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Qualitative Research Design Methods

This document outlines 5 common qualitative research designs: phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, historical research, and case study. Phenomenology aims to describe lived experiences from the subject's point of view. Grounded theory is used to develop theories by constantly comparing data. Ethnography describes the characteristics of a culture through immersion and observation. Historical research examines past events to understand the present by analyzing primary sources. Case studies provide an in-depth description of an individual's experience through direct observation and interaction.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
9 views5 pages

Qualitative Research Design Methods

This document outlines 5 common qualitative research designs: phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, historical research, and case study. Phenomenology aims to describe lived experiences from the subject's point of view. Grounded theory is used to develop theories by constantly comparing data. Ethnography describes the characteristics of a culture through immersion and observation. Historical research examines past events to understand the present by analyzing primary sources. Case studies provide an in-depth description of an individual's experience through direct observation and interaction.

Uploaded by

noramin89
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© All Rights Reserved
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QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGNS

Specific qualitative approaches

1. Phenomenology

  Purpose, goal - to describe experiences as they are lived


     examines uniqueness of individual's lived
situations
 each person has own reality; reality is
subjective

  Research question development


     What does existence of feeling or experience
indicate concerning the phenomenon to be
explored
 What are necessary & sufficient constituents
of feeling or experience?
 What is the nature of the human being?

  Method
     No clearly defined steps to avoid limiting
creativity of researcher
 Sampling & data collection

       Seek persons who understand study &


are willing to express inner feelings &
experiences
 Describe experiences of phenomenon
 Write experiences of phenomenon
 Direct observation
 Audio or videotape

  Data analysis
     Classify & rank data
 Sense of wholeness
 Examine experiences beyond human
awareness/ or cannot be communicated
 

Outcomes
     Findings described from subject's point-of-
view
 Researcher identifies themes
 Structural explanation of findings is
developed

----------------------

2. Grounded theory

  Purpose - theory development


     Used in discovering what problems exist in a
social scene &how persons handle them
 Involves formulation, testing, &
redevelopment of propositions until a theory
is developed

  Method - steps occur simultaneously; a constant


comparative process
     Data collection - interview, observation,
record review, or combination

  Analysis
     Concept formation
 Concept development - reduction; selective
sampling of literature; selective sampling of
subjects; emergence of core concepts
 Concept modification & integration

  Outcomes - theory supported by examples from data

----------------------
3. Ethnography

  Purpose - to describe a culture's characteristics


  Method
     Identify culture, variables for study, & review
literature
 Data collection - gain entrance to culture;
immerse self in culture; acquire informants;
gather data through direct observation &
interaction with subjects

  Analysis - describe characteristics of culture


  Outcomes - description of culture

----------------------

4. Historical

  Purpose - describe and examine events of the past to


understand the present and anticipate potential future
effects
  Method
     Formulate idea - select topic after reading
related literature
 Develop research questions
 Develop an inventory of sources - archives,
private libraries, papers
 Clarify validity & reliability of data - primary
sources, authenticity, biases
 Develop research outline to organize
investigative process
 Collect data

  Analysis - synthesis of all data; accept & reject data;


reconcile conflicting evidence
  Outcomes - select means of presentation - biography,
chronology, issue paper
  ----------------------

5. Case study

  Purpose - describe in-depth the experience of one person,


family, group, community, or institution
  Method
     Direct observation and interaction with
subject

  Analysis - synthesis of experience


  Outcomes - in-depth description of the experience

 ----------------------

Data collection
Reliability & validity - rigor
Use of researcher's personality
 Involvement with subject's experience
 Live with data collection until no new information
appears

Bracketing
 Researcher suspends what is known about the
phenomenon
 Keeping an open context
 Set aside own preconceptions

Intuiting
 Process of actually looking at phenomenon
 Focus all awareness & energy on topic
 Absolute concentration & complete absorption in
phenomenon

Can use > 1 researcher & compare interpretation and analysis of


data
Data analysis
 Living with data
 Cluster & categorize data
 Examine concepts & themes
 Define relationships between/among concepts

Common questions

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'Intuiting' is a critical process in qualitative research where researchers focus all their awareness and energy on looking at the phenomenon they are studying. This practice, which involves absolute concentration and complete absorption in the phenomenon, allows researchers to deeply understand the essence of the experiences under investigation. As part of data analysis, intuiting helps in clustering and categorizing data, examining concepts and themes, and defining relationships among concepts, thereby contributing to a more profound and comprehensive understanding of the research subject .

