Module 4 Qualitative Research

qualitative researcher

asks the questions collects the data makes interpretations records what is observed constantly tries to understand the people being observed from their viewpoints

Grounded Theory

emphasizes the use of inductive techniques to generate an explanation or theory of a given event

Objectives of Qualitative Research

exploration, discovery and understanding These objectives are often focused on individuals' subjective meanings and the insider perspective in cultural groups. This means that qualitative research is conducted in an open-ended way and does not impose prior theories or ways of thinking on the people or phenomena under study. qualitative studies have an inherent emergent design flexibility. Qualitative researchers rely on the exploratory or inductive mode of the scientific method, focusing on understanding just the particular, or starting with the particular and then cautiously moving toward an understanding of the general.

Theoretical frameworks= designs

qualitative research approach

Assumptions of Qualitative Research

reality is socially constructed

Methods triangulation

refers to the use of a mix of methods for organizing the study and collecting data with an objective of combining different methods that have non-overlapping weaknesses and strengths.

epistemology (theory of knowledge)

relativism individual/group justification varying standards social construction

Qualitative researchers

use a wide-angle and "deep-angle" lens, examining the breadth and depth of phenomena to learn anything and everything that might be important. understand people, groups, and settings in all of their complexity

Data triangulation

use of multiple forms of data to capture a single phenomenon. These data provide the opportunity for cross-checking or researcher interpretations

Triangulation

validation approach based on the search for convergence of results obtained by using multiple investigators, methods, data sources, and/or theoretical perspectives. This approach builds into the study and research process systematic cross-checking of information and conclusions through the use of multiple procedures or sources and therefore addresses the larger goal of study validity. As an outcome, "triangulation" is said to occur when your results converge on the same conclusion.

Research Focus

wide-angle and deep angle lens examining breadth and depth of phenomena not interested in generalizing beyond individuals/groups studied

qualitative sampling

criterion-based or purposive sampling

linguistic-relativity hypothesis.

For example, it has been suggested that the Inuit "see" many types of snow, whereas the average U.S. American probably only sees a few types of snow. Inuits' local languages might allow them to see distinctions that you do not notice.

poststructuralism

Historical intellectual movement that rejects universal truth and emphasizes differences, deconstruction, interpretation, and the power of ideas over people's behavior

View of Thought and Behavior

Personal social contextual/situational fluid unpredictable

Case Study

Purpose: Addressing research questions through in-depth analysis Disciplinary origin: Multi-disciplinary Data collection and Analysis: Multiple methods and data sources are used to answer specific questions about one or more cases. Research Report: Rich, holistic narrative that triangulates data and places the case into a meaningful context.

Ethnography

Purpose: Describing cultural characteristics of a group of people Disciplinary origin: Anthropology Data collection and Analysis: Extended fieldwork on participant or non-participant observations, interviews; documents analyzed during/after study to gain insider's perspective on people and interactions. Research Report: Extensive description of the physical and social settings aimed at holistic understanding.

Phenomenology

Purpose: Describing individual(s)' experience of phenomena Disciplinary origin: Philosophy Data collection and Analysis: Interview data are searched for significant statements that capture the essence of participants' perceptions and experiences. Research Report: Rich narrative allowing readers to vicariously experience the phenomenon through the eyes of the participants.

Narrative Inquiry

Purpose: Describing people's lives/stories to add to our understanding Disciplinary origin: Human storytelling & education Data collection and Analysis: Multiple conversations with a participant and inquiry into related artifacts and documents are used to gain understanding and retell stories of experience. Research Report: Narrative account including patterns, connections, and insights uncovered and carefully synthesized

naturalistic inquiry

Qualitative researchers study the phenomena as they naturally occur, without manipulating conditions. Studying real-world situations as they unfold naturally in a non-manipulative and non-controlling way (without predetermined constraints on findings) product of qualitative research is a narrative research report

Context sensitivity

Researcher places findings in a social, historical, and temporal context and is careful about, even dubious of, the possibility or meaningfulness of generalizations across time and space. Emphasizes instead careful comparative case analyses and extrapolating patterns for possible transferability to and adaptation in new settings.

