Week 3 Qualitative Research Flashcards
What is qualitative research?
Approach that seeks to elucidate an in-depth understanding or exploration of interest, relying on narratives (non-numerical data) to explain processes
Purpose of Qualitative research
- Develop in-depth understanding or connections between concepts
- Explore unique experiences
- Understand how a particular intervention has influenced an individual
Types of Qualitative designs
- Descriptive
- Phenomenology
- Ethnography
- Grounded theory
- Participatory action research
Descriptive
To describe, explore, understand, summarise a phenomenon of interest
Adv + Disadv of Descriptive
Flexible, simple & be applied in many contexts
Lack scientific rigour
Phenomenology
Understand phenomenon by describing & interpreting participants’ lived experiences
Ethnography
Immerse themselves in target groups to study/understand culture
Grounded theory
Understand social processes to develop a theory by using interviews and collecting rich data
Participatory action research
Both researchers and participants conduct research together to drive social change
What kind of sampling strategy does Quali use?
Non-probability - to gain in depth understanding with purposeful selection
What are the types of non probability sampling strats?
- Convenience
- Purposive
- Snowball
Convenience sampling + Adv + Drawbacks
Select participants based on convenience
Readily available, easy to collect, cost effective
Sampling bias
Purposive sampling + Adv + Drawbacks
Selecting based on criteria set beforehand
Meaningful contribution, in-depth understanding
Difficult to find participants
Snowball sampling + Adv + Drawbacks
Recruited participants to recc others
Meaningful contribution
Difficult & slow recruitment
What is sample size based on?
Data saturation when no new information emerges
What is sample size of Quali?
Looking at depth of data and has a relatively small sample size
Examples of data collection methods
In depth interviews
Observations + field notes
Surveys with open ended questions
Secondary data
Types of interviews + Adv + Disadv
Individual vs focus group
Semi structured vs unstructured
Able to clarify ideas, identify non verbal cues
Time consuming, manpower, scheduling
What is the aim of in depth interview techniques?
Evoke thick & rich response to obtain in depth information & to build rapport
What are the general steps for data analysis?
- Preparation - clean data, transcription
- Immerse/familiarise
- Code: Label patterns
- Allow themes & subthemes to emerge
What are the 2 basic data analysis methods?
- Thematic
- Content/framework
What is the purpose of thematic analysis?
To identify and interpret meaning
Thematic analysis + Adv + Disadv
Bottom up approach, Inductive coding that is data driven, latent data with underlying meaning
Generate new insights
Reliance on researcher - biasness
What are the 6 steps of thematic analysis?
- Familiarise data
- Generate initial code
- Searching for themes
- Reviewing themes
- Defining & naming themes
- Producing report
