LIS 570

Qualitative Research

Definition

A process of enquiry that draws from the context in which events occur, in an attempt to describe these occurrences, as a means of determining the process in which events are embedded and the perspectives of those participating in the events, using induction to derive possible explanations based on observed phenomena

Features of Qualitative Research

Context Description Process Participant perspective Induction

Context

Draws from the context or environment in which events occur

uses the natural setting researcher does not remain remote

enters the context or situation to collect data enhances this data through insights gained onsite

Context

Identify totally with your subjectsExperience what they are experiencing

Description

Describes occurrences the ‘flavor’ of events is included in the research

tape recorders, video cameras, notes, photographs, diaries, memos

verbal narratives from the participantsembellished by the researcher’s narrative

Process

Not just the result of events but the events themselves understanding the process of events how ideas become action the reactions to actions components of a process richer and fuller understanding through

immersion in the entire activity

Participant perspective

What do the people involved in a particular process think

what people believehow people feelhow people interpret events

Often involves participant involvement in or comment on the researchers observations and interpretations

Induction

How the observations are analyzed in a coherent and meaningful manner induction

a ‘bottom-up” approach after data have been collectedevidence is used to develop an explanation of events -

to establish a theory based on observed phenomena grounded theory - built from the ground up

Modes of enquiry

QUANTITATIVE MODEASSUMPTIONS

Objective reality of social facts

Primacy of method

Possible to identify variables

Possible to measure variables

QUALITATIVE MODEASSUMPTIONS

Social construction of reality

Primacy of subject matter

Complexity of variables

Difficulty in measuring variables

Modes of enquiry

QUANTITATIVEPURPOSE

Generalization Prediction Causal explanation

QUALITATIVEPURPOSE

Contextualization Interpretation Understanding

participant perspectives

MODES OF ENQUIRY

QUANTITATIVEAPPROACH

Hypothesis based Manipulation and control Uses formal instruments Experimentation Deductive Component analysis Seeking norms and

consensus Reducing data to

numerical indices

QUALITATIVEAPPROACH

Theory generating Emergence and portrayal Researcher as instrument Naturalistic Inductive Pattern seeking Looking for pluralism and

complexity Descriptive

Modes of enquiry

QUANTITATIVERESEARCHER ROLE

Detachment and impartiality

Objective portrayal

QUALITATIVERESEARCHER ROLE

Personal involvement and partiality

Empathetic understanding

Summary

Researchers collect data within the natural setting of the data, and the key data collection instruments are the researchers themselves

The data are verbal, not numericalResearchers are concerned with the process of an

activity, not only the outcomes of that activityResearchers usually analyze their data verbally rather

than statistically The outcomes are often the generation of research questions

and conjectures, not the verification of predicted relationships or outcomes

Focus groups

Used to gain an understanding of participants’ attitudes and perceptions relevant to a particular topic guided by a facilitator

some prepared questions supplemented by probes, not to obtain yes/no but to address

ambiguities - e.g. Can you tell me why you think that? Connectors - e.g. Can I pick up on something the previous

speaker said; That raises another important question...

Focus groups

Advantages Speed Transparency Interaction Flexibility Open-endedness Ability to note non-verbal communication

Focus Groups

Disadvantages Getting people together Dominating personalities Wanting to be agreeable Finding a typical group

Focus groups

Recording the data Tape recorder Notes taken during the meeting Notes taken immediately after the discussion Notes taken by someone else during the

discussion

Data recording sheet (Bouma: 182)

What you observe Your reactions/ thoughts