Inductive analysis and creative synthesis

Researcher seeks immersion in the details and specifics of the data to discover important patterns, themes, and interrelationships. Begins by exploring, then confirming; is guided by analytical principles rather than rules. Study ends with a creative synthesis.

Data Analysis characteristic Unique case orientation

The researcher assumes that each case is special and unique. The first level of analysis is being true to, respecting, and capturing the details of the individual cases being studied; cross-case analysis follows from—and depends on—the quality of individual case studies.

Voice, perspective, and reflexivity

The qualitative analyst owns and is reflective about her or his own voice and perspective; a credible voice conveys authenticity and trustworthiness. Complete objectivity being impossible and pure subjectivity undermining credibility, the researcher's focus is on balance—understanding and depicting the world authentically in all its complexity while being self-analytical, politically aware, and reflexive in consciousness.

empathetic understanding

The qualitative researcher constantly tries to understand the people he or she is observing from the participants' or natives' or actors' viewpoints.

Holistic perspective

The whole phenomenon under study is understood as a complex system that is more than the sum of its parts. The focus is on complex interdependencies and system dynamics that cannot meaningfully be reduced to a few discrete variables and linear, cause-effect relationships.

Qualitative Research Strengths

data collected naturalistic setting useful for describing complex phenomena cross-case comparisons embedded in local contests dynamic processess documenting sequential patterns and change inductively generate a tentative but explanatory theory determine how participants interpret constructs (self esteem, IQ) responsive to changes that occur during study qualitative date in the words and categories of participants lend themselves to exploring how and why phenomena occur Is useful for determining idiographic causation

Qualitative Research Question

focused on exploring a process, issue, or phenomenon then break down into sub questions Selects a topic, generates prelim questions, modifies questions.... emergent or fluid type of research

postmodernism

historical intellectual movement that constructs its self-image in opposition to modernism emphasizes the primacy of individuality, difference, fragmentation, flux, constant change, lack of foundations for thought, and interpretation.

qualitative data forms

interviews, observations, focus groups, secondary/existing date often use semi-structured or open-ended questionnaires observations that yield detailed description; in-depth inquiry; interviews that capture dirext quotations about people's personal perspectives and experiences; case studies; and careful document review.

theory triangulation

involves the use of a variety of theories and perspectives to explain the phenomena under study (including prior theories and/or other researchers).

Qualitative Research Limitations

knowledge produced might not generalize to other people or settings difficult to make quantitative predictions more difficult to test hypotheses and theories with large participant pools study have less credibility collecting data takes more time data analysis time consuming results are more easily influenced by researcher's personal biases and idiosyncrasies

Qualitative research data collection and analysis

longitudinal character, because qual research takes place over an extended period of time. data collection and analysis done concurrently or in cycles researcher attempts to validate the data and his/her interpretations throughout the research study through triangulation

Qualitative research

major research approach that is focused on studying particular phenomena through the collection of nonnumerical data such as words, images, pictures, and interpretive categories. Qualitative research is used to describe and understand what occurs locally (rather than globally), but it is nevertheless used at times to come up with or generate new hypotheses and new theories. Qualitative research can be used when little is known about a topic or phenomenon, but more generally, it is used whenever one wants to discover or learn more about something in our world that is too complex for numerical data to capture. Qualitative research is commonly used to understand people's subjective and shared experiences and to express their "insider" perspectives often through systematic and careful observation and interviewing.

Investigator triangulation

nvolves the use of multiple observers to record and describe the research participants' behavior and context. These observers assess the degree to which their observations are corroborated in order to enhance the credibility and defensibility of the results.

Ontology (nature of reality/truth)

subjective mental personal constructed