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The Major Components of Qualitative Research
By
Stacey R. Ferrell
A comprehensive exam response submitted in partial
fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Science in Psychology
Purdue University Global
4/26/2022
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Major Components of Qualitative Research
Qualitative research is often used in the field of psychology for a variety of reasons.
With qualitative research, the observation is focused on the response instead of a number. When
a researcher chooses qualitative research, they can focus on the feeling of the individual who is
participating in the research. When focusing on the individual(s), the responses become more
personal. Having the ability to relate with the participant provides the researcher with a deeper
understanding of the study while it is being conducted. As a psychological professional, it is
important to understand the importance of qualitative research as well as how to conduct it
properly, because there may come a time when a subject will be introduced that needs a clearer
understanding. When that subject does present itself, the professional will understand the
processes needed to develop a research plan. When the research plan is put into place, the
researcher will be able to conduct the study, analyze the data, and present it when necessary.
Major Components
Preparing to conduct a qualitative research study involves following certain components.
By following these components, it allows for the research to be conducted in an orderly fashion,
which keeps the researcher in line with what it is that is being researched. First, the researcher
should gather their theories about the study. What is it that they are hoping to establish by
conducting this research? When there is an understanding of what is attempting to be discovered,
the researcher will be able to stay focused on certain information rather than going in different
directions. If there is no clear line of information that is being sought after, there is a chance that
the information will not be collected properly.
Second, the researcher should consider the concept of the research. When viewing the
concepts of qualitative research, the researcher is focusing on credibility, transmissibility,
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dependability, and confirmability (Tenny, et al., 2021). These four concepts are important
because it helps the researcher to develop a clear plan on how to conduct the research. Finding a
topic that will produce credible data is essential because if the information found is not credible,
the readers will not want to immerse themselves in the details of the research. Transmissibility is
how the information will be transmitted to the reader. Will it be effective or provide an obvious
reason as to why the research was conducted? Dependability is essential in the qualitative
research study because the readers will want to know that the information that is provided is
dependable and that it was found in a way as to provide adequate data. Finally, confirmability is
when the data found in the study could be interpreted by another researcher that was not involved
in the original study (Chung, et al., 2020). When the data found in a research study can be easily
followed by a different researcher, this shows that the transmission of participants’ information
was accurately documented.
Third, the construct of the proposed research study focuses on the topic of the research
that is going to be conducted. It is essential to focus on the topic so that the reason for the study
is completed properly. During the planning of the research study, questions will need to be
prepared for the participants. These questions need to focus on what the researcher is attempting
to prove. Is there a need for this information to be gathered? Why is the research being
conducted? These are important questions to consider as the researcher is preparing questions to
ask the participants. The researcher would not want to ask questions and obtain information that
is not imperative to the study. Doing this would only provide a waste of time for both the
researcher and the participants.
The fourth component that is important when developing the research study is any
problems that may be encountered when developing the study. The researcher should use this
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section as a claim that can potentially outline any concern that may be addressed during the study
being conducted. This section will also describe what is known about the topic being covered.
Also, this section could provide an area to explain what benefit there would be to additional
research being conducted on the same topic. This additional research may be able to provide a
further explanation of the information that is found.
Finally, a hypothesis needs to be established when conducting a research study. A
hypothesis is a question that focuses on what is being researched. According to Tully (2014), a
hypothesis is a basic question that focuses on if a phenomenon exists on the topic being covered.
Developing an effective hypothesis can be challenging. To develop a strong hypothesis, the
researcher should supply supporting evidence in the question. This also creates a baseline of
information that will be covered within the research proposal.
Problem Statement
In an article written by Teti, Schatz, & Liebenberg (2020), they are focusing on the
COVID-19 pandemic and how individuals manage social responses to the pandemic. An
effective problem statement should include what is known about the topic, what should be
known, and why should it be known. For example, COVID-19 has been the cause of disease,
loss, and destruction around the world, numerous individuals have been affected by the
pandemic in a variety of ways; what is not known is how this pandemic has affected people
across different cultures or how they handled the pandemic differently than others from the
beginning; this information is important to know because if it is known how the pandemic can
affect different ethnicities, it could help provide a baseline for handling the next pandemic that
comes along. When developing a problem statement, it is important to focus on the epidemiology
of the concern being addressed (Leach, et al., 2020). Developing a problem statement should
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have the researcher focusing on different populations of people that were affected by the
pandemic, the medical response that was provided, and any unexpected areas of consequence.
Focus on how things occur, why they occur, and how to avoid them (Teti, et al., 2020). Develop
a problem statement that could be used during research that will be conducted in interviews,
group meetings, and observation (Teti, et al., 2020).
