1. Theoretical Approaches 2. Modalities of Qualitative Research 3. Sampling Methods 4. Software...
Transcript of 1. Theoretical Approaches 2. Modalities of Qualitative Research 3. Sampling Methods 4. Software...
1. Theoretical Approaches2. Modalities of Qualitative Research3. Sampling Methods4. Software Packages
Qualitative research seeks to gain a comprehensive and holistic view of social life through the study of people in a wide range of natural settings.
It is used to capture expressive information not conveyed in quantitative data about beliefs, values, feelings, and motivations that underlie behaviors.
Grounded Theory: Theory that emerges from data
Superimposed Theory: Start with theory & determine if the data support your theory
Observational Studies◦ Unstructured data collection◦ Structured data collection
Categorizing phenomena Checklists Rating scales
Interviews central to the relevant group or process◦ Focus groups◦ Key Informants◦ Critical incident reports
Case study evaluation
Qualitative TechniquesQualitative Techniques
Recording and analysis of key interactions– Audiotape or videotape
Attention to data validity– Triangulation: collection from independent
sources using differing means– Feedback from study participants– Thorough examination of outlying cases
Attention to data reliability– Detailed documentation of analysis– Parallel review by independent investigators
Researchers thoughtful reflections
Researchers analyze the data based on themes
Statistical packages
Advantages1. Organize data2. Store data3. Easy to retrieve data4. Frequency count of
words5. Easier to examine
relationship between data
Disadvantages1. Slow down analysis
phase2. Stifle creativity3. Doesn’t do thinking
for you4. Researcher is part of
the analysis5. Loose context
Don’t know what was said before,
Can include more information as you input the data
Qualitative method serves as an input to a primarily quantitative study
Can generate hypotheses, develop content for questionnaires & interventions
Example: You are uncertain about how to communicate with a particular group, so you conduct focus groups to develop the content for a survey or intervention
Source: David Morgan (1999)
Quantitative method serves as an input to a primarily qualitative study
Can guide purposive sampling, establish preliminary results to pursue in depth
Example: You are unsure which groups have the characteristics you are interested in, so you conduct a brief survey, prior to selecting the groups you will study in depth
Source: David Morgan (1999)
Qualitative method serves as an extension to a primarily quantitative study
Can provide interpretations for poorly understood results, help explain outliers
Example: You want to understand more about why the results of a survey or intervention came out the way they did, so you run focus groups to help interpret the results
Source: David Morgan (1999)
Quantitative method serves as an extension to a primarily qualitative study
Can generalize results to different samples, test elements of emergent theories
Example: You want to determine where else the conclusions from a case study are likely to apply, so you use a brief survey to determine the characteristics of other sites
Source: David Morgan (1999)
Researchers frequent immersion in the day-to-day lives of their subjects make some qualitative studies susceptible to measurement bias
Researcher is not detached or unbiased
Full disclosure has been suggested as a way to deal with bias
Minimize bias in other ways
Systematic description of the nature of the data collection methods to be used
Presentation of a clear and convincing rationale why qualitative approaches are not only appropriate for addressing the research questions at hand but why they are the most likely to produce useful findings
Source: Qualitative Methods In Health Research, Office of Behavioral & Social Sciences Research, NIH
Focused discussion of the universe studied and the sample recruited for qualitative assessment (including accounting for the relationship between the sample to the universe, by using a clearly described sampling plan)
Specification of the timeframes that bound data collection (e.g., observations designed to sample variation across hours of the day, days of the week, and weeks of the year
Source: Qualitative Methods In Health Research, Office of Behavioral & Social Sciences Research, NIH
Careful presentation of the nature of the data to be collected
An orderly account of the analytic procedures to be performed, including specification of how findings can be interpreted
Source: Qualitative Methods In Health Research, Office of Behavioral & Social Sciences Research, NIH
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