reflection
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2_SQR_TenFundQualResearch.pptx
Fundamental #1: QR About Meaning Not Numbers
Turn 2 BOX 2.1: Comparing a qualitative and quantitative approach In Successful Qualitative Research
Contrasts two studies on the same topic – sexual risk – in same country – Sweden to demonstrate differences
Fundamental #2: QR Doesn’t Provide Singular Answer
Imagine you’ve broken up with your partner
Imagine yourself telling the story of your breakup to your best friend
Now imagine your partner the story of your breakup to their best friend
How might these story differ?
QR researchers recognize that the data analyses we produce are much like such stories – they are partial, and are SUBJECTIVE
Notice how the story of the breakup was influenced by the teller
Like the breakup story, a good QR analysis doesn’t need to be claiming the only or absolute truth, a good analysis just needs to be telling a compelling truth, be compatible, be coherent, and grounded in the data
Fundamental #3: QR Treats Context as Important
VS. Quantitative ideal of being able to obtain uncontaminated knowledge, with all biases removed.
Qualitative research recognizes biases exist and takes them into account
Subjectivity
The idea that what we see 👁 and understand 🧠 reflects our identities 👩🏼 👳🏽♀️ 👳🏿♂️ experiences 🚀 and contexts 🌍 🌎 🌏 🌐 we’ve existed in.
Fundamental #4: QR Can be Experiential or Critical
Experiential
Validates meanings, perspectives, and experiences expressed in the data
Participant interpretations prioritized and accepted
Research as way to “give voice” to rich tapestry of people’ lives
Critical
Doesn’t take data at face value
Analysts’ interpretations prioritized over participants’
Interrogative stance towards meanings expressed in data.
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Experiential Continued…
Thick Description –
Concept Developed by Clifford Geertz (1970’s), US Anthropologist
“Thick” description = “rich” description refers to QR which includes detailed description of context of Participant’s behavior
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC
Critical QR continued…
Constitutive view of language
Language creates rather than reflects reality
Talk creates realities which reflect socio-cultural understandings
e.g.,: Talk about food constructs food as healthy /unhealthy, good/bad, fattening/non-fattening, controlled/uncontrolled
Fundamental #5: QR Underpinned by Ontological Assumptions
Ontology determines whether or not we think reality exists entirely separate from human practices and understanding – including the research we conduct to find such things out – or whether we think it cannot be separated from human practices, and so knowledge is always going to reflect our perspective
Ontological Positions cont.
Realism
Reality as entirely independent of human ways of knowing about it
Assumes a knowable world, comprehensible through research
“Capital T” Truth –”Only one truth” accessible through appropriate research techniques
Akin to view through glass window: research verifiable
Relativism
Reality as entirely dependent on human interpretation and knowledge
Multiple truths, multiple realities
Truth not universal
What is real and true differs across time and context, so what we can know reflects knowledge generation
Captured by idea of prisoners looking at a view from prison cells
Ontological Positions cont.
CRITICAL REALISM
Claim some degree of authentic reality to produce research knowledge that will make a difference
For example, need to be able to claim that the heterosexism and biological normativity that some non-bio lesbian co-mothers experience is real to produce knowledge that might mean teachers diversify discussions of valid motherhood.
Akin to a view through a prism (prism is culture, history etc.) if you could get rid of the prism, you’d be able to see what lies behind it (truth) but you can never get beyond the prism
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Fundamental #6: QR Underpinned by Epistemological Assumption
Epistemology’s central concern ➡️ what counts as legitimate knowledge
Legitimate Knowledge is knowledge that is considered valid, trustworthy within a community.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY
Range of Epistemologies in Academe
| (Post) Positivism (Closely aligned with empiricism) | Contextualism | Constructionism |
| Singular “T” | Singular “T” | No one “T”, there are knowledges |
| Acknowledges researcher influence | But “T” is local, situated, contextual | Knowledges are ideological |
| Attempts to control, remove subjective influences on knowledge production as much as possible | Similar to critical realism | Critical stance toward perceived truths and taken- for - granted |
Fundamental #7: QR Involves Qualitative Methodology
Method =Tool or technique for collecting or analyzing data
e.g., interview = method of collecting data
e.g., thematic analysis = method of analyzing data
Methodology = theory of how research proceeds, including consideration of Methods, Participants, role of researcher, Ethics, etc. .
