Produced by the Applied Research Center and the Alvin Sherman
Library Video: 11 min.
Slide 2
Theory Use in Qualitative Methods The definition of theory
remains the same but is typically applied differently in
qualitative methods: The theory provides a broad explanation of
behavior and attitudes Establish a theoretical lens (i.e.,
orienting lens) Feminist perspective Racialized discourse Critical
theory Starts with an endpoint - a theory that is generated
(inductive) No theory is employed (the inquiry is developed
explicitly from participants as seen in phenomenological
approaches)
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Theoretical Lens The definition of theory remains the same but
is typically applied differently in qualitative methods: The theory
provides a broad explanation of behavior and attitudes Establish a
theoretical lens (i.e., orienting lens) Feminist perspective
Racialized discourse Critical theory Starts with an endpoint - a
theory that is generated (inductive) No theory is employed (the
inquiry is developed explicitly from participants as seen in
phenomenological approaches) Theory Use in Qualitative Methods
Slide 4
Inductive Grounded Theory The definition of theory remains the
same but is typically applied differently in qualitative methods:
The theory provides a broad explanation of behavior and attitudes
Establish a theoretical lens (i.e., orienting lens) Feminist
perspective Racialized discourse Critical theory Starts with an
endpoint - a theory that is generated (inductive) No theory is
employed (the inquiry is developed explicitly from participants as
seen in phenomenological approaches) Theory Use in Qualitative
Methods
Slide 5
No Theory The definition of theory remains the same but is
typically applied differently in qualitative methods: The theory
provides a broad explanation of behavior and attitudes Establish a
theoretical lens (i.e., orienting lens) Feminist perspective
Racialized discourse Critical theory Starts with an endpoint - a
theory that is generated (inductive) No theory is employed (the
inquiry is developed explicitly from participants as seen in
phenomenological approaches) Theory Use in Qualitative Methods
Slide 6
Sometimes referred to as: Paradigms of social science
Theoretical lens Foundational theory (same as theoretical lens)
Conflict theory Marxist theory Structural functionalism Symbolic
interaction Feminist perspective Racialized discourse Critical
theory Queer theory Disability inquiry Paradigms, Theoretical Lens,
Foundational Theory Theory Use in Qualitative Methods
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Applications Theoretical lens or foundational theory Grounded
theory Does NOT include initial a priori presentation of one of the
big foundational theories Critical-reflexive theory Theory Use in
Qualitative Methods (cont.)
Slide 8
Types of Theories Theories can be broken down into types: Grand
theory Mid-range theory Micro-level theory
Slide 9
Examples of Types of Theories Theories can be broken down into
types: Grand theory Mid-range theory Micro-level theory Examples:
TypePsychologySocial/Educational Grand theory Psychodynamic
theorySocial construction Mid-range theory Five stage theorySocial
interaction Micro-level theory Individual formation theory
Phenomenology Types of Theories
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More Examples of Theories Used for Qualitative Methods
Professionalisation theory by Elliot Freidson Labelling theory by
Scheff Negotiated order theory by Strauss
Slide 11
The Inductive Logic of Research in Qualitative Methods
Researcher asks open-ended questions of participants or records
fieldnotes Researcher analyzes data to form themes or categories
Researcher looks for broad patterns, generalizations, or theories
from themes or categories Researcher poses generalizations,or
theories, and compares to past experiences and literature
Researcher gathers information
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Researcher Gathers Information Researcher gathers information
The Inductive Logic of Research in Qualitative Methods
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Open-Ended Questions and Fieldnotes Researcher asks open-ended
questions of participants or records fieldnotes Researcher gathers
information The Inductive Logic of Research in Qualitative
Methods
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Analyze Data to Form Themes Researcher asks open-ended
questions of participants or records fieldnotes Researcher analyzes
data to form themes or categories Researcher gathers information
The Inductive Logic of Research in Qualitative Methods
Slide 15
Look for Broad Patterns Researcher asks open-ended questions of
participants or records fieldnotes Researcher looks for broad
patterns, generalizations, or theories from themes or categories
Researcher gathers information The Inductive Logic of Research in
Qualitative Methods
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Pose Generalizations or Theories Researcher asks open-ended
questions of participants or records fieldnotes Researcher analyzes
data to form themes or categories Researcher looks for broad
patterns, generalizations, or theories from themes or categories
Researcher poses generalizations,or theories, and compares to past
experiences and literature Researcher gathers information The
Inductive Logic of Research in Qualitative Methods
Slide 17
Example of a Theoretical Lens Qualitative example with a
theoretical lens: Haldenby, A. M., Berman, H., & Forchuk, C.
(2007). Homelessness and health in adolescents. Qualitative Health
Research, 17(9), 12321244.
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Data Used to Generate Theory Harley, A. E., Buckworth, J.,
Katz, M. L., Willis, S. K., Odoms-Young, & Heaney, C. A.
(2009). Developing long-term physical activity participation: A
grounded theory study with African American women. Health Education
& Behavior, 36(1).
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Use of Theory in Mixed Methods Mixed methods studies may:
Include theory deductively (theory testing) Quantitatively oriented
Include theory inductively (an emerging pattern) Qualitatively
oriented Use a theoretical lens and framework to guide the study
Emphasis is equal between QUAL and QUAN
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Lit Review and Theoretical Perspective in Mixed Methods
Parmelee, J. H., Perkins, S. C., & Sayre, J. J. (2007). What
about people our age? Applying qualitative and quantitative methods
to uncover how political ads alienate college students. Journal of
Mixed Methods Research, 1(2), 183199
Slide 21
Chapter 1: Placement of Theory Chapter 1: Introduction A brief
introduction to the theory can be placed in the Introduction
Chapter 2: Literature Review A separate section (usually in the
early parts of Ch. 2) should be devoted to the identification and
description of the theory Citation cite the original source of a
theory. Example Smith and Wadestein (2009) used the Social Learning
Theory as the theoretical framework in their study. The citation
would look something like this: Banduras (1977) social learning
theory was used as the theoretical Placement and Citation
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Chapter 2: Placement of Theory Chapter 1: Introduction A brief
introduction to the theory can be placed in the Introduction
Chapter 2: Literature Review A separate section (usually in the
early parts of Ch. 2) should be devoted to the identification and
description of the theory Citation cite the original source of a
theory. Example Smith and Wadestein (2009) used the Social Learning
Theory as the theoretical framework in their study. The citation
would look something like this: Banduras (1977) social learning
theory was used as the theoretical Placement and Citation
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Citation Chapter 1: Introduction A brief introduction to the
theory can be placed in the Introduction Chapter 2: Literature
Review A separate section (usually in the early parts of Ch. 2)
should be devoted to the identification and description of the
theory Citation cite the original source of a theory. Example Smith
and Wadestein (2009) used the social learning theory as the
theoretical framework in their study. The text citation would look
something like this:Banduras (1977) social learning theory was used
as the theoretical foundation for Smith and Wadesteins (2009)
study. Placement and Citation
Slide 24
Selected References Anfara, V., & Mertz, N. T. (2006).
Theoretical frameworks in qualitative research. Thousand Oaks:
Sage. Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research design: Quantitative,
qualitative, and mixed method approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Reeves, S., Albert, M., Kuper, A., & Hodges, B. D. (2008). Why
use theories in qualitative research? British Medical Journal,
(337:a949), 631-634. doi:10.1136/bmj.a949 Scott, G., & Garner,
R. (2013). Doing qualitative research: Designs, methods, and
techniques. Boston, MA: Pearson.