1. McGraw-Hill © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The Nature of Qualitative Research Chapter Eighteen

2. McGraw-Hill © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The Nature of Qualitative Research Chapter Eighteen

3. McGraw-Hill © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. What is Qualitative Research? Many researchers are more interested in the quality of a particular activity than in how often it occurs or how it would otherwise be evaluated. Many researchers are more interested in the quality of a particular activity than in how often it occurs or how it would otherwise be evaluated. Research studies that investigate the quality of relationships, activities, situations, or materials are frequently referred to as Qualitative Research. Research studies that investigate the quality of relationships, activities, situations, or materials are frequently referred to as Qualitative Research. There is a greater emphasis on holistic description. There is a greater emphasis on holistic description. Table 18.1 compares the distinctive features of Qualitative Research

4. McGraw-Hill © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. (Table 18.1)

5. McGraw-Hill © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. General Characteristics of Qualitative Research Bogdan and Biklen (1998) describe five general features of Qualitative Research: Bogdan and Biklen (1998) describe five general features of Qualitative Research: 1) The natural setting is a direct source and key element 2) Collection is in the form of words or pictures 3) Researchers are concerned with how things occur 4) Construction of a picture while data is being collected vs. knowing what to expect 5) Special interest in the participants’ thoughts

6. McGraw-Hill © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. How Qualitative and Quantitative Researchers See the World (Figure 18.1)

7. McGraw-Hill © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Philosophical Assumptions Differences between the paradigms of Qualitative vs. Quantitative are expressed in how one approaches an investigation. Differences between the paradigms of Qualitative vs. Quantitative are expressed in how one approaches an investigation. Quantitative approaches are associated with positivism, relying on empirical data to explain phenomena. Quantitative approaches are associated with positivism, relying on empirical data to explain phenomena. Postmodernism presents a more intensive critique of research. Postmodernism presents a more intensive critique of research. First, it denies the existence of underlying structures First, it denies the existence of underlying structures Second, all natural things are changing constantly over time Second, all natural things are changing constantly over time

8. McGraw-Hill © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Steps in Qualitative Research All qualitative studies have a distinct starting and ending point. They begin when the researcher identifies the phenomenon and ends when a final conclusion is made. The steps are as follows: Identification of the phenomenon to be studied (foreshadowed problems) Identification of the phenomenon to be studied (foreshadowed problems) Identification of the participants in the study (purposive sample collecting) Identification of the participants in the study (purposive sample collecting) Generation of hypotheses Generation of hypotheses Data collection (continual observance) Data collection (continual observance) Data analysis Data analysis Interpretation/Conclusions Interpretation/Conclusions

9. McGraw-Hill © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Approaches to Qualitative Research The following are approaches to Qualitative Research: Biographical Study Phenomenological Study Grounded Theory Study Case Study Intrinsic Case Study Intrinsic Case Study Instrumental Case Study Instrumental Case Study Multiple or Collective Case Study Multiple or Collective Case Study

10. McGraw-Hill © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Sampling in Qualitative Research Typical Sample Typical Sample Critical Sample Critical Sample Homogeneous Sample Homogeneous Sample Theoretical Sample Theoretical Sample Snowball Sample Snowball Sample Opportunistic Sample Opportunistic Sample Confirming Sample Confirming Sample Maximal Variation Maximal Variation There are eight types of Purposive Samplings:

11. McGraw-Hill © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Generalization in Qualitative Research A generalization is usually thought of as a statement or claim that applies to more than one individual, group, or situation. The value of a generalization is that it allows us to have expectations about the future. A limitation of Qualitative Research is that there is seldom justification for generalizing the findings of a particular study. Due to this problem, replication of qualitative studies becomes more important than for quantitative studies.

12. McGraw-Hill © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Ethics and Qualitative Research Ethical concerns affect qualitative research as do other forms of studies. Ethical concerns affect qualitative research as do other forms of studies. The following are important to repeat: The following are important to repeat: Identities of participants should be protected Identities of participants should be protected Participants should always be treated with respect Participants should always be treated with respect Researchers should do their best to ensure that no physical or psychological harm will come to anyone who participates in the study Researchers should do their best to ensure that no physical or psychological harm will come to anyone who participates in the study

13. McGraw-Hill © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Qualitative and Quantitative Research Combined Qualitative and Quantitative Research can be used together. Qualitative and Quantitative Research can be used together. Descriptive statistics are sometimes used to provide quantitative details in a qualitative study. Descriptive statistics are sometimes used to provide quantitative details in a qualitative study. There are three mixed-method designs which combine the two studies: There are three mixed-method designs which combine the two studies: 1) Triangulation Design 2) Explanatory Design 3) Exploratory Design