Qualitative Research Methods Overview

Definition of Research

• Research: An organized, systematic, disciplined approach to answer questions about observations and experiences.
  • Aims to gather and interpret information to understand or explain experiences.

Characteristics of Qualitative Research

• Qualitative Research: Focuses on generating meaning and understanding through rich description.
• Useful for studying complex social environments and the meanings people bring to their experiences.

Differences Between Qualitative and Quantitative Research

• Focus:
  • Qualitative: Describes or understands human experience.
  • Quantitative: Measures factors like frequency or quantity.
• Philosophical Roots:
  • Qualitative: Constructivism/Interpretivism (subjective human experience).
  • Quantitative: Positivism (objective observation of phenomena).
• Goals of Investigation:
  • Qualitative: Understand, describe, discover meaning, generate hypotheses or theory.
  • Quantitative: Predict, control, confirm, test hypotheses.
• Design Characteristics:
  • Qualitative: Flexible, evolving, emergent.
  • Quantitative: Structured, predetermined.
• Data Collection:
  • Qualitative: Researcher is the primary instrument (interviews, observations).
  • Quantitative: Relies on external instruments (tests, surveys).

Goals of Qualitative Research

• Explore: Identify patterns, themes, initial models.
• Describe: Convey detailed, specific information.
• Interpret: Make sense of events and phenomena.

Methodologies in Qualitative Research

• Case Studies: Explore programs, events, activities, or individuals in depth.
• Grounded Theory: Develop abstract theory based on participants' views.
• Ethnography: Study cultural groups in natural settings over time.
• Phenomenology: Identify the essence of human experiences.
• Narrative Approaches: Study stories about individuals' lives and experiences.

Qualitative Data Sources

• Interviews, focus groups, observations, existing documents.
• Combining multiple sources can provide a holistic understanding.

Planning a Qualitative Study

• Justification: Explain why chosen methods are suitable.
• Approval: Obtain Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval before collecting data.

Data Analysis in Qualitative Research

• Steps:
  1. Prepare and organize data (transcribe, organize).
  2. Reduce data (identify themes, code data).
  3. Present data (narrative form, tables, diagrams).
• Validity: Ensuring data and interpretations are credible.
  • Use of recognized authors for defining validity-related terms.

Strategies for Validity

• Prolonged Engagement: Sufficiently long and persistent data gathering.
• Rich, Thick Description: Providing detailed accounts.
• Triangulation: Use multiple data sources.
• Member Checking: Participant validation of findings.
• Clarifying Biases: Acknowledging researcher preconceptions.
• Peer Debriefing: External review of findings.
• External Auditing: Review by someone unfamiliar with the study.

Deciding on a Qualitative Approach

• Consider if the study involves human experience, subjective experience, or cultural characteristics.
• Determine interest in interpretation and understanding rather than quantification.

Steps to Conduct Qualitative Research

1. Review existing research on the topic.
2. Consider strengths and weaknesses of various research methods.
3. Review literature on qualitative research methods.
4. Complete self-paced tutorials on methodologies and techniques.

Qualitative research is a powerful method for understanding complex human experiences and can drive social change.