Qualitative Research

Question 1

Qualitative Research

Answer 1

Generally exploratory in nature, seeking understanding and insight into human psychology from within the individuals subjective perspectives and experiences

Question 2

Characteristics of Qualitative Research

Answer 2

• emphasis on the social and environmental context in which the research occurs
• collection of data that is in-depth and multi-layered going beyond numerical data points
• adaptability and openness of qualitative methods to be flexible during the research process
  -analysis and interpretation of the subjectivity of data
• grounded in the participants perspective
• use of reflexivity to acknowledge the researchers potential influence on research findings

Question 3

Case Study

Answer 3

Method involved conducting an empirical study about particular case or phenomenon, grounded in real-life context. Seeks to understand a “case” in its real-world context.

Is a detailed analysis that takes place over a period of time on some psychological phenomena, with the goal of producing knowledge relevant to the context of the case.

Question 4

Interview

Answer 4

Any conversation you have can be considered as an interview. A face-to-face verbal exchange in which one person, the interviewers attempt to elect information

Question 5

Interview Types

Question 6

Structured Interviews

Answer 6

• Involve the use of a specific set of questions
• All questions on the interview schedule must be asked of all participants in the same order
• Use closed questions which have a limited range of potential responses
• The interviews allow for large amounts of data to be collectively relatively easily

Question 7

Unstructured Interviews

Answer 7

• Natural conversations with an interviewee
• Questions are open-ended allowing a range of potential responses from the interviewee
• Research may also carry out a narrative style interview where no specific questions are asked but instead a topic is proposed
• They require considerable skill and training

Question 8

Focus Groups

Answer 8

• They are group interviews
• A group conversation feels much more natural than a one-on-one structured interview
• Listening to others may actually spark ideas and encourage conversation
• Focus groups also save time as several people can be interviewed in a shorter period of time

Question 9

Naturalistic Observations

Answer 9

A variation of observational research which takes place in a natural real world setting
They may be:
- Participant Observation in which the researcher participates in the observational situation
- Non-Participant Observation in which the researcher does not participate in the observational situation

Question 10

Characteristics of Naturalistic Observations

Answer 10

• take place in a natural setting
• they involved no manipulation on the part of the research
• generate descriptive data which is coded into themes and categories
• subjectivity plays a key role in the collection and interpretation of data