Ethnographic research necessitates that the researcher deeply engages with the culture being studied by gaining entrance and immersing themselves in the cultural setting. This involves acquiring informants and collecting data through direct observation and interaction with subjects. The researcher describes the culture's characteristics as an outcome, which requires a substantial understanding and engagement with the cultural context .

Phenomenological research is distinct in its approach as it seeks to describe experiences as they are lived, examining the uniqueness of individual lived situations, and acknowledging that each person has their own subjective reality. Unlike other methods that may impose predefined steps, phenomenology avoids clearly defined steps to preserve the researcher’s creativity. It involves direct observation, audio or videotaping, and focuses on classifying and ranking data to sense a holistic understanding that may transcend human awareness or communicability. Outcomes are described from the subject's point of view with themes identified by the researcher .

'Bracketing' is a methodological practice in qualitative research where researchers suspend their pre-existing knowledge of the phenomenon under study. This technique is crucial for maintaining an open context and setting aside personal preconceptions, which helps enhance the validity and credibility of the research by minimizing bias. By focusing awareness and energy fully on the topic, researchers can gain more authentic insights into participants’ experiences and ensure the research findings reflect the participants' perspectives rather than the researcher’s assumptions .

The primary purpose of using grounded theory in qualitative research is for theory development. It is used to discover existing problems in a social scene and how individuals handle them. The key methodological steps involved include simultaneous occurrence of data collection and analysis through a constant comparative process. This involves concept formation, development through reduction, selective sampling of literature and subjects, and emergence of core concepts, followed by concept modification and integration. The goal is to develop a theory supported by examples from the data .

Integrating multiple researchers in qualitative data analysis enhances the study’s credibility by allowing for diverse interpretations and minimizing individual bias. Different researchers bring unique perspectives and analytical lenses to the data, which can lead to a more comprehensive understanding and validation of the findings. This collaborative analysis ensures that the final interpretations are not unduly influenced by a single researcher’s subjective view, thereby increasing the overall reliability and validity of the study's conclusions .

A case study methodologically focuses on an in-depth exploration of the experience of a single individual, family, group, community, or institution through direct observation and interaction. Unlike other approaches that may encompass broader scope and multiple participants or contexts, a case study aims to provide a comprehensive and detailed description of the specific case. The outcome is a nuanced in-depth description of the particular experience, offering rich insights and understanding that are specific to that case, as opposed to theoretical generalization or cultural description found in other methods like grounded theory or ethnography .

Ensuring reliability and validity in qualitative research involves several strategies, including maintaining rigorous data collection processes, using bracketing to minimize biases, and living with the data collection until no new information emerges. The researcher's personality plays a crucial role, as it involves actively engaging with the subject's experience and maintaining an open context. Researchers must also compare interpretation and analysis of data among multiple researchers to validate findings. These strategies collectively contribute to the credibility and trustworthiness of the research .

'Living with the data' is important for qualitative researchers as it involves sustained engagement and continuous interaction with the data until saturation or no new information appears. This practice allows researchers to become deeply familiar with the data, facilitating thorough clustering, categorizing, and examination of concepts and themes. It leads to more valid and robust findings, as researchers gain a comprehensive understanding that reduces the glossing over of subtle details and nuances in participants' experiences. This depth of engagement ensures the research findings are reflective of the true nature of the phenomena studied .

The historical approach in qualitative research contributes to understanding current phenomena by examining and describing past events, which provides insights into present-day situations and behaviors. By analyzing historical data, researchers can identify patterns and influences that have shaped current realities. This understanding allows for a more informed anticipation of potential future effects, enabling researchers and practitioners to derive lessons that can guide future actions and policies. The method involves formulation of ideas, rigorous analysis, and synthesis of data, which can lead to a variety of presentation formats such as biographies, chronologies, or issue papers .

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