Qualitative Research Method - an Introduction (updated jan 2011)

Hangzhou, January 2011Prof. Dr. Hora Tjitra, Zhejiang University

Qualitative Research Methodology 定性研究方法 - An Introduction

An Introduc+on to Qualita+ve Research Methodology

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It can refers to research about: • persons’ lives, • lived experiences• behaviors, emotions and feelings• organizational functioning• social movements• cultural phenomena• interaction between nations

Qualitative Research Paradigms

… any type of research that produces findings not arrived by statistical procedures or other means of quantification (Strauss & Corbin, 1998 p.10).


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14 years in Germany

7 years in China

Born and grew up in Indonesia

Prof. Dr. Hora Tjitra - Cross-cultural and Business Psychology

Dipl.-Psych., Technical University of BraunschweigOrganizational Psychology and Human Resource Management

Dr. Phil., University of RegensburgIntercultural Psychology and Strategic Management

Executive Education, INSEADHR Management in Asia


Outline

1 What is qualitative research? 5

2 Defining Topics and Research Questions 11

3 Qualitative research process 15

4 What is good qualitative research? 21

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What are the most important differences between qualitative and quantitative research? ?


Comparisons of Quantitative and Qualitative Research Paradigms

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e.g. Survey on Employee Satisfaction: Questionnaires (Statistic) or Interviews (Text)

Graphic source: h.p://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?9tle=Researching_M-‐Libraries_workshop

http://qrtips.com/faq/FAQ--code%20terms.htm

http://qrtips.com/faq/FAQ--code%20terms.htm


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Construction of Theories and Hypothesis

Pilot Study

Deep Analysis

Case Study

Process Analysis

Classification

Evaluation of Theories and Hypothesis

Mayring, 1997

Qualitative Analysis: What for ?


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Strong Focus on Description• Importance of Single Case Study• Openness• Control of Method

Strong Focus on Interpretation• Pre-Understanding• Introspection• Researcher-Object Interaction

Subject First• Wholeness• History• Problem Orientation

Natural and Daily Environment

The Results Should be Understood as a Process of Generalization• Argumentative Generalization• Induction• Rules Concept• Quantification

Mayring, 1996

The Foundations and Pillars of Qualitative Thinking


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Models of process and theory

Linear model of the research process

Theory Hypotheses Opera-onal-‐iza-on Sampling Collec-on Interpreta-on Valida-on

Circular model of the research process

Preliminaryassump-ons

TheoryCollec-on Interpreta-on

CaseCollec-on Interpreta-onCase

Collec-on Interpreta-onCase

Sampling Sampling

Comparing

Comparing Comparing


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Research Design for the integration of qualitative and quantitative research

Qualitative

Quantitative

(con%nuous collec%onof both sorts of data)

Qualitative Quantitative Qualitative

(Explora%on) (Ques%onnaire) (deepening andassessing results)

Quantitative Qualitative Quantitative

(Survey) (Field Study) (Experiment)

Adapted from Miles & Huberman, 1994


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Qualita've Research Process: From Ideas (Ques'ons) to Results (Theory)

Data Collection

Preparation Process

Analyzing Process

Process of Qualitative Research

Qualitative Research Design

Single Case Analyses

Document Analyses Action Research Field Research Qualitative

ExperimentsQualitative Evaluation

Research Topics, Problems and Questions (Hypotheses)

The Foundations and Pillars of Qualitative Thinking


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Getting started:Choosing a problem and stating the research question

• How do I find a researchable problem?• How do I narrow it down sufficiently to make it workable?

Sources of research problem

suggested or assigned literature experiences

What do questions look like in qualitative study? How do they differ from those quantitative studies and why?

The research question in a qualitative study is a statement that identifies the phenomenon to be studied. It tells the readers what the researcher specifically wants to know about this subject.

“What happens when a pa,ent complains of being pain but the nurse does not believe him or her?”

In this case, the focus of the observa,ons, chart reviews, and interviews, as well as analysis, will be on the interac,on between nurse and pa,ent.


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Research Questions in the Research Process

8. Evaluation and reformulation of the specific research questions

9. Analyzing the data

2. Formulation of specific research

10. Generalization and evaluation of the analyses

3. Formulation of sensitizing concepts

11. Formulation of the findings

4. Selection of research groups with which to study the question

5. Selection of appropriate designs and methods

1. Formulation of the overall question

6. Evaluation and reformulation of the specific research questions

7. Collection of data


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RQ Forms and influences in qualitative research process 定性研究过程的形势和影响因素

• The original research question and the manner in which it is phrased lead the researcher to examine the data from a specific perspective and to use certain data gathering techniques and modes of data analysis.

• The question(s) sets the tone for the research project and helps the researcher to stay focused, even when there are masses of data.

• The original question in a qualitative study often is broad and open ended that tends to become more refined and specific as the research progress and as the issues and problems of the areas under investigation emerged.