Fundamental #8: QR Uses all Sorts of Data
Just as empirical as quantitative research, meaning knowledge generation is based on data
QR uses naturalistic data (data that exists in the world, e.g., doctor-patient interactions); raw data (data in original form, e.g., audio recording prior to transcription) retains the messiness of real life
But naturalistic data not natural as in the natural world because QR researchers tend to generate their data (i.e., focus group)
So, what counts as data?
Data
Data comes into being through Production
Researcher generates the data (i.e., interviews participants)
Develop criteria for who will be participants, how we will generate data
Data comes into being through Selection
Choose from existing materials (e.g., media, blogs)
Develop criteria by which select collection of instances, how much data need
Not All Data Created Equal
Shallow Data:
Accesses surface of topic
Collects obvious stories about topic
Rich Data Preferred!
Reaches below surface
Gains deep understanding of topic
3 Ways to Generate:
Participant: Highly self-reflective
Interviewer: Prepares probing questions
Text: Articulates non-dominant meanings
Good Data = Data That Serves the Purpose of the Research
Allows researcher to answer research question. (RQ)
Must justify choice of data
Why produced/selected?
How produced/selected?
Why useful for answering RQ?
Fundamental #9: QR involves thinking qualitatively
Different cultures exist for different research paradigms and methodologies
Thinking qualitatively means (check all that apply):
Prove a theory
Test hypotheses
Determine relationships between factors
Understand meaning
Qual Methods Akin to Process of Patchwork Quilting
Data
Data
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Data
Data
Data
Data
Data
Quilt methods akin to the process of patchwork quilting. You start with lots of shape and material (Your data), you arrange the shapes of material/data in a particular pattern to tell a particular story. The patterned quilt you produce is like your analysis. Some quilted patterns will work. They will look coherent and well organized. Others won’t. They will look random, incoherent. But, all patterns are constrained by the same material/your data. The community agrees on what counts as good or bad quilting. Just like in qualitative research. Quilts deemed better win competitions and awards. Charistics of quality qualitative research are what we’ve talked about “Thick” description, rich data that goes beyond surface meanings and promotes deep understanding of the topic . Good data that answers your research question, whose choice is justified.
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Data
Data
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Fundamental #10: QR Values Subjectivity & Reflexivity
Remember subjectivity?
The idea that what we see 👁 and understand 🧠 reflects our identities 👩🏼 👳🏽♀️ 👳🏿♂️ experiences 🚀 and contexts 🌍 🌎 🌏 🌐 we’ve existed in.
”Hmm…How can I take my subjectivity into account?”
Reflexivity!!!
Reflexivity
Critical reflection on own’s one role as researcher, and one’s own relation to knowledge
Functional Reflexivity
How might the research tools and process influence the research?
For instance, How might break up stories told in these 3 contexts differ?
Focus Group
Diary Methods
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY
One-on-one individual Interview
There are two types of Reflexivity. In the first type, Functional Reflexivity, the researcher gives critical attention to the way the research tools and processes might have influenced the research. Diary methods of data collection, for instance, invoke a mode of data collection that is directed, yet somehow more private, intimate disclosure, where the researcher is less directly present, but does not allow the researcher to ask follow up questions.
An interview allow the researcher to ask follow up questions which is helpful but the stories might be less intimate because the researcher is directly present.
