Research Methods: Qualitative Research Designs
Purposeful Sampling Procedures
-Comprehensive -Maximum Variation -Snowball (network) -Negative Case -Typical Case -Key Informant
Steps of an Ethnographic Study
1. Observe the culture for weeks, months, even years 2. Interact with and interview members of the culture 3. Analyze documents and artifacts Researcher engages in extensive work in the naturally occurring setting or context, the FIELD
Participants Perspectives
Characteristic of Qualitative Research: -Focus on participants' understanding and meaning. -Meaning is essential concern
Descriptive with Rich Narrative Descriptions
Characteristic of Qualitative Research: Detailed narratives that provide in-depth understanding of contexts and behaviors
Process Orientation
Characteristic of Qualitative Research: Focus on why and how behaviors occur Researchers are concerned with the process and NOT the outcomes or products
Include Data Analysis
Characteristic of Qualitative Research: Generalizations included from synthesizing gathering information
Emergent Research Design
Characteristic of Qualitative Research: Research Design evolves and changes as the study takes place.
Direct Data Collection
Characteristic of Qualitative Research: Researcher collects data directly from the source
Natural Setting
Characteristic of Qualitative Research: Study of behavior as it naturally occurs.
Entering the Research Site
Consists of -Gaining Permission -Establishing Rapport -Selecting Participants -Obtaining data
Credibility of Qualitative Research
Defined as the extent to which the data, data analysis, and conclusions are believable and trustworthy -Can be strengthened with taking notes, asking participants if they said that, and recording it.
Triangulation
Most common technique to enhance the credibility of a qualitative study Use of different methods of gathering data or collecting data with different samples, at different times, or in different places to compare different approaches to the same thing
Data Analysis
Pages of field notes or interview transcripts must be critically examined and synthesized During data collection as well as after all the data have been gathered CODES -Look for words, phrases, or events that seem to stand out
Foreshadowed Problem
Research problem in qualitative research investigation is initially a general statement of the purpose of the study
Comprehenive
Type of Purposeful Sampling Procedure: -Selecting all relevant cases or individuals
Maximum Variation
Type of Purposeful Sampling Procedure: -Selecting individuals or cases to represent extremes of an important continuum
Snowball (network)
Type of Purposeful Sampling Procedure: Initially selected individuals nominate others for inclusion
Typical Case
Type of Purposeful Sampling Procedure: Selecting individuals or cases that are "typical" of all the individuals or cases
Negative Case (Deviant Case)
Type of Purposeful Sampling Procedure: Selecting individuals or cases that do not fit an evolving finding
Key Informant
Type of Purposeful Sampling Procedure: Selecting individuals who are particularly knowledgeable about the setting and/or topic
Grounded Theory Studies
Type of Qualitative Research Design: -To produce a theory of a process, behavior or interaction through research -A theory is essentially an abstract schema, or set of propositions, that pertain to a specific experience, situation, or setting
Case Studies
Type of Qualitative Research Design: In-depth analysis of one or more events, settings, programs, social groups, communities, individuals, or other "bounded systems"
Ethnographic Studies
Type of Qualitative Research Design: In-depth analytical description and interpretation of naturally occurring behavior within a culture or social group
Phenomenological Studies
Type of Qualitative Research Design: To describe and interpret the experiences of participants in order to understand the "essence" of the experience as perceived by the participants
Internal Validity
Way of Strengthening the Credibility of Qualitative Research: -Match between the researcher's categories and interpretations and what is actually true
Reliability
Way of Strengthening the Credibility of Qualitative Research: -Not looking for consistency of behavior, but rather the accuracy of their observations -Defined as the extent to which what is recorded as data is what actually occurred in the setting that was studied -Researcher gives his/her notes to the participant so that they can verify the recordings
External Validity
Way of Strengthening the Credibility of Qualitative Research: Referring to the generalizability of the findings
Life History Interview
Way to Obtain Qualitative Data: -A type of interview where the researcher is interested in learning about the subjects' life
Personal Documents
Way to Obtain Qualitative Data: -Could include clothing, furniture, books diaries, etc.
Photography and Video
Way to Obtain Qualitative Data: -Found photographs -Researcher-Produced Photographs
Focus Group Interview
Way to Obtain Qualitative Data: A one to two hour interview of 10 to 12 persons that is designed to promote interaction among the individuals and lead to a richer understanding of whatever is being studied
Fieldnotes
Way to Obtain Qualitative Data: Detailed written descriptions of what was observed, as well as the researcher's interpretations
Interviews
Way to Obtain Qualitative Data: More intrusive form of data collection, asking participants questions and recording answers
Key Informant Interview
Way to Obtain Qualitative Data: -A type of interview used extensively in ethnographic studies -In-depth interviews with a few "key" participants
Observation
Way to obtain Qualitative Data: -Researcher spends an extended period of time in the setting -Primary method in qualitative research for data collection -Must be planned systematically -Must be recorded systematically -Validity and reliability -Two major methods include structured and unstructured
Saturation
When you're conducting a study and you hear the same info over and over again. So you don't need to conduct more studies.