Qualitative Research Methods and Design in Social Sciences

Qualitative Research

An umbrella term for a variety of methods and techniques used to study social phenomena or action.

Worldviews/Perspectives in QR

Different frameworks that inform the approach to qualitative research, such as constructivist, interpretivist, feminist, postmodernist, and naturalistic research.

Natural Setting

A characteristic of qualitative research where data is collected directly from the site where participants experience the issue, often through observations or interviews.

Researcher as Key Instrument

A characteristic where the qualitative researcher is the primary data collection tool, gathering information through interviews, observations, and examining documents.

Multiple Sources of Data

A characteristic of qualitative research where researchers use a variety of data sources, such as interviews, observations, and documents, to inform their study.

Inductive Data Analysis

A "bottom-up" approach to data analysis where researchers organize data into themes, patterns, and categories as they emerge from the information. This is not a linear process.

Participants' Meanings

The focus of qualitative research is to learn the meaning that participants attach to a problem or issue, rather than imposing the researcher's own meaning.

Emergent Design

The qualitative research process is flexible and evolving, open to changes in the field as the study progresses.

Interpretive Inquiry

The process where qualitative researchers make an interpretation of what they see, hear, and understand.

Holistic Account

A characteristic of qualitative research where the goal is to develop a complex and comprehensive picture of the problem being studied.

When to use Qualitative Research

Use qualitative research to explore a new area, gain a detailed understanding of an issue, give voice to silenced individuals, or when quantitative methods don't fit the problem. It can also be used as a follow-up to quantitative research to explain causal theories and models.

Five Qualitative Research Approaches

The five main approaches to qualitative research are grounded theory, narrative study, case study, ethnography, and phenomenology.

Methodological Congruence

The interconnected and interrelated alignment of the study's purpose, research questions, and methods to create a cohesive whole.

The Qualitative Research Process

A process that involves identifying a social issue, asking open-ended questions, collecting different forms of data, organizing and analyzing the data, and presenting findings based on both participants' views and the researcher's interpretations.

Reflexivity

The process of a researcher reflecting on their own history, culture, and personal experiences and how they may influence the study.

Ethical Considerations in QR

Standard ethical principles that must be followed throughout a qualitative study, including voluntary participation, informed consent, non-maleficence, anonymity, and confidentiality. Researchers must also make support available to participants and adhere to reporting requirements for criminal activity and abuse.

Characteristics of a "Good" Qualitative Study

A study that begins with a clear, single focus, uses a recognized qualitative approach, includes detailed and rigorous methods for data collection and analysis, and presents findings persuasively. It also demonstrates reflexivity and adheres to ethical principles.

Interviews

A data collection method described as a "conversation with a purpose" to explore participants' experiences and subjective views.

Semi-structured Interview

An interview type that uses a prepared set of questions but remains flexible to allow for a natural conversation flow.

Piloting an Interview

The process of practicing an interview with a friend, family member, or someone from the research population before conducting the actual study.

Transcription

The process of writing down an interview or focus group recording verbatim, including every word, sigh, laugh, and grunt.

Focus Groups

A type of interview conducted with a small group of people where the researcher acts as a facilitator rather than an interviewer. They allow for naturalistic interaction but can produce a large amount of data that is time-consuming to transcribe and analyze.

Diary Studies

A data collection method where participants are asked to record their feelings, activities, and experiences in a diary, either by writing or using a recording device. This provides insight into events as they happen and reduces concerns about memory accuracy.

Ethnographic Studies

An approach to qualitative research that focuses on experiences "as they are lived," requiring the researcher to immerse themselves in the field for an extended period. It involves participant observation and uses multiple methods, a process known as triangulation.

Web-based Data

Data collected from various internet sources such as blogs, discussion boards, and chatrooms. The anonymity of these platforms can allow people to speak freely, but it also means they may not have given consent for their information to be used and may lie about their experiences.

Media and Text Sources

Data that already exists in the form of newspapers, documents, stories, magazines, letters, or reports. This method reduces the need to collect new data and eliminates the possibility of the researcher influencing the data.