Basics of Qualitative Research Design Soc3307f. Caelli (2003, ‘Clear as Mud’) says: “Qualitative approaches do not encompass a single universally understood

Basics of Qualitative Research Design

Soc3307f

Caelli (2003, ‘Clear as Mud’) says:

“Qualitative approaches do not encompass a single universally understood position. Arising as they do from multiple and evolving philosophic understandings of the world and the nature of humanity, there are many different standpoints from which to evaluate qualitative research (Sandelowski, 2002). Sandelowski and Barroso’s (2002) argument correctly posits that qualitative research can be judged only on its individual merits based on the research report.”

Credibility of qualitative research…

Is established through assessing“1. the theoretical positioning of the researcher; 2. the congruence between methodology and

methods; 3. the strategies to establish rigor; and 4. the analytic lens through which the data are

examined.” (Caelli, 2003) All are critical aspects of the research design

Characteristics of Qualitative Research Context is critical In depth, detailed Researcher immerses self in data (non-

objective) Researcher integrity Bias recognized Use of grounded theory Can detect process and sequence Data are interpreted rather than analyzed

Janesick (1994) in Berg (2009)….

“design is the choreography that establishes the research dance”

What are the implications of this statement?

The Research Design The plan for conducting a study

Foresee possible glitchesConsider appropriate pacingAppraise ethical proprieties

Feasibility is contingent on many factors:Length of time to do the studyEthical constraintsCooperation of othersCost of conducting the researchResearcher’s own skills

Qualitative Research Designs Field studies or ethnographies

Long term involvement in the field Grounded theory studies

Development of new theory grounded in the data Action research

Collaboration with stakeholders for social change Case study designs Observational designs:

phenomenological or ethnomethodological Historiography

Examination of the past

Qualitative Research Methods Observation

Participant and non-participant Interviewing

Structured, semi-structured, unstructured Focus groups

Group interviews and observation Unobtrusive methods

Examining the artifacts of social communication

Data Analysis in Qualitative Research

Content analysis Coding Building grounded theory

Your YouTube Research Will be a grounded theory study Use unobtrusive methods Content analysis and coding to analyze

the data End product will be a research report that

outlines creates concepts and linkages between them and carefully grounds your ideas in actual observations

The concepts and linkages are the theory

What is Theory?

“a statement of relationships between concepts” or “a roadmap for organizing ideas and knowledge about the social world”

Berg (2009) says “inter-related ideas about various patterns, concepts, processes, relationships, or events”

Theory Parts

ConceptsTypologies Concept clustersClassification concepts (ideal types)

RelationshipsTaxonomies

Assumptions

Concepts

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010

Are the abstract symbolic elements of thought and communication that we use to represent objects, processes, phenomena, etc.

Meanings vary from person to personMust be clearly defined in researchTwo distinct parts

Symbolic elements (word, symbol, term)Definitional element

Operationalization of a Concept


ConceptualizeProviding a working definition of a conceptUse theory and research

Operationalizeproviding the criteria for measuring a conceptWhat, specifically, will you be observing?Often continues throughout the research

process

The Research Process


“Spiraling Research Approach” (Berg, 2009) Begin with a rough idea Gather theoretical information Reconsider/redefine ideas grounded in what you see

Process:

Your idea(s) about an aspect of YouTube videos

Your review of relevant literature and theories

Your research design and sample

Your observations (data collection/organization)

Your analysis/findings and generalizations (new theory?)

Dissemination of ideas – your presentation and paper

Starting your Research:Choosing a Research Problem

Where do problems come from?Practical problems in the fieldThe literature in the fieldPersonal interest

Start by thinking about what you know and have seen on YouTube

Look at some of the literature in the area Refine your idea to create an actual problem

statement of what you will observe

Creating a concept map (see Berg (reserve) Ch. 2 Fig. 2.4) Try this! Will help you to focus your research

question or problem Helps to plan your research design Start a rough map while developing your

problem statement and modify it as you go: while you conduct your literature search and while you gather and analyze data

The problem statement: A good problem statement will answer the following

questions: Who does the problem affect? What would the outcome be if the problem was not investigated? Where is the problem taking place? Is it important for the problem to be fixed? Why?

It should have the following elements: 1. a lead-in 2. declaration of originality (e.g., mentioning a knowledge void,

or contradictions in knowledge) 3. indication of the central focus of the study 4. explanation of study significance or the benefits to be derived

from an investigation of the problem Writing style: very clear and to the point, concise (no

more than a few sentences)

Reviewing the Literature Recommended Sources:

Journal articles Books Conference proceedings Government / corporate reports Library Databases

Other Sources (not recommended) Newspapers and Magazines Internet esp. sites like Wikipedia

The Annotated Bibliography

A very useful first step…

Consists of a bibliographic citation and a descriptive and evaluative annotation of a selection of your most useful sources

Reviewing the Literature


Formulate a rough questionVisit the Library

Conduct both online and in-print searches

Make a list of search termsEvaluate the results

Evaluating Web Sites


Information to check on every websiteURLDomainDate of last updateCorroborating information

Writing The Literature Review

Concentrates on the scientific research

Provides the context for your research

Justifies and grounds the study

Summarizes and evaluates the literature in the field

Questions to consider when doing a literature review:

1. What do we already know in the immediate area concerned? 2. What are the characteristics of the key concepts? 3. What are the relationships between these key concepts? 4. What are the existing generalizations or theories? 5. Where are the inconsistencies/shortcomings in our knowledge

and understanding? 6. What views need to be (further) explored? 7. What information or evidence is lacking, inconclusive,

contradictory or too limited? 8. Why study (further) the research problem? 9. What contribution can the present study be expected to make? 10. What research designs or methods seem unsatisfactory?

Tips:

Remember the purpose Read with a purpose Write with a purpose

Always put citations into your writing immediately

Keep a bibliographic file

Setting


Identification of a data-collection sitePractical

entry or access - gatekeepers availability

Reasonable in size and complexityAppropriateness


Probability SamplingMathematically representative of the larger

populationRelies on random sampling

Non-Probability SamplingDoesn’t require a list of the population elementsCan be used with difficult or sensitive populations

Sampling Strategies

Probability Sampling (used for quantitative research)


Simple Random SamplingEvery unit has the same chance of inclusion

Systematic Random SamplingEvery nth unit is selected from the list

Stratified Random SamplingIndependent samples from subgroups of the sample

Cluster SamplingClusters are randomly and elements within are

randomly selected

Non-probability Sampling (qualitative research) Convenience Samples

Relies on available subjects Purposive Samples

Researcher knowledge or expertise Snowball Samples

Respondent-driven Quota Samples

Proportional matrix

Data Analysis


Data ReductionReduce and transform the data

Data DisplayOrganize and assemble the data

Conclusions and VerificationConfirm initial conclusions through double

checking and independent examination

Dissemination

Writing the final report on your research for presentation, submission or publication

Integral part of the research process

Documents

Basics of Qualitative Research Design Soc3307f. Caelli (2003, ‘Clear as Mud’) says: “Qualitative approaches do not encompass a single universally understood