Qualitative Research English 102●K. Turner

What Is Qualitative Research? From the Qualitative Research Consultants Association: “in-depth studies of small groups of people to guide and support the construction of hypotheses” Originated in the social and behavioral sciences (sociology, anthropology and psychology) Today, qualitative methods are used in the field of business, marketing, policy, etc. Results are descriptive rather than predictive.

Primary Research Primary research doesn’t always have to be someone else’s work Primary research can also be collected firsthand. This type of research is often based on the scientific method Develop research question/hypothesis Collect data on events, objects, people Data is measurable, observable, and replicable Goal is to learn about something new that can be confirmed by others AND to eliminate our own bias

Ethics of Primary Research Many countries have adopted ethical guidelines for researchers who choose to work with human participants. In the USA, these guidelines were published in The Belmont Report in 1979. Now, universities have IRBs (or Institutional Review Boards) that oversee research.

Ethical Considerations Voluntary participation – In almost all cases, you need permission from someone before they agree to an interview or survey. Confidentiality and anonymity – Information can often times be sensitive. Using pseudonyms helps participants remain anonymous. Researcher bias – You are researching to find answers, not support answers you think are already there. You should avoid biased questions and note-taking, as well as drawing biased conclusions.

When Is Primary Research Useful? For questions that can be answered through direct observations and asking others When you want to learn about a problem that doesn’t have much information published about it because it happened too recently or isn’t widely studied When you are studying a local problem When you are learning how a larger problem has/will play out on a local level Note: questions of an ethical, philosophical, or metaphysical nature DO NOT require primary research

Developing a Research Question You can use both deductive OR inductive reasoning approaches to develop a research question. Deductive reasoning – Researcher starts with a hypothesis and then collect specific data to support or refute their conclusion Inductive reasoning – Researchers start with a question and then collect information that eventually leads to a conclusion After reviewing secondary source material, decide how you will approach your research.

Developing a Research Question, Cont’d Your research question or hypothesis should be specific, narrow, and discoverable through primary research. Without a clear research question or hypothesis, your research will be unfocused (much like a paper without a strong thesis statement). Weak research question: What is the 1994 rate of juvenile delinquency in the U.S.? Weak research question: What can we do to reduce juvenile delinquency in the U.S.? Stronger research question: Does education play a role in reducing juvenile delinquents' return to crime? Now you must define your key terms. Who counts as a juvenile? What kinds of crime?

Data Collection Methods Observations Participant observations – a researcher interacts with and becomes part of participants’ community Unobtrusive observations – a researcher does not interact with participants but rather simply records their behavior (e.g. you can do this in a place where people don’t have a reasonable expectation of privacy, like a mall or a lunch room) Always be unbiased in observation notes! Record things exactly as you see them. Do NOT make assumptions or judgements about what you see. Use a double entry notebook.

Data Collection Methods, Cont’d Interviews Choose the right person! Face to face vs. virtual interviews Face to face interviews allow follow up questions and nonverbal communication Virtual interviews can be quick and can help you contact those far away. Make sure you record all interviews, in person or otherwise! Transcribe your interview. Find a suitable location!

Data Collection Methods Cont’d Surveys Keep you survey short and focused. Use closed questions (yes/no questions). Pilot your survey. Choose a wide and varied sampling.

Survey or Interview? Both are self-reported data sets. Use surveys if you want to learn about a general trend in people’s behavior, experiences, or opinions. Useful if you want small amounts of information from a wide selection of people in order to make a general claim Use interviews when you want to learn detailed information about a few specific people Useful if you want to interview experts or get details from a few people

Writing Good Questions Ask about ONE thing at a time. Avoid leading questions. Understand when to use open and closed questions. Write clear questions.

Incorporating Data: Interviews How should you incorporate date in your paper? Summary Paraphrase Quote Print out your transcript and highlight the important parts! What do you think you might use in your paper? Coding (we’ll talk about this in Chap. 9)

How Should You Organize? Introduction Provide your background information (library/secondary research) Establish your own credibility Methods Provide a detailed account of how you gathered your data What was your primary resource process? Results Describe what you found Can include charts, graphs, lists, quotes, etc. Discussion Present your own interpretation of the results What do the results mean? How do they reflect on your larger argument? Look at the sample paper on pp. 234-6.

Activity 4 groups: 2 groups take  “The Superbowl and Sex Trafficking” 2 groups take “Being an NFL Cheerleader Really Sucks” In your groups, draft at least three research questions based on the article on which your group is focusing. Write your three questions on the board.

Quiz! Name at least one of the three ethical considerations we discussed. What three data collections methods did we discuss? Bonus: What belongs in the methods portion of qualitative research paper? Second Bonus: Name at least ONE interesting thing you’re doing this weekend this isn’t napping or eating.