Qualitative Qualitative ResearchResearch

INTRODUCTION TO INTRODUCTION TO QUALITATIVE RESEARCHQUALITATIVE RESEARCH

Qualitative research – analysis of open-Qualitative research – analysis of open-ended questions or naturalistic which ended questions or naturalistic which involves the researcher going to a natural involves the researcher going to a natural setting where the phenomenon being setting where the phenomenon being studied is taking place.studied is taking place.

Includes grounded theory, case study, Includes grounded theory, case study, ethnography, and phenomenology.ethnography, and phenomenology.

All involve some means of doing content All involve some means of doing content analysis on text.analysis on text.

Field studies Field studies

Describing and exploring the Describing and exploring the phenomenon in a naturalistic settingphenomenon in a naturalistic setting

Examine in an in-depth manner, Examine in an in-depth manner, behaviors, practices and beliefsbehaviors, practices and beliefs

It is intensive rather than extensiveIt is intensive rather than extensive

E.g., studying Islam- related health E.g., studying Islam- related health beliefs beliefs

A. EthnographyA. Ethnography

Used by anthropologist to focus on Used by anthropologist to focus on group of peoplegroup of people

Its learning about culture to Its learning about culture to understand a specific group of understand a specific group of people way of life people way of life

B. PhenomenologyB. Phenomenology Thinking what the experience of Thinking what the experience of

people are people are The phenomenologic ask, what is the The phenomenologic ask, what is the

essence of the experience?essence of the experience? Its what the people think about the Its what the people think about the

phenomenon and how they interpret it. phenomenon and how they interpret it. Bracketing vs. intuiting Bracketing vs. intuiting E., what does quality of life means to E., what does quality of life means to

people at the age of 60 – 80 years of people at the age of 60 – 80 years of ageage

C. EthnomethodologyC. Ethnomethodology

How do people make sense of their How do people make sense of their daily life experience and how they daily life experience and how they interpret their social worldsinterpret their social worlds

Historical StudiesHistorical Studies

Systematic collection and critical Systematic collection and critical evaluation of information related to evaluation of information related to the pastthe past

Historical vs. Literature review Historical vs. Literature review E.g., gender effect on the E.g., gender effect on the

development of the profession of development of the profession of nursing nursing

Case StudiesCase Studies

In-depth investigation of individual, In-depth investigation of individual, group or situationgroup or situation

It understanding why is this It understanding why is this happening happening

It could be a way to introduce the It could be a way to introduce the main problem in more main problem in more comprehensive systematic waycomprehensive systematic way

ISSUES IN QUALITATIVE ISSUES IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCHRESEARCH

Ethics – protection of human subjects.Ethics – protection of human subjects. Naturalistic setting – informed consent.Naturalistic setting – informed consent. Emergent nature of design – ongoing Emergent nature of design – ongoing

negotiation of consent.negotiation of consent. Researcher-participant interaction – Researcher-participant interaction –

may become therapeutic.may become therapeutic. Researcher as instrument – Researcher as instrument –

“bracketing”.“bracketing”.

ISSUES IN QUALITATIVE ISSUES IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCHRESEARCH

Credibility – truth of findings as Credibility – truth of findings as judged by participants and others judged by participants and others within the discipline.within the discipline.

Auditability – accountability as judged Auditability – accountability as judged by the adequacy of information by the adequacy of information leading the reader from the research leading the reader from the research question and raw data through question and raw data through various steps of analysis to the various steps of analysis to the interpretation of findings.interpretation of findings.

Fittingness – faithfulness to Fittingness – faithfulness to everyday reality of the everyday reality of the participants described in enough participants described in enough detail so others in the discipline detail so others in the discipline can evaluate importance for their can evaluate importance for their own practice, research, and own practice, research, and theory development.theory development.

Issue in Qual. ResearchIssue in Qual. Research Triangulation – the expansion of Triangulation – the expansion of

research methods in a single study research methods in a single study or multiple studies to enhance or multiple studies to enhance diversity, enrich understanding, and diversity, enrich understanding, and accomplish specific goals.accomplish specific goals.

Computer management of Computer management of qualitative data – three types include qualitative data – three types include code and retrieve, theory builders, code and retrieve, theory builders, and conceptual network builders.and conceptual network builders.