1. Research & Writing in CJ
Chapter 5: Qualitative Research

2. 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”

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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”)

9. 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

10. 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

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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

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

16. 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

17. 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”

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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