This course focuses on the importance of inter-personal relationship skills in planning practice. The emphasis is on developing and refining such skills to facilitate interviewing techniques for successful qualitative research, dealing with people empathically and sensitively, team building, community consultations and conflict resolution. Basic instruction is given in interviewing technique, its use in different qualitative research situations, community consultation, mediation and related planning techniques. Students undertake a variety of class exercises to develop their skills. A major qualitative research project involves in-depth interviewing, transcription preparation, data analysis, and reporting of findings. Students have the opportunity to reflect on and share experiences. Assessment is based on participation in class discussions and exercises, a major research project and reading set texts.