OT 575 - qualitative research methods

what is qualitative research?

research related to studying a process, experience, concept, construct, etc. that typically uses non-numerical data

what sources contribute to data in qualitative research?

observations, interview, focus-groups, questionnaires, documents, and artifacts

what are some common types of qualitative research?

- qualitative descriptive

- grounded theory

- phenomenology

- ethnography

what is qualitative descriptive research?

aims to understand perspectives from a sample group

what is grounded theory?

used when studying social processes; involves developing a theory from data to answer research questions

what are the two common types of grounded theory?

classic grounded theory and constructivist grounded theory

how does classic grounded theory differ from constructivist grounded theory?

classic theory aligns with a different epistemological stance

what is phenomenology?

explores the essence of a lived experience; interviews as a key source of data

what is ethnography?

explores the customs of individuals and cultures to create a narrative; data comes from observations, interviews, and artifacts

what is purposive sampling?

identifying and selecting information-rich participants; not randomized

what is theoretical sampling?

using data to determine where to collect data next

what is coding?

assigning words or descriptions to your data for analysis and interpretation

what is in vivo coding?

a type of first cycle coding that derives codes from the data itself; achieved through line-by-line coding

what is focused coding?

a type of second cycle coding that organizes and categorizes large amounts of data by identifying patterns in the data

what are some qualitative research rigor methods?

triangulation, member reflections, critical friends

what is triangulation?

comparing data from multiple data sources; comparing the same data over an extended period of time

what are member reflections?

reflecting on data with participants for additional data and/or insights

what are critical friends?

using critical feedback to enhance construction of knowledge