QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS

Naturalistic-phenomenological philosophy is the basis of qualitative research. This

approach assumes that there are many ways in which reality can be interpreted and
experienced by individuals. Rather than using the scientific method, as in quantitative
research, qualitative research relies on the researcher to carefully observe and describe a
phenomenon and to interpret the phenomenon within a social (cultural) context. or
these reasons, qualitative research allows one to examine phenomena that quantitative
research cannot explore, li!e our understanding of abstract concepts such as empathy and
the meaning we ascribe to "od. #s a result, the findings of qualitative research offer us
rich ways to apply research paradigms to clinical settings.
#lthough qualitative research can ta!e many forms, two types are ethnographic
research and historical research.
Ethnographic Research- Refers to the description (graphy) of human cultures
(ethno). (made popular by $argaret $ead) The first step in conducting
ethnographic research is to identify the group to be studies and to identify a
general problem to be researched. %onducting a literature review can help the
researcher gain a better understanding of the culture or group being studies.
Three common methods used in ethnographic research include observation,
ethnographic interviews, and collection of documents and artifacts.
Observation- &thnographers will often observe a situation or phenomenon and
describe, using extensive notes, what they view. #lthough sometimes qualitative
researchers may ta!e a nonengaged role when observing, more often they become
participant-observers. 't is important that the observer record what role and what
effect observing the group (as!ing (uestions) may have had on the group
(persons).
Ethnographic Intervies- # second popular qualitative method of collecting
data from a culture or group. )uch interviews involve open-ended (uestions in an
effort to understand how the interviews construct meaning. 'nterviews may be
informal* guided, in which (uestions are outlined in advanced* or standardi+ed, in
which the exact (uestions are determined prior to the interview but the responses
remain open-ended. 't is important for researchers to ta!e notes or record the
interviews in order to obtain verbatim accounts of the conversation.
Doc!"ents an# Arti$act Co%%ection- #rtifacts are the symbols of a culture or
group and can help researchers understand the belief, values, and behaviors of the
group. 'nterpretation of the meaning of artifacts should be corroborated from
observations and through interviews.
Historica% Research- The purpose of historical research is to describe and
analy+e conditions and events from the past in an effort to answer a research
(uestion. ,istorical research relies on the systematic collection of information in
an effort to examine and understand past events from a contextual framewor!. 'n
conducting historical research, a number of sources can be used-
&'( .ral histories. .ral histories are gathered when researchers directly
interview an individual who had participated in or observed the event in
(uestion.
&)( /ocuments. /ocuments are records of events that are generally housed in
libraries or archival centers. &xamples include letters, diaries,
autobiographies, 0ournals and maga+ines, films, recordings, paintings, and
institutional records.
&*( Relics. Relics are any of a variety of ob0ects that can provide evidence about
the past event in (uestion. )uch things as boo!s, maps, buildings, artifacts,
and other ob0ects are some examples of relics.