Level 1B Qualitative Research Methods Lecture Notes

Page 1: Introduction to Qualitative Research

Course Information

• Title: Level 1B Qualitative Research Methods

• Lecture: 1

• Academic Year: 2024-25

• Class Format: MS forms class response

Page 2: Course Details

Instructor

• Name: Dr. Maxine Swingler

• Email: Maxine.swingler@glasgow.ac.uk

• Social Media: @maxine_swingler

Page 3: Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

• Differentiate between qualitative and quantitative research approaches.

• Understand the main features of qualitative research methods.

• Explain how to design and plan a qualitative research project.

Page 4: Key Terms

• Qualitative: Research focusing on understanding experiences and meanings.

• Quantitative: Research that quantifies data and generalizes results.

• Epistemology: Theory of knowledge; how we know what we know.

• Empiricism: Knowledge comes from observable evidence.

• Positivism: Belief in a single, observable reality.

• Social Constructivism: Reality is constructed through social interactions.

• Phenomenology: Study of conscious experiences from the first-person perspective.

• Grounded Theory: Developing theory based on data collected.

• Discourse Analysis: Analyzing language and its use in context.

• Research Question: A question guiding the research.

• Experiential: Based on personal experience.

Page 5: Required Reading

Essential Texts

• Sullivan, Gibson & Riley (2012): "Doing your Qualitative Psychology Project."

Further Reading

• Braun & Clarke (2013): "Successful Qualitative Research: A Practical Guide for Beginners."

• Smith, J.A. (2015): "Qualitative Psychology: A Practical Guide to Research Methods."

Page 6: Definitions and Applications

What is Qualitative Research?

• Research method aimed at understanding human behavior and the reasons governing such behavior.

Applications in Psychology

• Understanding complex aspects of psychological phenomena.

Qualitative Research Questions

• Research inquiries that explore experiences, meanings, and perspectives.

Page 7: Ethical Dilemmas in Research

• Scenario involving a grandmother with asthma conflicted about her pet cat's impact on her health.

• Scenario involving a student using AI assistance for a report; ethical considerations of academic integrity.

Page 8: Reflective Exercise

Experience Reflection

• Recall the last time you visited a green space; reflect on the experience and its meaning.

Page 9: Epistemological Concepts

Knowledge Understanding

• Epistemology: The study of knowledge.

• Empiricism: Reliance on evidence.

• Positivism: Belief in a singular observable reality.

• Post-Positivism: Acknowledges that while truth exists, it is interpreted through lenses of observation.

Page 10: Limitations of Quantitative Methods

Key Limitations

• Reduction of complex experiences to numerical values.

• Challenges of measuring subjective experience and the importance of context in psychology.

• Issues with ecological validity associated with laboratory experiments.

• Assumptions about human behavior within cultural contexts.

Page 11: Alternatives to Positivism

New Perspectives

• Constructionism: Reality mediated by social factors.

• Contextualism: Truth is relative to the specific context where it is observed.

Page 12: Qualitative Research Shift

Understanding Qualitative Research

• Opposes Positivism; focuses on subjective experiences.

• Emphasizes a bottom-up approach and natural contexts.

Page 13: Comparison of Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches

Quantitative Research

• Hypothesis Driven: Starts with a hypothesis.

• Uses structured measures like questionnaires.

• Seeks to establish cause-effect relationships.

• Quick data collection and analysis.

Qualitative Research

• Exploratory: Driven by research questions.

• Uses interviews, focus groups, and diaries.

• Emphasizes experiential knowledge and narratives.

• Lengthy process to accumulate rich data without predefined limits.

Page 14: Importance of Qualitative Methods in Psychology

Justifications

• Captures individual experiences and perceptions.

• Growing relevance in clinical, health, and developmental psychology.

• Essential training for dissertation work.

Page 15: Small q or Big Q?

Qualitative Research Types

• Big Q: Open-ended, inductive, deeper exploration.

• Small q: Non-numeric data collection; blends qualitative and quantitative.

• Example: Study on the role of clothing in body image.

Page 16: Qualitative Research Approaches

Various Approaches

• Phenomenology: Focus on personal perception of experiences.

• Social Constructivism: Knowledge shaped by social interactions.

• Grounded Theory: Develops theories grounded in the data gathered.

• Discourse Analysis: Examines how language constructs social reality.

Page 17: Phenomenology Explained

Overview

• Personal perception is central; includes techniques like Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).

Applications

• Examining the personal meaning of everyday experiences (e.g., taste of chocolate, walks in nature).

Page 18: Social Constructivism

Concept Exploration

• Understanding how cultural and social norms influence individual meanings.

• Consider implications of branding and lifestyle on perceptions.

Page 19: Grounded Theory

Inductive Approach

• Theoretical sampling based on data analysis.

Practical Example

• Observations during nature walks and perceptions of others.

Page 20: Discourse Analysis

Language Analysis

• Focuses on how language creates social reality.

Example Observations

• Analyzing observations of nature with linguistic expression.

Page 21: Planning a Qualitative Research Project

Key Questions for Consideration

• What do I want to know?

• Why is this knowledge important?

• What assumptions am I making?

• What type of data will help address my questions?

• How will I collect the necessary data?

Page 22: Research Process Overview

Stages of Research

1. Literature review

2. Justification of study (rationale)

3. Formulating research questions

4. Seeking ethical approval

5. Planning interviews and focus groups

6. Data collection (transcription, coding)

7. Data analysis

8. Reflective analysis

9. Report writing

Page 23: Developing a Rationale for Research

Rationale Components

• Combining motivations (why) with the methodology (how).

• Consideration of related literature to frame the research context.

Page 24: Example Research Focus

Proposed Study

• Topic: The impact of nature contact on students’ experiences in urban settings.

• Exploration of design preferences for green spaces and implications for mental well-being.

Page 25: Types of Research Questions

Sample Research Questions

• Experience-based: How do individuals with bipolar disorder manage self-care?

• Practice accounts: Sleep patterns in mid-life women and their disruptive effects.

• Understanding perceptions: Effects of unusual sensory experiences on people with autism.

• Influencing factors: Food purchasing behaviors among parents.

Page 26: Quiz on Research Methodologies

Activity Instructions

• Navigate to the provided link for a quiz on distinguishing between qualitative and quantitative research questions.

• Create a qualitative research question related to Level 1 psychology topics.

Page 27: Identifying Research Questions

Examples

1. Quantitative: Link between caffeine intake and reaction time test performance.

2. Qualitative: Experiences of individuals with clinical depression and the impact of therapy on their lives.

3. Qualitative: Strategies for managing procrastination during exams.

4. Qualitative: Understanding family perspectives on the cost of living crisis.

5. Quantitative: Comparing anxiety levels between regular mindfulness practitioners and non-practitioners.

Page 28: Developing Your Research Question

Final Activity

• Formulate a qualitative research question related to Level 1 Psychology.

• Collaborate and discuss responses in the next class, emphasizing the need for reflection in qualitative research methodology.