Research Questions
When using this article as a baseline for a possible research design, purposing research
questions can focus on different areas. For example, consider the following questions: When the
beginning of the pandemic was first announced by the World Health Organization (WHO), what
were your initial thoughts? What about the pandemic was the most concerning part to you and
your family? Was there a part of the pandemic that was more bothersome to you than another?
Basing the questions on ethnographic questions will allow for a systematic approach to this topic
and any other systems that may have been used (Bordens & Abbott, 2014).
Setting
Considering the research being conducted is for qualitative reasons, meeting with
individuals alone would not provide enough information to analyze their responses. Finding a
local support group for individuals who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic would
be the most beneficial. Qualitative research allows the researcher the ability to perform research
in a variety of ways that will produce enough information to support the hypothesis. The most
effective way to produce these results is to perform an ethnographic research study.
Ethnographic research uses interviews, field notes, and textual analysis of information (Webster
& Rice, 2019). As the researcher, it is important to become a part of the group in that you are
conducting the research. Practicing in the group sessions with the participants will allow them
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the ability to become better connected to the researcher. This makes the individuals feel more
comfortable knowing that they will not be judged for their answers.
Population
As stated previously, the individuals that would be interviewed are individuals who have
been affected by the pandemic. These could be individuals who have received a positive
diagnosis, have lost a loved one to the virus, or who know someone who has lost a loved one to
the virus. While these are not the only individuals who would be sitting in on the group sessions,
they would help gain information. There may also be those who have lost their jobs during the
pandemic, become homeless during the pandemic, or have developed a mental health disorder
from the effects of the pandemic. There will be males and females of varied ages. Since the focus
will be on situations that will more than likely affect adults, the population will be adults over the
age of eighteen.
Sampling Strategy
When developing a sampling strategy, it is important to choose the most beneficial
sampling strategy that will work for the research being conducted. There are several types of
strategies to choose from, simple random sampling, stratified sampling, proportionate sampling,
systematic sampling, and cluster sampling (Bordens & Abbott, 2014). For this study, since the
attempt is to determine if there is a difference in the effectiveness of the COVID-19 pandemic
based on ethnic backgrounds, using stratified sampling would be most effective. This would
allow for a breakdown of the population into groups that are reflective of their cultural
background (Bordens & Abbott, 2014). This group would be broken into study groups of white,
African American, Hispanic, and Asian. These are reflective of the most popular ethnic groups in
Delaware. This would allow for adequate details and information to be gathered and studied.
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During this research study, speaking with individuals from unfamiliar cultures will provide the
opportunity to reflect on how responses to the pandemic may have been different between the
cultures. The sample effectiveness will be comparable to the different ethnicities that are
represented in the group sessions. Focusing on all ethnic backgrounds shows the interest in
knowing how not all individuals managed this pandemic in the same manner.
Defense of Choices
Covid-19 is a pandemic of the ages. It is not only a virus, but also a pandemic that has
affected the job industry, the food industry, the transportation industry, and the health care
industry. The pandemic not only saw enormous amounts of individuals receiving a diagnosis but
there were numerous deaths caused because of this illness. By conducting this type of research
study, it will provide a deeper insight into how this pandemic is not just a one culture pandemic.
There was no cultural divide between those who were affected and those who have not been.
While there are case counts that are maintained by public health departments nationwide, they
are not reflective of all the ethnic groups that make up those states’ populations. By sitting in a
group therapy session for those who have been affected, this information could be provided to
state health departments. There is also the possibility that with gaining this information, once it is
verified and reviewed, and sharing it with the appropriate state official, there could be a better
plan developed to find a more effective return to normalcy plan.
Structured Interviews
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In qualitative research, three types of interviews are conducted during the research phase.
Standardized, semi-standardized, and non-standardized are the interview types that researchers
use when conducting qualitative analysis. Standardized interviews are effective when only one
question is going to be asked of the participants. Semi-standardized interviews have more than
one question that is going to be asked, but not too many. This method also allows for random
questions to be asked if a situation were to arise where additional information is required or
suggested. Non-standardized interviews are conducted with no preplanned questions going into
the interview. This will allow random questions to be asked during the interview phase, to
potentially gain information that may provide a deeper insight into the research being conducted.
There are other relative factors in developing an interview that is important to consider as well.
The researcher needs to have a methodology that explains the approach to the study as well as
justification as to why research is being conducted (Austin & Sutton, 2014).
For this research study, choosing the semi-standardized interview method is the most
appropriate. This will allow for information to be obtained about questions that are deemed
important during the interview. Although there are planned questions, there is the possibility that
additional information will be discussed, allowing the research to establish additional questions.
