Qualitative Research and Qualitative Research and Observing BehaviorObserving Behavior

Some review…Some review…Science is Science is empirical empirical = based on = based on

experienceexperience

historically, psychology was founded historically, psychology was founded on the study of human experienceon the study of human experiencee.g. William James and the Stream of e.g. William James and the Stream of

Consciousness, Wundt and introspectionConsciousness, Wundt and introspection

Impact of BehaviorismImpact of Behaviorismemphasis on measurable, observable emphasis on measurable, observable

datadatavery quantitative in nature…very quantitative in nature…

……though not exclusivelythough not exclusively

A comparisonA comparison Sue’s cumulative GPA Sue’s cumulative GPA

= 3.21= 3.21 Sue is a very bright but Sue is a very bright but

rather undisciplined rather undisciplined student. She shows a student. She shows a great deal of curiosity great deal of curiosity and passion for specific and passion for specific subjects, periodically subjects, periodically displaying brilliant displaying brilliant insight far beyond what insight far beyond what is typical of is typical of undergraduates. She undergraduates. She also tends to avoid also tends to avoid routine work and is routine work and is often disorganized.often disorganized.

Quantitative ApproachQuantitative Approach

Numerical in natureNumerical in natureTends to approach a populationTends to approach a populationUses objective measurementUses objective measurementOften makes predictionsOften makes predictions

Qualitative ApproachQualitative Approach

Verbal or image-based dataVerbal or image-based datahas an individual focushas an individual focusSubjective reports Subjective reports Goal is to find meaning or Goal is to find meaning or

understanding of a phenomenonunderstanding of a phenomenonphenomenological viewphenomenological view

Which approach to use?Which approach to use? It depends on the question being askedIt depends on the question being asked

Examples: Examples: Are children of parents who suffer from Are children of parents who suffer from

depression more likely to experience depression more likely to experience depression themselves?depression themselves?

Why do people seek help for depression?Why do people seek help for depression? What percentage of older adults suffer from What percentage of older adults suffer from

depression?depression? What is it like to live with a depressed spouse?What is it like to live with a depressed spouse?

Collecting qualitative dataCollecting qualitative dataUse open ended questions.Use open ended questions.Allow person to put experience in Allow person to put experience in

their own words.their own words.Describe what you see, rather than Describe what you see, rather than

look for particular behaviors.look for particular behaviors.Keep detailed notes.Keep detailed notes.

Coding qualitative dataCoding qualitative datamight have preconceived categoriesmight have preconceived categoriesmight look for emerging themes in might look for emerging themes in

the datathe data

Limitations of qualitative Limitations of qualitative researchresearch

generalizabilitygeneralizability

predictionprediction

Qualitative Data CollectionQualitative Data CollectionNaturalistic/Laboratory ObservationNaturalistic/Laboratory ObservationArchival DataArchival Data Interview/SurveyInterview/SurveySurveySurvey

InterviewInterview

Limitations of ObservationLimitations of Observation Participation

Nonparticipant = outsider Participant = loses objectivity

Concealment can minimize reactivity… ..but nonconcealed observation may be

preferable from an ethics viewpoint

Qualitative MethodsQualitative MethodsCase StudyCase StudyPhenomenological InquiryPhenomenological InquiryGrounded TheoryGrounded TheoryEthnographyEthnography

Case StudiesCase Studies

Case studies are done when an individual possesses a particularly rare, unusual, or noteworthy condition.A psychobiography is a type of case study

in which a researcher applies psychological theory to explain the life of an individual

Includes interview, observation, Includes interview, observation, archival data, and perhaps other archival data, and perhaps other quantitative measuresquantitative measures

Phenomenological InquiryPhenomenological InquiryWhat is this human experience What is this human experience likelike??

assumes human experience is assumes human experience is unique and subjectiveunique and subjective

importance of brackettingimportance of bracketting

can use interview and archival datacan use interview and archival data

Grounded TheoryGrounded TheoryMight ask “How does this happen?” Might ask “How does this happen?”

or “Why does this occur?”or “Why does this occur?”

observations and interviews aid observations and interviews aid understandingunderstanding

goal is that theory will emerge that is goal is that theory will emerge that is grounded in the datagrounded in the data

EthnographyEthnographystudy of a culture from the study of a culture from the

perspective of individuals in that perspective of individuals in that cultureculture

important to recognize own cultural important to recognize own cultural biases and lensbiases and lens

interview, observation, archival datainterview, observation, archival data