Research & Writing in CJ Chapter 5: Qualitative Research

Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research Simply comes down to a question of “concepts as ideas or terms versus numerical values” Qualitative research refers to counting and measuring items associated with the phenomena in question “the meanings, concepts, definitions, characteristics, metaphors, symbols, and description of things”

Qualitative Research Defined “the nonnumerical examination and interpretation of observations for the purpose of discovering underlying meanings and patterns of relationships” Tend to be expressed in the researcher’s own works rather than through numerical assignments Enables researchers to verbalize insights the quantifying data would not permit

Merits and Limitations Insights gained and usefulness in designing specific questions & analyses make it invaluable Costs and time involved may not be logically feasible Major complaints: Takes too long to complete Requires clearer goals Cannot be statistically analyzed May be problems with reliability and validity

Types of Qualitative Research Field Interviewing Interviewing is asking of questions by one individual of another in order to obtain information If interview consists of specific question for which designated responses may be chosen, this would qualify as quantitative research Generally, answers are open-ended; exact responses recorded rather than assigned to predetermined categories

Types of Qualitative Research Structured Interviews Entails asking of pre-established open-ended questions of every respondent Closed-ended questions = quantitative research Majority of structured interviews consist of closed- ended question

Types of Qualitative Research Structured Interviews Guidelines Geared toward limiting errors and ensuring a consistency of order in the responses Can elicit rational, legitimate responses Does not consider the emotional aspect

Types of Qualitative Research Semi-Structured Interviews Follows same ideas/guidelines of structured Major difference: interviewer can go beyond the responses for a broader understanding of the answers (“probing for more detail”)

Types of Qualitative Research Unstructured Interviews Far less rigid Seldom is a schedule kept or are there usually any predetermined possible answers Questions often created as the action proceeds Most common form uses open-ended question

Focus Groups Interviewing of several individuals in one setting Marketing and politics are common uses Info gathering method where the researcher/interviewer directs the interaction and inquiry

Focus Groups Advantages include limited expenses, flexibility, and stimulation Disadvantages include group culture, dominant responder, and topic sensistivity

Field Observation (or Participant-Observer) Usually had only focused on two means: observer and participant-observer Observer method: researcher gathers information in the most unobtrusive fashion by simply watching the study subjects interact, preferably without their knowledge Participant-Observation: subjects aware of the researcher and researcher takes an active role Sense – four types

The Full Participant Researcher becomes part of the study Allows researcher to carry out observational research but in a “cover” manner Problems may exist with ethical and moral dilemmas

Participant Researcher Researcher participates but is known to be a researcher Biggest negative is by subject knowing researcher’s role, behaviors may be altered Subject reactivity By being part of activities, researcher can influence outcomes and behaviors that might not have existed without presence

Researcher Who Participate Observation by researcher whose status is known Eliminates some of the previous problems but can still influence behavior

The Complete Researcher Way to minimize problems with observation- participatory research is to avoid all possible interaction with research subjects May involve “cover” methods of observation Issues

Ethnographical Study The researcher enters the environment under study but does not necessarily take part in any activities A form of qualitative research that looks at various “sociological, psychological, and educational variables in real social structures”

Ethnographical Study: Attributes Strong emphasis on the nature of a particular social phenomenon Tendency to work primarily with “unstructured” data Investigation of a small number of cases Analysis that involves explicit interpretation of the meanings and functions of human actions

Sociometry A technique by which the researcher can measure social dynamics or relational structures such as who-likes-whom Info can be gathered through interviews or observation and will indicate who is chosen and the characteristics about those who do the choosing

Historiography Aka, Historical/Comparative Research Basically the study of actions, events, and phenomena that have already occurred Often involves the study of documents and records w/info about topic under study Inexpensive and unobtrusive Can assist in determining why/how an event occurred and whether it could happen again

Content Analysis The study of social artifacts to gain insights about an event or phenomenon Different in that the focus is upon the coverage of the event by the particular medium being evaluated May be either qualitative or quantitative in nature