Qualitative Research Process

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and concepts related to qualitative research process, methodologies, and techniques.

Qualitative Research

A type of research that focuses on understanding the meaning and context of social phenomena, often involving in-depth interviews, observations, and analysis of texts.

Naturalistic Settings

Research environments that reflect the complexity and richness of real-world situations, emphasizing the context in which communication occurs.

Interpretive Subjects

Researchers and participants in qualitative research who play active roles in the creation and interpretation of meaning.

Systematic Design

An organized process in qualitative research that includes careful planning of empirical studies along with strategic and technical choices.

In-depth Interviewing

A qualitative data collection method that involves conducting detailed, open-ended conversations with participants to explore their perspectives.

Participating Observation

A qualitative research method where the researcher immerses themselves in the setting and interacts with participants to gain a deeper understanding of the context.

Discourse Analysis

A method that focuses on analyzing written texts and spoken language to understand social meaning and context.

Coding

The process of categorizing qualitative data by creating labels for segments of data to identify themes and structures.

Grounded Theory

A qualitative research methodology that emphasizes generating theory from data systematically gathered and analyzed during the research process.

Thematic Analysis

A qualitative analysis method that involves identifying and interpreting patterns or themes within qualitative data.

Emic Perspective

An insider's view or understanding of a culture or social phenomenon, often contrasted with an etic perspective.

Etic Perspective

An outsider's analysis or interpretation of a cultural phenomenon, providing a comparative view.

Contextualization

The process of placing particular events, ideas, or objects within their larger social, cultural, or personal contexts to understand their significance.

Sampling Procedures

Methods used in qualitative research to select participants or data sources in a way that reflects the richness of the research question.

Snowball Sampling

A sampling technique where existing study subjects recruit future subjects from among their acquaintances.

Case Study

An in-depth exploration of a specific instance or phenomenon within its real-life context.

Member Checks

A validation strategy in qualitative research where findings are shared with participants to verify accuracy and interpretation.

Iterative Process

A repetitive approach in qualitative research where researchers continuously refine their understanding through cycles of analysis and interpretation.

Thick Description

A detailed account of social interactions and contexts that captures the complexity of meanings and interpretations in qualitative research.

Metadata

Data that provides information about other data, often used to explore digital patterns and interactions in communication studies.