Practical Research

LESSON 2
Objectives
 At
the end of the lesson the learner demonstrates
understanding of
 The value of qualitative research, its kinds, characteristics,
uses, strengths, and weakness and further decide on
suitable qualitative research in different areas of interest.
 Theimportance of qualitative research across fields of
inquiry
The Value of Qualitative Research
 As the sociologist William Bruce Cameron stated, “Not
everything that can be counted counts, and not everything
that counts can be counted
 Unlike quantitative statistical studies, which attempt to reach
“valid” populations of very large, remote participant
populations, qualitative studies are more personal, with
small, focused populations, specifically chosen to represent
larger audience segments.
The Value of Qualitative Research
 Qualitativeresearch allows investigators to develop a deeper
understanding of a topic .
 In qualitative study, the respondents are interviewed one-by-
one, observed in their own environments, and are even
involved in their daily activities.
 Ituses methodologies that provides opportunity for a
systematic , indept evaluation of question that may not be
easily answered through quantitative research.
Kinds of Qualitative
Research
Phenomenology
The purpose - to describe experiences as they are
lived
Examines uniqueness of individual’s lived situation
Each person has own reality, reality is subjective
Phenomenology
Research question development
What does existence of feeling or experience
indicate concerning the phenomenon to be explored?
What are necessary and sufficient constituents of
feeling or experience?
What is the nature of human being?
Phenomenology
Method
No clear defined steps to avoid limiting
creativity of researcher
Sample and data collection
Phenomenology (cont.)
Method (cont.)
Seek persons who understand study and are willing
to express inner feelings and experiences
Describe experiences of phenomenon
Write experiences of phenomenon
Direct observation
Audio or video tape
Phenomenology (cont.)

Data analysis
Classify and rank data
Sense of wholeness
Examine experiences beyond human awareness/ or
cannot be communicated
Phenomenology (cont.)
Outcomes
Findings described from subject’s point-of-view
Researcher identifies themes
Structural explanation of findings is developed/
Grounded Theory
 Purpose - theory development
 Used in discovering problems exist in a social scene and how persons
handle them
 Involves formulation, testing, and redevelopment of propositions until
theory is developed
 Method – steps occur simultaneously; a constant comparative
process
 Datacollection – interview, observation, record review, or
combination
Grounded Theory
Analysis
Concept formation
Concept development – reduction; selective sampling of
literature; selective sampling of subjects; emergence of core
concepts
Concept modification and integration
Outcomes – theory supported b examples form data
Historical
 Purpose – describe and examines events of the past to understand the
present and anticipate potential future effects
 Method
 Formulate idea – select topic after reading related literature
 Develop research questions
 Develop an inventory of sources – archives, private libraries, papers
 Clarify validity and reliability of data – primary sources, authenticity, biases
 Develop research outline to organize investigative process
 Collect data
Historical
Analysis – synthesis of all data; accept or reject
data; reconcile conflicting evidence
Outcomes- select means of presenation –
biography, chronology, issue paper
Case study
Purpose – describe in-depth the experience of one
person, family group, community, or institution
Method
Direct observation and interaction with subject
Analysis
- synthesis of experience
Outcome – in-depth description of experience
Characteristics of Qualitative Research
1) Studying behaviour as it occurs naturally within the setting
 A researcher natural setting is one that the researcher does not manipulate or control
2) Direct data collection
 Narrative data is collected over long periods of time from observations and interviews
and analysed using interpretative techniques (the researcher personally collects data
and interprets what the data means and why)
3) Having rich narrative descriptions
 The reader needs to understand the context of the study in detail in order to better
understand the phenomena being studied
4) Process orientation
 Focuses on why and how behaviour occurs
 Characteristics of Qualitative Research
 5) Inductive data analysis
 Generalization induced from synthesizing gathered information.
 Once data is collected and summarized the researcher looks for relationships among
the categories and patterns that suggest generalizations, models, and conclusions
 Based on the data collected, the researcher interprets the findings
 Participant perspective
 Focus on participant’s understanding and meaning
 In order for a researcher to obtain a valid participant perspective, they must develop
a long-term and trusting relationship with the participants
6) Emergent research design
 The research design evolves and changes as the study takes place
Uses of Qualitative Research
Develop hypotheses for further testing and for
qualitative questionnaire development
Understand the feelings, values, and perceptions that
underlie and influence behaviour
Generate ideas for improvement
Develop parameters (i.e., relevant questions, range of
responses) for a quantitative study
 Strengths and Weaknesses of Qualitative
Research
Strengths
Flexibility to evolve.
Sampling focuses on high value subjects.
Holistic focuses (looking at the “big picture”.
Multiple sources provide understanding of complex
situations and behaviour.
Narrative reports more accessible than statistical tables to
many non-statisticians
Triangulations strengthens validity of findings
Weaknesses
Lack of clear evaluation design may frustrate clients.
Lack of generalizability.
Presenting multiple perspectives makes it difficult to reach
consensus and provide a neat execute summary (“bottom
line”).
Individual factors not isolated.
Interpretivist methods appear too subjective.
Lack of clear documentation of methods makes t difficult
for client/reader to assess validity.
 Importance of Qualitative Research Across
Fields Inquiry
One traditional and specialized form of qualitative research
is called Cognitive Testing or pilot testing which used in the
development of quantitative survey items.
Qualitative research is often useful in sociological lens that
can shed light on the intricacies in the functionality of
society and human interaction.
Qualitative Research Approaches Across
Fields of Inquiry
Basic/Generic/Pragmatic Qualitative Research
Involves using an eclectic approach taken up to best match
the research question at hand. This is often called mixed-
method approach.
Critical Social Research
Used by a researcher to understand how people communicate
and develop symbolic meanings
Qualitative Research Approaches Across
Fields of Inquiry
Ethical Inquiry Research
An intellectual analysis of ethical problems. It includes the
study of ethics as related to obligation, rights, duty, right and
wrong, choice, etc.
Social Science and Governmental Research
Research to understand social services, government
operations, and recommendations (or not) regarding future
development and programs, including whether or not
government should be involved.
Qualitative Research Across Fields of Inquiry
Activist Research
aims to raise the views of the unprivileged or “underdogs” to
prominence to the elite or master classes, the latter who often
control the public view or positions.
Foundational Research
Examines the foundations for a science, analyses the beliefs,
and develops ways to specify how knowledge base should
change in light of new information.
Qualitative Research Across Fields of
Inquiry
Visual Ethnography Research
Isuses visual methods of data collection, including photo,
voice, photo elicitation, collaging, drawing, and mapping.
Autoethnography Research
The study of self, is a method of qualitative research in which
the researcher uses their personal experience to address the
issue.