Qualitative Research:Qualitative Research:

An OverviewAn Overview

DefinitionDefinitionQualitative Research is collecting, analyzing, and Qualitative Research is collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data by observing what people do interpreting data by observing what people do and say. Qualitative research refers to the and say. Qualitative research refers to the meanings, concepts, definitions, characteristics, meanings, concepts, definitions, characteristics, metaphors, symbols, and descriptions of things. metaphors, symbols, and descriptions of things.

Qualitative research is subjective and uses very Qualitative research is subjective and uses very different methods of collecting information, different methods of collecting information, including individual, in-depth interviews and focus including individual, in-depth interviews and focus groups. The nature of this type of research is groups. The nature of this type of research is exploratory and open-ended. exploratory and open-ended.

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Introduction to Qualitative Introduction to Qualitative ResearchResearch

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?vwww.youtube.com/watch?v=TkRz5YYmgTY&feature=related=TkRz5YYmgTY&feature=related

Quantitative vs. QualitativeQuantitative vs. QualitativeThought of as ObjectiveThought of as Objective Thought of as SubjectiveThought of as Subjective

Research Questions include Research Questions include

““How many” and “Strength of How many” and “Strength of association”association”

Research Questions include Research Questions include “What,” “How” and “Why”“What,” “How” and “Why”

Tests a TheoryTests a Theory Develops a TheoryDevelops a Theory

MeasurableMeasurable InterpretiveInterpretive

Researcher is separate from the Researcher is separate from the processprocess

Researcher is part of the processResearcher is part of the process

Strives for generalization – leads Strives for generalization – leads to predictionto prediction

Strives for uniqueness – leads to Strives for uniqueness – leads to understandingunderstanding

Basic element of analysis is Basic element of analysis is numbersnumbers

Basic element of analysis is Basic element of analysis is words/ideaswords/ideas

Context freeContext free Context dependentContext dependent

““Counts the beans”Counts the beans” Provides information as to "which Provides information as to "which beans are worth counting“beans are worth counting“

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?vwww.youtube.com/watch?v=WDo7jwikqqI&feature=email=WDo7jwikqqI&feature=email

Get a Research MethodGet a Research Method

Features of Qualitative ResearchFeatures of Qualitative Research

1.1. NaturalisticNaturalistic

2.2. Descriptive DataDescriptive Data

3.3. Concern With ProcessConcern With Process

4.4. InductiveInductive

5.5. MeaningMeaning

Qualitative Research is…Qualitative Research is…NaturalisticNaturalistic

Context-dependentContext-dependent

Actions are understood within Actions are understood within settingssettings

Circumstances are importantCircumstances are important

Qualitative Research has…Qualitative Research has…Descriptive DataDescriptive Data

Narrative form of reporting is Narrative form of reporting is common and quotations are used to common and quotations are used to illustrate & substantiateillustrate & substantiate

Data includes interviews, fieldnotes, Data includes interviews, fieldnotes, photographs, video footage, personal photographs, video footage, personal documents, memos, etc.documents, memos, etc.

Qualitative Research is…Qualitative Research is…Concerned With ProcessConcerned With Process

Process is just as, or more, important Process is just as, or more, important than outcomes or productsthan outcomes or products

Attention to how meaning is derived Attention to how meaning is derived and how labels come to be applied and how labels come to be applied and how assumptions are madeand how assumptions are made

Qualitative Research is…Qualitative Research is…InductiveInductive

Theories develop from the bottom up Theories develop from the bottom up rather than the top downrather than the top down

The direction you will travel comes after The direction you will travel comes after you have been collecting data & spent you have been collecting data & spent time with the participantstime with the participants

““You are not putting together a puzzle You are not putting together a puzzle whose picture you already know”whose picture you already know”

Use parts of the study to learn what the Use parts of the study to learn what the important questions areimportant questions are

Qualitative Research is…Qualitative Research is…MeaningfulMeaningful

Participant perspectives are Participant perspectives are importantimportant

Accuracy of interpretations can be Accuracy of interpretations can be checked with the participantschecked with the participants

Interplay or dialogue between Interplay or dialogue between researchers and participantsresearchers and participants