A successful focus group might provide a supportive, open communicative environment where participants feel comfortable discussing sensitive, face-threatening topics, like break ups. Intimate disclosures by one participant might foster others to open up and disclose their experiences and perspectives. Focus groups, however, are also subject to negative group dynamics, like other groups. Some comments might silence other participant perspectives .
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Personal Reflexivity
Making the researcher visible in the research process
Considering how factors can influence the production of knowledge within research. Factors such as:
embodiment (physical bodies and what we do with them)
assumptions (e.g., heterosexism (assumption everyone is heterosexual)
Research Journal
Regular reporting and reflecting on the progress and process of your research
Tells the “Back story” of your research –”backstage” (Gottman)
Aim? Promote your Functional & Personal Reflexivity
3 Types of Research Journal Entries
Field Notes: Notes written very soon after (or during) data collection, recording commentary about, and reflection on the data collection session as well as ideas for analysis.
Analytic Insights that occur during data collection: See Box 3.8, p. 72 in SQR for example
Emotional Aspects of research process Journal place to reflect on, deal with, and learn from joys, frustrations, anxieties, and unknowns of research project.
Reflexive Research is ….
Choose all that apply:
Acknowledges the role of the researcher in the production of knowledge
Researcher reflects on how their various positionings might have shaped the collection of their data
Researcher reflects on how their various positioning might have shaped their analysis of the data
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Your Turn …. Research Journal Entry #1: Reflexivity Exercise: Research Topic: College Hookup Culture
Functional Reflexivity
Personal Reflexivity
Intersecting Social Positionings
“Invisible” Factors
Dyadic Exercise
Whole Group Debriefing
Functional Reflexivity
Consider: How might the research tools and process influence research on college hookup culture? For instance, how might the stories college students tell about hookup culture be influenced by the method of study? How might data collected via FGs, individual interviews or researcher-directed diaries be different? How might the comments and bodies of other college students in the face-to-face interaction of a focus group impact what any one participant might share? What might a participant share about college hookup cultuere in a researcher-directed diary they might withhold in a FG on the same topic?
Record your thoughts
Personal Reflexivity: Intersecting Social Positionings
Consider where you occupy positions of social privilege. In high consumption Westernized countries, this is typically: male, non-trans/cisgendered, straight/heterosexual, middle class, rich, White, culturally Christian, non-disabled, younger, non-migrant.
Also consider where you occupy positions of social marginality. Typically: female, transgendered/nonbinary, asexual/pansexual/queer/gay/lesbian/bisexual, working class, poor, Indigenous, Black or person of color, disabled/neurodivergent, elderly, culturally or religiously Jewish, Muslin or Atheist, migrant.
Also consider your personal background and life experiences (grew up in rural, urban, suburban context; had a steady romantic partner all through HS; just came out last year, developed chronic illness within last year)
List 10 responses in relation to a, b, and c.
How might a, b, and c shape how you engage in research and work with data related to college hookup culture?
Personal Reflexivity: “Invisible” Factors
Now, think about assumptions you have about life or the topic of the research (e.g., college hookup culture). These might not be overt, but might be implicit, meaning while others might not be able to see these, they might shape your project in certain ways (e.g., believing hookup culture is a myth; believing hookup culture is empowering; identifying as a feminist).
Identify at least five invisible factors.
Answer: How what are invisible assumptions you hold (e.g., about life in general, college, hooking up) that might shape how you engage in research and work with data related to college hookup culture?
Dyadic Exercise
Step One
Pair up with someone in class you do not know well. Take turns chatting about what you do on weekends at DU.
Dyadic Exercise
Step Two
Thinking about the person you just talked with, independently list five to ten assumptions you might make about them, which might affect how you would respond to them if you were a research participant.
Dyadic Exercise
Step Three
Now, come back together with your partner.
Compare notes.
Discuss:
Are their own reflexive observations and assumptions about them similar?
Is there any overlap?
Did you make any internal assumptions or were they all external?
Discuss how these factors may or may not influence qualitative research on college hookup culture.