This interview type will also make it easier for results to be divided into the different ethnic
backgrounds that are present in the group session. With the purpose of the study to represent all
ethnic backgrounds, the semi-standardized interview will allow for questions to be asked based
on diverse cultures. The research is not complete once the planned questions have been asked,
meaning that there is an opportunity for additional questions to be asked if the situation were to
arise. Most importantly, this allows for all data to be considered open-ended, explores all
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thoughts and feelings, and focuses on the individual’s beliefs about the specific topic
(DeJonckhee & Vaughn, 2019).
Ethnographic Field Research
Preparing to do ethnographic research puts the researcher into the setting of the
individuals who will be participating in the study. The first step in conducting an ethnographic
research study is for the researcher to make themselves a part of the group and let them become
familiar with the situation (Bordens & Abbott, 2014). When the researcher becomes part of the
group, this is showing them that there is no judgment being placed on them. For this study, being
a non-participant would be most beneficial. Observing the counseling sessions will allow for
more effective notetaking to occur. If participation were to be involved, this could potentially
cause a biased opinion to be formed because others could retract to thoughts or feelings about
how one is feeling. Next, finding a group therapy session that is occurring is important. Speaking
with the facilitator of the session and obtaining permission to sit in on the group’s session would
allow for a non-participant study to be conducted (Bordens & Abbott, 2014). It is important also
to enter the group that is being studied (Bordens & Abbott, 2014). This can be done by
introducing oneself to the group and being upfront with them about why the research is being
conducted and why their input is important. Once access is gained, this will make it easier for the
researcher to obtain the information that is being sought after. Although the researcher has
gained access, it is important to remain in the background during sessions. By remaining in the
background, the data can be obtained and recorded so that it is ready to be analyzed once the
group sessions are completed.
The pros of conducting research invisibly are that more time is allowed to listen. This
also allows the researcher the ability to accurately document what is being said. It also keeps the
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focus on what is occurring within the group. Researchers who conduct invisible research are also
prevented from being involved in a potentially biased situation.
With pros, there are also cons. A con of researching while remaining invisible would be
that there is the chance, that they will be asked to participate in the group discussion. One may
also find themselves involved in a situation where the information being discussed causes an
emotional backlash between participant and researcher.
Any research that is conducted faces the chance of backlash from the participants. They
may become upset when answering questions, especially if they have lost a loved one during this
pandemic. The participants may also become angry if therapy sessions are not beneficial to them.
When individuals are seeking treatment, they are often looking for answers to their problems.
They want them instantaneously and can become upset when this does not occur. As professional
conducting research, it is important to sit back and listen to what the individuals are saying.
Taking notes and recording responses will be most beneficial because it will allow a deeper
insight into their concerns. Taking adequate notes is essential when the goal is to gather
participants’ feelings. Taking a recorder into the session and recording scheduled interviews is
the most productive way to take notes. This will keep the attention on the participant rather than
on a notebook while attempting to gather every word that is being spoken. This will also allow
the researcher to pay attention to the participant’s body language, to see how they are responding
to the information that is being provided to them.
Disengaging oneself from the group setting should be done in a way as to not upset the
participants. Once the information has been obtained, developing a conclusion is the top priority.
Make note of what was found, this is the information that was discussed in the interview
sessions. Include how the information was obtained, leaving out no parts of any data that is used.
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Also, put into one’s own words how a conclusion has been met. Include the information that is
essential to conclude the hypothesis. Also, including a complete summary is important. Describe
if the results found were expected. Also, developing a report of the information will be helpful
when presenting the research data.
Analyzing Data
Analyzing the data from research that is obtained is essential when presenting the study
to the board. To analyze the data properly, the researcher should prepare a transcript of the
collected data (Busetto, et al., 2020). When preparing to present the research, the transcript
should be written word by word so that the information is clear to those who are reading it
(Busetto, et al., 2020). The information that will be gathered will be from the questions that are
being asked of the participants. The data should be in a formation that categorizes the most
popular response first down to the least popular (Busetto, et al., 2020). This information should
be recorded in a way that makes it easy to understand.
Three Major Approaches
There are three major approaches to qualitative data analysis. Conventional, directed, and
summative are those approaches. These are used to determine how the data will be approached
when finalizing the obtained data. For this study, the approach that would be used is the
summative approach. Using this approach is beneficial to this study because it will allow for
more information to be provided. Summarizing several distinct aspects of the obtained
information will allow for a deeper understanding of where the participant’s concerns are
regarding the pandemic. The common answers will be able to be counted and graphed in a way
that makes the information easily interpreted.
