Qualitative Research: What is it, really? by Miles Hamby, PhD Principal, Ariel Training Consultants drhamby@cox.net Copyright2015 Miles M. Hamby

What is Qualitative Research? “Begins with assumptions and the use of interpretive frameworks that inform the study of research problems addressing the meaning individuals or groups ascribe to a social or human problem. To study this problem, qualitative researchers us an emerging qualitative approach to inquiry, the collection of data in a natural setting sensitive to the people and places under study and data analysis that is both inductive and deductive and establishes patterns or themes. The final written report or presentation includes the voices of participants, the reflexivity of the researcher, a complex description and interpretation of the problem and its contribution to the literature or a call for change.” John Creswell, Qualtitative Inquiry & Design, 2013

Hamby’s Take on Creswell Creswell missed the essential difference between Quantitative and Qualitative research. QL vs QN (Hamby (2015). Writing Research: A Handbook to Dissertations and Theses) QN – IV and DV variables and relationship between them have been defined QL – at least one of the variables or the relationship between them have not been defined

What is QL Research for? (Creswell) Gain complex detailed understanding of the problem Chance for Individuals to share stories Need to write in literary, flexible style Need to understand contexts Need to explain mechanisms Desire to develop theories

What is QL Research For? (Hamby) (Hamby (2015). Writing Research: A Handbook to Dissertations and Theses) The purpose of QL is to define variables so they can be tested using QN methods.

Types of QL Research (Creswell) Narrative - Written account of events focusing on a few individuals Phenomenological – Describes the common experience of many individuals Grounded theory – to generate general explanation of a process from views of the participants – created by Glaser and Strauss Ethnography – Describes and interprets shared values, behaviors, beliefs, language Case Study – Study of real-life, bounded system to describe and identify themes

Hamby’s Take The purpose of research is to add knowledge and understanding The distinction between QL types or “methods” is technical – to help keep the researcher from losing track of the research question Don’t get bogged down in trying to adhere to an arbitrary construct (i.e., “types” of research)

The Researcher’s Mantra The Problem drives the research question The Question drives the methodology The Methodology drives the data collection

Creswell’s Problem Statement Create reader interest Discuss the issue – heighten awareness – lift up voices of the marginalized Summarize recent evidence Reveal gaps in the literature Discuss benefit to stakeholders

Hamby’s Characteristics of a Good Problem Statement (or Creswell missed the essential point!) Must identify an area of interest Must specify a problem in that area Must identify negative results ie., Cut to the chase!

Example Problem Statement “The Problem. Tobacco use is a leading cause of cancer in American society. Although smoking among adults has declined in recent years, it has actually increases for adolescents. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that smoking among high school student had risen from 27.5 percent in 1991 to 34.8 percent in 1995. Unless this trend is dramatically reversed, an estimated 5 million of or nations children will ultimately die a premature death.” Creswell Figure 6.1 Research Problem Statement (Introduction to a Study) Without negative results, there is no problem – what is the benefit to society?

Creswell’s Characteristics of a Good QL Research Question What happened? Who was involved? What was the response How can we understand it (ie., theoretical framework) Are there unique constructs?

Where are the variables? Hamby’s Take Where are the variables? A research question, QN or QL, is based on a DV, and IV, and a relationship between them.

Research Questions by Type Narrative – “holistic” e.g., “…I examined the impact of multiple influences in a connected way as they intersected in the life of one student rather than as example of ways in which an issue or theme may be experienced by different members of the same ethnic group.” (see Chan, Appendix B of Creswell) Phenomenological – “descriptive”, eg, “The authors’ purpose was to describe AIDS patients’ cognitive representations of their illness.” (see Anderson, Spencer, Appendix C of Creswell) Ethnography – “understanding”, eg “Each of these critques [of the Straight-Edge Movement] demands a broader understanding of resistance that accounts for members’ indiviualistic orientations.” (see Haenfler, Appendix D of Creswell) Grounded Theory – “theory”, eg, “The purpose of this study was to understand this behavioral process in African-American women through the development of a theoretical framework explaining the pathways linking the key factors together that result in subsequent integration of physical activity into the lifestyle.” (see Harley, et al, Appendix E of Creswell)

A Qualitative Research Question (Hamby) The QL research question is actually better stated as a “purpose” e.g., “The purpose of this QL study is to define the phenomenon of “transgender” “The purpose of this QL study is to describe the experience of a returning Gulf war veteran.”

The Research Framework (see Creswell, Table 2.3) The framework “… shapes how we formulate our problem and research questions to study and how we seek information to answer the questions ~ Creswell, 201, p. 19 QN studies – “Theoretical” Framework, i.e., “a quantitatively tested hypothesis that an IV has a relationship with a DV” ~ Hamby, 2015, p. QL Studies – “Philosophical” Framework, i.e., a basis for the exploration of a phenomenon Creswell (2013)

Philosophical Frameworks (see Creswell, Table 2.2)

Data Collection Observations Interviews Documents Audio/Visual (see Creswell, Figure 7.1) Observations Interviews Documents Audio/Visual

Data Analysis Strategies (see Creswell, Figure 8.1) Sketch ideas Take notes Summarize field notes Work with words Code Reduce codes to themes Count frequency of codes Relate categories to each other Relate categories to framework in literature Create point of view Display the data

References Creswell, John W, (2013). Qualitative inquiry & research design. Sage Publications. Inc. Thousand Oaks, CA. Hamby, Miles (2015). Writing research: A handbook for dissertations and theses. http://milesflight.com

Principal, Ariel Training Consultants Qualitative Research by Miles Hamby, PhD Principal, Ariel Training Consultants drhamby@cox.net