Each fall, the CSBS hosts a methods workshop to support faculty in continually developing their methodological toolkits. On September 27th, the CSBS is hosting Dr. Sarah J. Tracy, as she presents, “Crafting Qualitative Evidence for Impact: Insider Methods for Qualitative Data Analysis, Claim-Making, and Quality”. Learn more and register on our event page.
Dr. Sarah J. Tracy (Ph.D., University of Colorado, 2000) is School Director and Professor of organizational communication and qualitative methodology of The Hugh Downs School of Human Communication at Arizona State University. Professor Tracy’s scholarly work examines emotion, communication, and identity in the workplace with focus on emotional labor, compassion, bullying, and organizational flourishing. She is an interdisciplinary leader in qualitative research methods—including participant observation, interviewing, focus groups, organizational training/intervention, document analysis and discourse analysis.
What is your “origin story?” What led you to your career as a professor of organizational communication and qualitative methodology? The journey to becoming a professor of organizational communication and qualitative methodology began when I decided to leave a toxic work environment, working long hours in a public relations agency that was supposed to focus on socially responsible businesses. The reality, however, involved unethical practices, forced cheerfulness, and overwhelming burnout. Realizing this wasn’t the path I wanted, I decided to pursue graduate studies at the University of Colorado-Boulder and focus on helping organizations become better places to work. My coursework, including classes on organizational ethics and emotion in communication, guided my research trajectory. I studied topics such as organizational burnout, emotional labor, and ethics in public relations, leading me to investigate how communication shapes workplace experiences. My research evolved to focus not only on diagnosing problems like burnout and bullying but also on fostering positive workplace conditions, and on understanding how emotions influence organizational life. (You can read more about Sarah’s journey here.)
Tell us about one of the most interesting qualitative research projects you’ve ever worked on? One of the most interesting qualitative research projects I worked on involved spending over seven months on the “Radiant Sun” cruise ship. During that time, I danced the Macarena, chit-chatted, called bingo, told jokes, and mostly kept a smile plastered on my face. I took notes and conducted interviews with the idea of analyzing the emotional labor on the ship when I returned to graduate school. Upon returning, I critically analyzed the emotional control in the closed and surveilled environment of the cruise ship. This experience provided rich insights into how workers communicatively manage their emotions while performing under constant surveillance and maintaining a cheerful facade in such a controlled environment.
What exciting developments do you see on the horizon for qualitative research? I think we’ll see a lot of development in artistic approaches, the use of AI, and increasing challenges with “imposter participation.” Fewer researchers feel adept at fieldwork given the pandemic and so much screen-time, but fieldwork is essential for understanding human interaction.
In your free time, what are your favorite hobbies/activities? Cuddling my rescue pup and kitten, crew rowing, yoga, and traveling with my husband.
For more information, please see Dr. Tracy’s ASU profile, blog, and YouTube channel.