Research - 9 Discussion

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

METHODOLOGIES

Qualitative Research Chapter Nine

Qualitative Research

 There are several different approaches to qualitative research

 The researcher is the instrument

 There are multiple perspectives, with each having equal validity, or truth

 Is found in many academic disciplines

 Many researchers believe that all inquiry starts out in qualitative form

 Questions at the beginning tend to be open-ended

 Requires considerable preparation and planning

When to Choose a Qualitative

Approach

Qualitative research studies typically serve one or more

or the following functions:

 Description

 Interpretation

 Verification

 Evaluation

Generally, qualitative studies do not allow the researcher

to identify cause-and-effect relationships.

Five Common Research Designs

 Case Study

 Ethnography

 Phenomenological Study

 Grounded Theory

 Content Analysis

Case Study

 In a case study (sometimes called idiographic

research) a particular individual, program, or event

is studied in depth for a defined period of time.

 Can focus on an individual case, or two or more

cases (multiple case study)

 A single case study cannot result in generalizing to

other situations

 See text pages 141-142 for study details

Ethnography

 An ethnography looks in depth at an entire group (usually one that shares a common culture)

 The group is studied in its natural setting for a lengthy time period

 The focus is on everyday behaviors or people in the group

 The researcher identifies explicit and implicit patterns

 Useful for gaining an understanding of the complexities of a particular group

 See Text pages 142-144 for study details

Phenomenological Study

 Refers to a person’s perception of the meaning of an event

 Attempts to understand people’s perceptions, perspectives, and understandings of a particular situation

 By looking at multiple perspectives on the same situation, the researcher can then make some generalizations of what something is like from an insider’s perspective

 See Text pages 145-146 for study details

Grounded Theory Study

 The grounded theory study is the one (study) least

likely to begin with a theoretical framework

 The major purpose is to begin with the data and use

them to develop a theory

 Typically the focus is on a process related to a

particular topic

 This approach has its roots in sociology but is used

in other fields

 See Text pages 256-257 for study details

Content Analysis

 This is a detailed and systematic examination of the

contents of a particular body of material for the

purpose of identifying patterns, themes, or biases

 Usually performed on forms of communication

 This approach requires the greatest amount of

planning at the front end of the project

 These are not necessarily stand-alone designs

 See Text pages 257-258 for study details

Data Collection

Qualitative

studies are

characterized

by an

emerging

design

 Sampling

 Observations

 Interviews

Sampling

 Draw data from many sources

 The particular entities (of data) selected for analysis comprise the sample, and the process of selecting them is called sampling

 The sample chosen is dependent on the questions to be answered

 Random selection

 Theoretical sampling

 The sample should provide information not only about how things are on average but also about how much variability exists in the phenomenon under investigation

Observations

 May make observations either as a relative outsider or, especially in the case of an ethnography, as a participant observer

 Observations are intentionally unstructured and free- flowing

 Flexible

 Sometimes difficult to know what to look for

 Drawback – the presence of an observer may influence people

 It is essential that the actual observations are not confused with the interpretations of them

Interviews

 Questions can be asked about: facts, beliefs and

perspectives, feelings, motives, present and past

behaviors, standards for behavior, and conscious

reasons for actions or feelings

 May be open-ended or semi-structured

 May be individual or focus groups

Organizing and Analyzing Data

No single

correct way to

analyze data

 Data analysis spiral (text page 297-298)  Raw data

 Organization

 Perusal

 Classification

 Synthesis

 Final Report

Criteria for Evaluating Qualitative

Research

A variety of

standards are

used

 Purposefulness

 Explicitness of assumptions and biases

 Rigor

 Open-mindedness

 Completeness

 Coherence

 Persuasiveness

 Consensus

 Usefulness