Basics of Qualitative Research Design Berg Ch. 2 Leedy and Ormrod Ch

Three General Approaches to Research APPROACH POSITIVISM CRITICALINTERPRETIVE USUAL TYPE experiment, historical- field research, OF RESEARCHsurvey, comparative interviews cont. anal. PERSPECTIVEtechnocratic transcendent transcendent TYPE OF LOGICreconstructed logic-in-practice logic-in-practice PATHlinear non-linear non-linear /cyclical /cyclical

Qualitative methodology Data in words rather than numbers Non-positivistic orientation Includes:  Field research and ethnography  Observation, case studies  Qualitative interviewing  Action research  Historical comparative analysis

Characteristics of Qualitative Research Context is critical In depth, detailed Researcher immerses self in data (non- objective) Researcher integrity Bias recognized Use of grounded theory Can detect process and sequence Data are interpreted rather than analyzed

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 The Deductive (Quantitative) Process  Ideas and theory come before empirical research  Ideas lead to refutation through research The Inductive (Qualitative) Process o Research leads to theory development o Research initiates, reformulates, deflects and clarifies theory Ideas and Theory

What is Theory? “a statement of relationships between concepts” “a roadmap for organizing ideas and knowledge about the social world”

Theory Parts Concepts  Concept clusters  Classification concepts (ideal types) Assumptions Typology or Taxonomy Relationships

The Measurement Process Quantitative = deductive Qualitative = inductive Both involve conceptualization and operationalization

Concepts Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Symbolic elements Foundation of communication and thought Two distinct parts  Symbolic elements (word, symbol, term)  Definitional element

Operationalization of a Concept Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Conceptualize  Providing a working definition of a concept  Use theory and research Operationalize  providing the criteria for measuring a concept  What, specifically, will you be observing?  Often continues throughout the research process

Process of Qualitative Operationalization: Empirical Observations Working Ideas Concepts Generalizations/Theories

Berg’s Blended Model Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 The Spiraling Research Approach Begin with a rough idea Gather theoretical information Reconsider and redefine Process: Idea -- Lit. Review (involves Theory) -- Design -- Data Collection/Organization -- Analysis/Findings --Dissemination

Choosing a Research Problem Where do problems come from?  Practical problems in the field  The literature in the field  Personal interest

Examples of Problems: The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of body image and PPF (perceived physical fitness) for different exercise settings The purpose of this study is to examine the type of talk during a writing activity to determine if there is a difference between off topic and on topic talk on the quality of students’ writing samples

Reviewing the Literature Recommended Sources:  Journal articles  Books  Conference proceedings  Government / corporate reports  Library Databases Other Sources (not recommended)  Newspapers and Magazines  Internet esp. sites like Wikipedia

The Annotated Bibliography A very useful first step… Consists of a bibliographic citation and a descriptive and evaluative annotation of a selection of your most useful sources

Reviewing the Literature Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Formulate a rough question Visit the Library  Conduct both online and in-print searches Make a list of search terms Evaluate the results

Evaluating Web Sites Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Information to check on every website  URL  Domain  Date of last update  Corroborating information

Writing The Literature Review Concentrates on the scientific research Provides the context for your research Justifies the proposed study Summarizes and evaluates the literature in the field

Questions to be answered in a literature review: 1. What do we already know in the immediate area concerned? 2. What are the characteristics of the key concepts (or the main factors or variables)? 3. What are the relationships between these key concepts, factors or variables? 4. What are the existing generalizations or theories? 5. Where are the inconsistencies/shortcomings in our knowledge and understanding? 6. What views need to be (further) explored? 7. What information or evidence is lacking, inconclusive, contradictory or too limited? 8. Why study (further) the research problem? 9. What contribution can the present study be expected to make? 10. What research designs or methods seem unsatisfactory?

Tips: Remember the purpose Read with a purpose Write with a purpose Always put citations into your writing immediately Keep a bibliographic file

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010  Author Card Full citation Library call number o Topic Card o Author’s name o Date of publication o Brief topical label o Verbatim excerpt Berg’s Two-Card Method

Janesick (1994) in Berg…. “design is the choreography that establishes the research dance” What are the implications of this statement?

The Research Design The plan for conducting a study  Foresee possible glitches  Consider appropriate pacing  Appraise ethical proprieties Feasibility is contingent on many factors:  Length of time to do the study  Ethical constraints  Cooperation of others  Cost of conducting the research  Researcher’s own skills

Setting Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Identification of a data-collection site  Practical entry or access - gatekeepers availability  Reasonable in size and complexity  Appropriateness

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Probability Sampling  Mathematically representative of the larger population  Relies on random sampling Non-Probability Sampling  Doesn’t require a list of the population elements  Can be used with difficult or sensitive populations Sampling Strategies

Probability Sampling Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Simple Random Sampling  Every unit has the same chance of inclusion Systematic Random Sampling  Every nth unit is selected from the list Stratified Random Sampling  Independent samples from subgroups of the sample Cluster Sampling  Clusters are randomly and elements within are randomly selected

Non-probability Sampling Convenience Samples  Relies on available subjects Purposive Samples  Researcher knowledge or expertise Snowball Samples  Respondent-driven Quota Samples  Proportional matrix

Data Analysis Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Data Reduction  Reduce and transform the data Data Display  Organize and assemble the data Conclusions and Verification  Confirm initial conclusions through double checking and independent examination

Dissemination Writing the final report on your research for publication or presentation to a funding agency Integral part of the research process