Qualitative research methods play an important role in empirical research practices in practically all humanities and social science disciplines. Qualitative methods are used in many fields and make important scientific contributions. The interest of, and demand from, students and researchers in a broad education in qualitative procedures is consequently very large indeed. At most universities, however, these methods are not well established, while dubious assumptions borne of either prejudice or misinformation limit their adoption by providers and clients of research services. This situation often appears to relate to the fact that representatives and supporters of qualitative methods tend to avoid coordination among themselves on qualitative methods theory and application. Moreover, neither the systematic structure nor the teaching of these methods is defined, and no consensus on quality standards exists for these research procedures. As a result, the development and sophisticated application of qualitative research methods in Switzerland lags behind the level of theorization and application in Englishlanguage countries and Germany.

It was in this context that the Swiss Social Science Policy Council launched an initiative to promote and strengthen qualitative social research in Switzerland. Several meetings were organized, at which representatives from different fields sought to identify a consensus on the minimum teaching requirements of qualitative methods at universities, as well as and a consensus on quality standards in qualitative research.

The present manifesto is the product of this process. It contains an outline of quality standards for most qualitatively-oriented research applications. It also incorporates suggestions for the systematic inclusion of qualitative methods into the humanities and social science curricula.

This publication has the following goals:

• Achieving parity between quantitative and qualitative procedures at the university-level;
• Providing basic information and quality criteria for stakeholders;
• describing commonalities between various disciplines, fields and applications;
• identifying the central elements of qualitative research; and
• outlining how qualitative methods may contribute to the unity of the humanities and social sciences.

The manifesto is meant for those with an interest in, or responsibility for, research, training, evaluation, or commissioning in association with qualitative methods at universities, research institutes, NGOs, GOs, public service institutions.

For the Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences (SAHS)
Markus Zürche, General Secretary