• It is important that the researcher have enthusiasm for the subject because he / she will have to live with it for some time.


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Data Collection

Preparation Process

Analyzing Process

Process of Qualitative Research

Qualitative Research Design


Document Analyses Action Research Field Research Qualitative

ExperimentsQualitative Evaluation

Qualitative Research Design and Prozess

Writing Qualitative Research Report

Research Topics, Problems and Questions (Hypotheses)


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Document Analyses

Research Design

The Qualitative Experiments

Action Research

Field Research


Qualitative Evaluation Research

The Most Common Qualitative Research Design


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Qualitative Field Research

A disciplined inquiry examining the personal meanings of individuals’ experiences and actions in the context of their social environment

It is appropriate for topics which are:

Defy simple quantification (not counting numbers of interactions of the subjects)

Require the comprehensiveness of the perspective the researcher can provide (studying a culture)

Need the researcher’s presence in their natural setting to best learn about behavior (gang, homeless, etc.)

Investigate social processes over time (demonstrations, courtroom procedures, public hearing)


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Qualitative Data

GroupDiscussion

InterviewObservation

Qualitative Data Collection

Observation is probably the most basic and oldest method in the whole psychology. It is a process we all are continuously engaged in, and in the eyes of public, psychologist are notorious for spending their time „watching“ other people !!It enables the researcher to find out how something factually works or occurs.


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Life world Meaning Qualitative Specificity DeliberateDescriptive

Focused Ambiguity Change Sensitivity Interpersonal Situation

Positive Experience

The Purpose of Qualitative Research Interview treated is to obtain descriptions of

the lived world of the interviewees with respect to interpretations of the meaning of

the described phenomena.

Aspects of Qualitative Research Interviews


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Qualitative Data Analyzing Approaches

Theory

The Social World

Data

(Gilbert, N. (ed.) (1993) Researching Social Life, Sage, London)

Theory

The Social World

Instance

Explanation

Grounded Theory: Inductional Approach

Content Analysis: Deductional Approach

How can you “judge” a good research in psychology? ?


Checklist for selecting a qualitative research method

1. What do I know about the issue of my study or how detailed is my knowledge already?

2. How developed is the theore-cal or empirical knowledge in the literature about the issue?

3. Am I more interested in generally exploring the field and the issue of my study?

4. What is the theore-cal background of my study and which methods fit this background?

5. What is it that I want to get close to in my study? Personal experiences of (a group) of certain people or social processes in the making? Or am I more interested in reconstruc-ng the underlying structures of my issue?

6. Do I started with a very focused research ques-on right away or do I start from a rather unfocused approach in order to develop the more focused ques-ons underway in the process of my project?

7. What is the aggregate I want to study? Personal experiences, interac-ons or situa-ons or bigger en--es like organiza-ons or discourse?

8. Is it more the single case (e.g. of a personal illness experience or of a certain ins-tu-on) I am interested in or the comparison of various cases?

9. What are resources (-me, money, wo/manpower, skills…) available to run my study?

10. What are the characteris-cs of the field I want to study and of the people in it? What can you request of them and what not?

11. What is the claim of generaliza-on of my study?


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Quality Factors of Psychological Research

... the best available approximation to the truth or falsity of propositions, incl. propositions about cause.

Objectivity

Validity

Reliability... is the "consistency" or "repeatability" of your

measures. A measure is considered reliable if it would give us the same result over and over again.

... is standardized situation as well as analyzing and interpretation process in performing psychological research.


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Quality Factors of Qualitative Research

Process Documentation

Argumentative Interpretation Assurance

Following Rules

Closeness to the Research Object

Communicative Validation

Triangulation


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Triangulation: Three Pillars of Good Qualitative Research

Data Resources

Interpreter

TheoriesMethods


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Important Common Features of Qualitative Research

• Appropriateness of methods and theories

• Perspec%ves of the par%cipants and their diversity

• Reflexivity of the researcher and the research

• Variety of approaches and methods in qualita%ve research

• “Verstehen” as epistemological principle

• Reconstruc%ng cases as star%ng point

• Construc%on of reality as basis

• Text as empirical material


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Principles of Quality Management in the Qualitative Research Process

• A definition of the goals to be reached and the standards of the project to be kept, which should be as clear as possible; all researchers and co-workers have to be integrated in this definition.

• A definition, how these goals and standards, and more generally the quality to be obtained, can be reached; and therefore, a consensus about the way how to apply certain methods, perhaps through joint interview training, and its analysis are preconditions for quality in the research process.

• A clear definition of the responsibilities for obtaining quality in the research process.

• The transparency of the judgment and the assessment and quality in the process.

Thank You

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Zhejiang University, Hangzhou (China)

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Qualitative Research Method - an Introduction (updated jan 2011)

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