1. Qualitative Research

2. Qualitative Research
Focuses on understanding from perspective of who & what is being studied.
Rather than try to establish “objective” descriptions and relationships as quantitative research does, qualitative studies are based on the assumption that reality is subjective and dependent on context
There are “multiple realities’ that need to be described in detail to result in a complete and deep understanding of the phenomena being investigated

3. Characteristics of Qualitative Research
Search for meaning
Constructed reality
Natural settings
Rich narrative description
Direct data collection
Concern with process
Inductive data analysis
Participant perspectives
Emergent research design

4. Quantitative? Qualitative?
Quantitative—involves use of numerical indices to summarize, describe and explore relationships among traits—reliance on control, statistics, measurements, and experiments
Qualitative—emphasis is on conducting studies in natural settings using mostly verbal descriptions, resulting in stories and case studies, not statistical reports

5. Qualitative Research Designs
Ethnography
Involves direct engagement with participants & environments--immersion into the culture
In-depth description & interpretation of behavior within a culture or social group
Start with a straightforward description of the setting and events--no footnotes, just facts
Analysis--search for “patterned regularities” in the data
Conclusions are based on a synthesis of the data

6. Qualitative Research Designs
Case study
In-depth analysis of one or more “bounded systems”
A case is study is“...an exploration of a bounded system or a case (or multiple cases) over time through detailed, in-depth data collection involving multiple sources of information rich in context.” Creswell (1998)
“A qualitative case study is an intensive, holistic description and analysis of a single instance, phenomenon or social unit.” Stake (1994)

7. Case study Some examples of cases are... an innovative program
all schools in Sweden
a classroom
graduate students at KSU

8. Case study What is the intent of the case study?
Descriptive case study:
to give a detailed account
Interpretive case study:
to develop conceptual categories–to illustrate, support or challenge theoretical assumptions
Evaluative case study:
description, explanation, and judgment; good to use when you can’t evaluate using normal standards

9. Qualitative Research Designs
Phenomenology
Examines experiences & perceptions of participants
Purpose: to understand the essence, the meaning of participants’ perspectives
Discovery oriented: focuses on a systematic investigation of the content of consciousness (Van Manen, 1990)
Researchers seek the essential, invariant structures, or the research participants’ consistent patterns of relating to the world, as well as the essence of the central underlying meaning of experience. (McPhail, 1995)

10. Qualitative Research Designs
Grounded Theory
Purpose: to discover or generate a theory about a specific entity or phenomenon
Grounded in data from the field, especially in actions, interactions, & social processes of people
The primary outcome of the study is a theory with specific components: a central phenomenon, causal conditions, strategies, conditions and context, and consequences.
Usually the theory is related through a model

11. Qualitative Research Designs
Critical Studies
Designed to provide alternative perspectives on contemporary societal problems
Focus: exposing social manipulation & oppressive social structures to advocate changes in social systems
Researcher approaches research with the belief that his/her assumptions are important determinants of what is perceived & concluded
Used with critical, postmodern, racial, feminist theory

12. Information is gathered from…
Individuals
Groups
Documents
Existing data bases and
Other sources

13. Steps in research (may vary depending on the nature of the study)
Frame the initial question or problem
Determine what previous research says about the question or problem
Frame research questions
Design a plan for collecting data to address the question or problem
Analyze the results of gathered data
Generate conclusions

14. Internal Validity
Revolves around the issue of CREDIBILITY, the extent to which the data, data analysis, and results are accurate and trustworthy
Threats to credibility: Instrumentation and researcher bias

15. Reliability & Validity in Qualitative Studies
Reliability: extent to which what is recorded is what actually occurred
Validity: fit between intent of research and what was actually studied
Validity enhanced by good rapport with participants, unobstrusive observation, participant selection methods, repeated patterns, detail, depth of analysis

16. Enhancing Credibility
Triangulation
Member checking
Cross-examination of evidence (Peer Review)

17. External Validity Transferability/translatability/ comparability
You cannot generalize in qualitative research

18. Criteria for Evaluating Qualitative Research
What is the problem? Clearly stated? Reformulated after data collection?
Is theoretical framework clear? Does lit review relate importance of research?
Any researcher bias? How well addressed?
Participants & selection addressed?
Observations? How well was it done?
Was data collection addressed? Duration? Intensity? Multiple methods?
Are credibility issues addressed?
Are findings clear? Make sense? Detailed?
Do conclusions & interpretations follow logically? Rich, thick description? Quotes?
Sufficient detail to discern transferability?

19. Groupwork Instructions
In groups, answer the following questions on pp
# 3, 5, 6, 7, 10
Fill out the Credibility Scorecard on p. 127