1. LIS 570 Qualitative Research

2. Definition A process of enquiry that draws from the context in which events occur, in an attempt to describe these occurrences, as a means of determining the process in which events are embedded and the perspectives of those participating in the events, using induction to derive possible explanations based on observed phenomena

3. Features of Qualitative Research  Context  Description  Process  Participant perspective  Induction

4. Context  Draws from the context or environment in which events occur  uses the natural setting  researcher does not remain remote enters the context or situation to collect data enhances this data through insights gained onsite

5. Context Identify totally with your subjects Experience what they are experiencing

6. Description  Describes occurrences the ‘flavor’ of events is included in the research tape recorders, video cameras, notes, photographs, diaries, memos verbal narratives from the participants embellished by the researcher’s narrative

7. Process  Not just the result of events but the events themselves understanding the process of events how ideas become action the reactions to actions components of a process richer and fuller understanding through immersion in the entire activity

8. Participant perspective  What do the people involved in a particular process think what people believe how people feel how people interpret events Often involves participant involvement in or comment on the researchers observations and interpretations

9. Induction  How the observations are analyzed in a coherent and meaningful manner induction a ‘bottom-up” approach after data have been collected evidence is used to develop an explanation of events - to establish a theory based on observed phenomena  grounded theory - built from the ground up

10. Modes of enquiry  QUANTITATIVE MODE ASSUMPTIONS Objective reality of social facts Primacy of method Possible to identify variables Possible to measure variables  QUALITATIVE MODE ASSUMPTIONS Social construction of reality Primacy of subject matter Complexity of variables Difficulty in measuring variables

11. Modes of enquiry  QUANTITATIVE PURPOSE Generalization Prediction Causal explanation  QUALITATIVE PURPOSE Contextualization Interpretation Understanding participant perspectives

12. MODES OF ENQUIRY  QUANTITATIVE APPROACH Hypothesis based Manipulation and control Uses formal instruments Experimentation Deductive Component analysis Seeking norms and consensus Reducing data to numerical indices  QUALITATIVE APPROACH Theory generating Emergence and portrayal Researcher as instrument Naturalistic Inductive Pattern seeking Looking for pluralism and complexity Descriptive

13. Modes of enquiry  QUANTITATIVE RESEARCHER ROLE Detachment and impartiality Objective portrayal  QUALITATIVE RESEARCHER ROLE Personal involvement and partiality Empathetic understanding

15. Summary Researchers collect data within the natural setting of the data, and the key data collection instruments are the researchers themselves The data are verbal, not numerical Researchers are concerned with the process of an activity, not only the outcomes of that activity Researchers usually analyze their data verbally rather than statistically  The outcomes are often the generation of research questions and conjectures, not the verification of predicted relationships or outcomes

16. Focus groups  Used to gain an understanding of participants’ attitudes and perceptions relevant to a particular topic guided by a facilitator some prepared questions  supplemented by probes, not to obtain yes/no but to address ambiguities - e.g. Can you tell me why you think that?  Connectors - e.g. Can I pick up on something the previous speaker said; That raises another important question...

17. Focus groups  Advantages Speed Transparency Interaction Flexibility Open-endedness Ability to note non-verbal communication

18. Focus Groups  Disadvantages Getting people together Dominating personalities Wanting to be agreeable Finding a typical group

19. Focus groups  Recording the data Tape recorder Notes taken during the meeting Notes taken immediately after the discussion Notes taken by someone else during the discussion

20. Data recording sheet (Bouma: 182) What you observeYour reactions/ thoughts