QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

Qualitative reaserch

Focuses on particular case or phenomenon

Triangulation

a combination of different approaches to collecting and interpreting data

Method triangulation

Combining several research methods to obtain most reliable results

Data triangulation

Using as many sources as possible to obtain the complete amount of data

Researcher triangulation

Other researchers participate in the research to obtain their opinion

Theory triangulation

Using different theories to interpret the data

Rapport

Make sure that the participants are honest and that they do not change their behaviour during the experiment

Interactive questioning

allows for more accurate answers from the participants and allows to eliminate responses that may indicate that the subjects are lying

Reflexivity

Because the qualitative research assumes the participation of the researcher, they should be aware of their biases and the possible lack of objectivity

Epistemological reflexivity

Related to the strengths and weaknesses of the study

Personal reflexivity

Related to the researchers own beliefs and expectations

Credibility checks

Participants check the notes or the transcript to exclude possible misunderstandings

Thick description

Description of all possible data (even seemingly not important)

Acquiescence bias

Tendency to give positive answers to all questions

Social desirability bias

Tendency to respond or behave to be accepted or liked

Dominant respondent bias

A tendency for one participant to influence the others

Sensitivity bias

Tendency to distort responses to sensitive questions

Confirmation bias

Researcher consciously or unconsciously seeks to confirm the hypothesis

Leading question bias

Questions asked by the researcher suggest preferred answers

Question order bias

Answering one question may influence the next ones

Sampling bias

The sample is not adequate to the study

Probabilistic sampling

Selected randomly (quantitative research)

Non-probabilistic sampling

Selected not randomly (qualitative research)

Quota sampling

The researcher decides prior to the start of a study about characteristics and size of the sample (it may not be representative)

Purposive sampling

The researcher decides prior to the start of a study about characteristics Of the sample (proportions and size are not defined)

Theoretical sampling

It stops when no new data can be obtained anymore (data saturation)

Snowball sampling

Participants recruit new participants (good for hard to reach populations (e.g. gang members))

Sample-to-population generalization

Selecting a sample that represents the target population

Theoretical generalization

Made from observations to a broader theory

Case-to-case generalization

Made to a different group, setting or context