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When conducting qualitative research, the researcher will have to code the data that is
obtained from the participants. When creating codes for this information, four guidelines need to
be followed. First, it is important to have a clear idea of the study’s goals (Bordens & Abbott,
2014). The second is a complete definition of the hypothesis (Bordens & Abbott, 2014). Third, it
is important to keep categories simple, and fourth, to focus on the objectives of the research
(Bordens & Abbott, 2014). Following these goals will keep the research legible and in proper
order.
For this specific research study, the goal is to obtain information about how people
reacted to the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Keeping questions in mind that need to be
answered by the data will help to ensure the focus is not lost. How many people were severely
affected by the pandemic? How many people were slightly affected? How many people were not
affected at all? These questions will be able to be answered with the data that is obtained during
the group counseling sessions and recordings. The coding frames will be kept in mind when
considering the questions to be asked. The coding frames are when verbal data were converted
into numerical data.
Ethical Considerations
As with any type of research, there is a need for ethics to be always followed. Taking into
consideration the type of research that is conducted, there are ethical concerns that do arise. The
individual responses should be always considered because it is their information that is being
assessed. The participant’s emotional well-being is also important to consider because if they are
not emotionally stable, there is an increased chance that this could put them into depression, or
worse. Since the group setting includes individuals of distinct cultural backgrounds, it is
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important to be mindful of how they may oversee situations and healthcare differently than other
participants.
When preparing to conduct research, it is important to gather informed consent from all
participants. Informing the participants of the purpose, time frame, and how the data will be
obtained is the most important part of informed consent (American Psychological Association,
2017). While obtaining informed consent, the researcher should advise all participants of the
ability to withdraw at any time during the study (APA, 2017). If any participant decides to leave
the study, they should know that there are no negative repercussions that will be held against
them (APA, 2017). Due to the nature of the research questions that will be answered, it is
important to inform the participant that there is the possibility of emotional trauma occurring
with the questions being asked (APA, 2017). If there was going to be an incentive provided to
the participants, this should also be provided to them during the informed consent being
obtained. Also, if there will be a benefit to the participant, the researcher is responsible for
providing this information to the participant (APA, 2017). The last step that is as equally
important, is to always provide contact information to the participants who will be participating
in the research study.
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), guideline 4.01
Maintaining Confidentiality states that the psychological professional is required to protect any
confidential information that is obtained (2017). Keeping the participant’s information protected
is important so that none of their personal information is obtained and used against them. In this
research study, the need for anonymity is something that the individuals may request because of
the hurt that is being caused by the pandemic for which they are seeking treatment. As stated
previously, this study will be conducted in a group setting, so recording the interviews would be
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the most beneficial. When recording sessions, the professional must obtain informed consent
from every participant who will conduct the interview (APA, 2017). This consent will be
obtained before beginning any study or asking any questions of the individual (APA, 2017).
When conducting a research study, once information has been collected, it must be brought up in
front of the Institutional Review Board (IRB), which is required to ensure there is the protection
of the individuals who participate in the study (Balon, et al., 2019). Even though the IRB is a
group of representatives from the college review board, maintaining participant confidentiality is
important. When there is a possibility that a participant’s identity could be exposed during the
IRB review, this could negatively count against the researcher.
This research study is based on differences in habits and reactions from individuals from
different ethical backgrounds. At the beginning of the group session, the psychological
professional needs to state the reason for the research and inform all participants that there will
be no discrimination based on cultural backgrounds. As a psychological professional, cultural
differences do not matter when participants are from different ethical backgrounds. Cultural
diversity is around the world in various forms and could potentially cause a research study to fail
if the participants and the professional cannot put their differences behind. As a professional, all
opinions matter, especially when there is a possibility for new treatment options to be formed
from the information that is gathered.
Conclusion
Preparing for a research study is time-consuming and requires diligence. There are
consent forms that need to be created, questions that need to be considered, and locating a place
for the research to be conducted. In this situation, the setting will be a group therapy session for
individuals who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The questions being asked will
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define how individuals from diverse cultures managed the stresses that have been caused by this
pandemic. The reason for the research is to gain insight as to how we all as human beings could
learn from each other to overcome obstacles that do not know the age, race, or sexual orientation.
By speaking with individuals from different ethical backgrounds, the cultural divide can be
withdrawn. This data could potentially provide a different outlook on treatments that could be
provided to treat individuals that have been affected one way or another by the pandemic. While
speaking with the participants will possibly be the easiest part of the study, the researcher must
also ensure that they are adhering to all ethical guidelines. This includes ensuring that all
participants are treated fairly, all data is kept confidential, and that there are no biased opinions
formed. Keeping the research focused on the original topic will ensure that all data that is
recorded will be beneficial to the study. That is why as a researcher, it is important to understand
what topic is being researched and ensure that participants will be able to feel comfortable with
the questions that are being answered.
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