Chapter Nine Qualitative Methods
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This chapter discusses qualitative research methods. It outlines the key components of qualitative research design including discussing the research strategy, sampling approach, data collection methods, data analysis steps, validating findings, and presenting results. The researcher's role is also addressed, highlighting how the researcher may influence interpretations and how to gain access to field sites. The chapter provides guidance on how to structure a qualitative methods section in a research proposal.
Chapter Nine Qualitative Methods
- 2. Chapter Outline • The Components of Qualitative Methods • The Characteristics of Qualitative Research • Qualitative Designs • The Researcher’s Role • Data Collection Procedures • Data Recording Procedures • Data Analysis and Interpretation • Validity and Reliability • Writing the Qualitative Report • Example 9.1. Qualitative Procedures
- 3. Qualitative Methods Questions for designing a qualitative procedure: See Table 9.1 1. Are the basic characteristics of qualitative studies mentioned? 2. Is the specific type of qualitative design to be used in the study mentioned? 3. Does the reader gain an understanding of the researcher's role in the study and how they may shape interpretations made in the study? 4. Is the purposeful sampling strategy for sites and individuals identified? 5. Are the specific forms of data collection mentioned and a rationale given for their use? 6. Are the procedures for recording information during the data collection detailed? 7. Are the data analysis steps identified? 8. Is there evidence that the researcher has organized the data for analysis? 9. Has the researcher reviewed the data generally to obtain a sense of the information? 10.Has the researcher coded the data? 11.Have the codes been developed to form a description and/or to identify themes? 12.Are the themes interrelated to show a higher level of analysis and abstraction? 13.Are the ways that the data will be represented? 14.Have the bases for interpreting the analysis been specified? 15.Has the researcher mentioned the outcome of the study? 16.Have multiple strategies been cited for validating the findings?
- 4. Components of Qualitative Methods • Tell readers about the design being used in the study • Discuss the sample for the study • Discuss data collection • Outline data analysis steps • Discuss how to present the data, interpret it, validate it and indicate potential outcomes of the study • Include a methods section that mentions the nature of the final written product
- 5. Characteristics of Qualitative Research • Review the needs of potential audiences for the proposal • Discuss characteristics of qualitative research if audience is not knowledgeable • Characteristics include: • Natural setting • Researcher as key instrument • Multiple sources of data • Inductive and deductive data analysis • Participants' meanings • Emergent design • Reflexivity • Holistic account
- 6. Strategies of Inquiry • Strategies of inquiry focus on data collection, analysis, and writing • Five popular examples: • Narrative • Phenomenology • Ethnography • Case study • Grounded theory
- 7. Qualitative Design In writing a procedure for a qualitative proposal: • Identify the specific design that you will be using and provide references to the literature • Provide some background information about the design • Discuss why it is an appropriate strategy to use in the proposed study • Identify how the use of the design will shape many aspects of the design process, such as the title, the problem, the research questions, the data collection and analysis and report write-up
- 8. The Researcher’s Role • Researcher has sustained intensive experience with participants • Strategic, ethical, and personal issues can arise • Researchers should • Discuss prior experiences with participants, setting or research problem • Indicate how these experiences may potentially shape the interpretations the researchers make during the study • Comment on the connection between the researchers and participants and the research site that may unduly influence the researcher's interpretations • Indicate steps to get IRB permissions
- 9. The Researcher’s Role – Discuss steps to gain entry into the setting Why was the site chosen for study? What activities will occur at the site during the research study? Will the study be disruptive? How will the results be reported? What will the gatekeeper gain from the study? – Comment about ethical issues that may arise and indicate how the research will address each
- 10. Data Collection Procedures • Identify the purposefully select individuals and sites for the study • Indicate the number of sites and participants to be involved in the study • Select the type(s) of data to be collected – Qualitative observations – Qualitative interviews – Qualitative documents – Qualitative audio-visual materials See Table 9.2
- 11. Data Collection Procedures • Include data collection types that go beyond typical observations and interviews. • These unusual forms create reader interest in a proposal and can capture useful information that observations and interviews may miss. • See Table 9.3
- 12. Data Recording Procedures Observational protocol: record information while observing – Record descriptive notes, reflective notes, and demographic information during observations Interview protocol: for asking questions and recording answers – A heading – Instructions for the interviewer to follow – The questions – Ice breaker, 4-5 questions, concluding question – Probes for the 4-5 questions – Space between questions to record answers – A final thank-you statement – A log to keep a record of documents collected for analysis
- 13. Data Analysis and Interpretation • Specify the steps in analyzing the various forms of qualitative data by segmenting and taking them apart • Data analysis will proceed hand-in-hand with data collection and the write-up of findings • Dense and rich data means presentation will be an aggregate with small number of themes • Specify the use of computer data analysis program • Analysis steps embedded within specific qualitative designs • Blend the general steps with the specific research strategy steps
- 14. Data Analysis in Qualitative Research
- 15. Data Analysis and Interpretation Step 1. Organize and prepare the data for analysis (e.g. transcribing interviews) Step 2. Read or look at all the data
- 16. Data Analysis and Interpretation Step 3. Start coding all of the data • Codes on topics that readers would expect to find, based on the past literature and common sense • Codes that are surprising and that were not anticipated at the beginning of the study • Codes that are unusual, and that are, in and of themselves, of conceptual interest to readers • Develop codes only on the basis of the emerging information • Use predetermined codes and then fit the data to them • Use some combination of emerging and predetermined codes
- 17. Data Analysis and Interpretation Step 4. Use the coding process to generate a description of the setting or people as well as categories or themes for analysis Step 5. Discuss how the description and themes will be represented Step 6. Present interpretation(s) by capturing the essence of the idea
- 18. Reliability, Validity, and Generalizability • Qualitative validity • Researcher uses procedures to check the accuracy of the findings • Triangulate Negative information • Member checking Prolonged time in the field • Rich, thick description Peer debriefing • Clarify bias External auditor • Qualitative reliability • Researcher uses an approach that is consistent across different analysts and projects • Qualitative generalization • Focus of qualitative research on the particularity, not generalizability
- 19. The Qualitative Write-Up See Example 9.1 • Discuss strategies for writing up the qualitative findings • Develop description and themes • Match write-up to strategy of inquiry • Use quotes • Include some conversation • Use the first person form • Use metaphors and analogies • Discuss how findings will be related to theories and literature