quality Reflection Tool (IQRT) to Hone the Craft of Interviewing July 13 | 1:00–5:00 p.m. ET Led by James L. Huff (University of Georgia), Jerrod Henderson (University of Houston), and Sindia M. Rivera-Jiménez (University of Florida)
In this course, attendees will be trained to evaluate the quality of their semi-structured or unstructured interviews using a novel process-based mechanism, the Interview Quality Reflection Tool (IQRT). This tool enables interviewers to reflect on how they can adaptively respond in interview settings, beyond the prescribed text of a protocol.
Following a brief presentation, this course will use two learning activities to foster experiential immersion coupled with individual and group reflection, which includes a mock-interview experience and reflective analysis.
Early registration is encouraged. Full course descriptions are available on the AERA website. Questions may be directed to profdevel@aera.net.