Qaulitative

What is Qualitative Research?

Emphasises the diversity of contexts, experiences, perspectives, meaning and subjectivities in exploring and interpreting the complexities of the social phenomena and the social world

What are some strengths of Qualitative Research?

• in depth insights

• Holistic perspective

• Recognises participant voice

• Contextual relevance

What are some limitations?

• high research complexity

• Highly dependant on researcher

• Limited generalisability

• Recourse intensive

Many types of Qualitative research, such as…

• interview

• Focus group

• Participant observation

• Survey

• Art based methods

What is “talk data”?

Participants use of words and language that is generated and analysed in qualitative research

3 types of interviews -

1. Structured is…

• ppts asked a fixed set of questions in a fixed order often includes series of options for ppt to choose from

2. Semi structured is…

• questions and order are prepared in advance but are allowed to vary according to responses and flow of exchange

3. Unstructured is…

• Researcher has number of topics to cover but precise questions and their order are not fixed, they develop in the exchange with ppt

Strengths of interviews?

• rich and detailed data

• Allows for flexibility of discussion

• Ideal to explore sensitive issues in depth

Limitations?

• time consuming

• Easy to stray from topic under study

• Ppts have to be willing to speak and share experiences

• Can be difficult to organise

Focus groups

What are they?

• data generated from multiple ppts at the same time

• Aims to raise topics and allow ppts to discuss amongst themselves

Strengths?

• flexibility in discussion

• High ecological validity (can be generalisable)

• Supportive atmosphere

• Reduces ‘researcher affects’

Limitations?

• easy to stray from topic under study

• Little opportunity for in depth follow up with individual ppts

• Can be difficult to manage logistically

• Potential ppt affects on others answers