Ch 10: qualitative research Flashcards
(46 cards)
Qualitative Research
inductive process that involves grouping together specific pieces of non-numerical data, such as text, that share similarities to formulate more general and abstract conclusions
inductive theory-building-often called “grounded theory”
Key features of qualitative research:
-Observation–> natural setting is ideal
-Researcher subjectivity and reflexivity
-Data analysis
Key types of qualitative research
-Case studies
-Interviews
-Focus groups
-Ethnography/Field Research
Reflexivity
researchers practice of reflecting on how his or her characteristics and presence shape the research process
Latent codes (qualitative)
underlying or implied meaning found beneath the surface data
Ex: Interpreting a participant’s tone or emotional state based on their choice of words and context
Case Study: Key Features
-In depth Exploration
-Multiple Data sources
-Contextual analysis
-Small sample size
Case Study: Advantages
-In-Depth Exploration
-Rich, Contextualized Data
-Flexibility in Data Collection
-Theory Development
-Illustrative Power
Case Study: disadvantages/challenges
-Limited generalizability
-Potential for researcher bias
-Time-consuming and resource-intensive
-Data Overload
In-Depth interviewing
allows for participants to share detailed perspectives , uncover motivations/emotions, & requires strong rapport between researcher and participant
Interview Structure
range of options in determining how closely they plan to follow their interview script
Fully Structured Interview
employ a clearly defined list of questions that are meant to be presented in a specific order
ex: commonly used in the hiring process or exit interviews
Semi structured interview
typically have a set of questions that must be covered but allows more room for the interviewee to expand on their ideas (depends on answers given)
Unstructured interview
when the general topic and guiding research questions are known but the specific questions and structure of the interview are not determined ahead of time
used to build rapport (flow of the discussion is based on the interviewee’s responses)
Funnel (Question Development)
starts with broad questions that allow researcher to develop a base for understanding the issue but also building rapport
Process
-Alignment with research objectives
-Open-ended format
-Progression and logical flow
-Encourage reflection and narrative responses (probes)
-Pilot testing and refinement
-Ethical considerations
Questions
Open-ended questions
-No predefined answers
-Allows participants to elaborate (why, what, how)
-Clarity and simplicity
-Neutrality and avoiding leading questions
Rapport Building
Building trust and openness in qualitative research –> helpful in obtaining more meaningful/personal insights
(Active listening, showing empathy, respect, and maintaining confidentiality)
Transcript
typed version of recording
helps researchers understand the data they are collecting
Strengths: interviewing
-Flexible questions–> exploration of unexpected topics
-Provides insights into individual experiences
-Reveals rich, qualitative data that quantitative methods mix
-Useful for sensitive or complex topics requiring detailed responses
Interviews: Challenges
-Time consuming: requires preparation, conducting, and transcription
-Subjectivity: Researcher bias may influence responses
-Difficult to analyze: Large volumes of narrative data
Focus Groups
group setting with moderator to facilitate.
pros: group dynamic and bring a greater range of perspectives
cons: a dominant personality can influence group dynamic and make others less inclined to contribute
Moderator
person responsible for guiding focus group and making sure that all participants are contributing
Uses probing to generate more detailed responses
Triangulation
using different research methods (qualitative, quantitative) helps strengthen validity
Coding Data
systematic process of organizing and categorizing qualitative data
identifies patterns, themes, and meanings in interviews, observations, and text
