Lesson 1 • Qualitative Research Defined CLO1:

The Process of • Qualitative Research Philosophy Critically appraise qualitative research designs
Conducting Research • Steps in Conducting Qualitative Research relevant to educational research. (C4 : PLO1)
Using Qualitative • Strengths and Limitations of Qualitative Research
Research Approach

Why This Lesson

This lesson will provide an insight to the fundamentals of qualitative research: philosophy, concept, importance, and the
process of conducting educational research. Specifically, it will focus on the following topics:
• Qualitative Research Defined
• Qualitative Research Philosophy
• Steps in Conducting Qualitative Research
• Issues in Qualitative Research

Research Defined

Basically, research involves thinking and planning of what you want to study, how you are going to collect the information
(data) and ways to analyse it to derive conclusions for the study.
Creswell (2015) mentions that research is a process of steps used to collect and analyse information to increase our
understanding of a topic or issue. At a general level, research consists of three steps:
1. Pose a question
2. Collect data to answer the question
3. Present an answer to the question.
Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary describes research as:
• A careful and diligent search
• The collecting of information about a particular subject
• A studious inquiry or examination; especially investigation or experimentation aiming at the discovery and
interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts, or practical application of
such new or revised theories or laws.
Hence, research is
• A scientific inquiry or examination to understand a phenomenon or a problem under study
• A systematic process of collecting and analysing information to enhance understanding of the phenomenon
under study
• A process of careful planned steps of searching or re-searching the truth about certain established facts or existing
theories
Research is a systematic planning of data collection and analysis that begins with a research problem and ends up with a
research report on an area of concern.

Qualitative Research Defined

What is Qualitative Research Approah?

Creswell (1994) explains that a qualitative research is a holistic approach that involves discovery of meaning and
understanding. Most often, the qualitative researcher is concerned with the individuals' understanding of their social
reality. It is concerned with “developing explanations of social phenomena”. It aims to help the audience to understand “
the social world they live in and why things are the way they are”. It is set in a natural setting which enables the
researcher to develop “a level of detail from high involvement in the actual experiences”

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It is commonly used used in sociology, anthropology, political science, psychology, social work, and educational research.
In education, qualitative research is chosen to address a research problem in which the researcher does not know the
variables and need to explore. The literature provides little information about the phenomenon of the study. In a qualitative
research study, the researchers have to rely on first hand data obtained from interviews, documents, open-ended
questionnaires, focus groups, participant-observation, and recordings made in natural settings. The data are generally
nonnumerical, massive and unstructured which the researcher has to analysed thematically and catergorically.

“Qualitative research is holistic in nature, and its primary purpose is to get a deep understanding of the opinions, behavior,
and thoughts of the target audience in an open way. It enables the researcher to engage with respondents in a flexible
way instead of asking them a set of predetermined questions. In the same way, respondents can also discuss the subject
openly, which helps the researcher collect rich information and suggest a final course of action,”
([Link]

Qualitative Research Vs Quantitative Research

Quantitative research methods are all about numbers and measurement, while qualitative approaches talk about people’s
opinions and the reason behind those opinions. Quantitative research is particularistic in nature where numbers guide
decisions, and data is analyzed using statistical analysis. Qualitative research method, on the other hand help gain an
initial understanding of the subject that deals in figures like how many people are likely to buy your products and services.

Qualitative Research Methods Quantitative Research Methods

It focuses on “ what” customers think as well It focuses on the “what,” “where,” &
Objective
as “why” they think in such a manner. “when” of the customer’s needs.

Nature Holistic Particularistic

Type of data Descriptive Numerical

Focus Group, Interviews, Case Study,

Methods Surveys, questionnaires
Observations.

Interaction with More direct and personal contact with Less direct and personal contact with
users respondents. respondents.

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 Type of
Open-ended questions Close-ended Questions
Questions

Non-statistical, cannot be expressed in Statistical analysis through charts,

Analysis
numbers graphs, and software

Did you buy chocolate today? A.

Example Why did you buy chocolate today?
Yes B. No

(Source: [Link]
(Source
Qualitative Research Philosophy

“Scientific research philosophy is “a system of the researcher’s thought, following which new, reliable knowledge about
the research object is obtained. It is the basis of the research, which involves the choice of research strategy, formulation
of the problem, data collection, processing, and [Link] is a method which, when applied, allows the scientists to
generate ideas into knowledge in the context of research” ( Žukauskas, [Link]., 2018).

Žukauskas, [Link]. (2018) states four main trends on Research Philosophy:

1. Positivist research philosophy:
• Views that only “factual” knowledge gained through observation (the senses), including measurement, is
• trustworthy.
• The role of the researcher is limited to data collection and interpretation in an objective way.
• The social world can be understood in an objective way.
• The researcher is an objective analyst and dissociates himself from personal values and works independently.

2. Interpretivist research philosophy:

• It is a reaction to positivism.
• It says that the social world can be interpreted in a subjective manner.
• The focus is to understanding of the ways through which people experience the social world.
• It is based on the principle which states that the researcher performs a specific role in observing the social
• world.
• The research is based and depends on what the researcher’s interests are.

3. Pragmatist research philosophy:

It deals with the facts.
• The choice of research philosophy is mostly determined by the research problem.
• Researchers have freedom of choice. They are “free” to choose the methods, techniques, and
• procedures that best meet their needs and scientific research aims.

4. Realistic research philosophy:

• It is based on the principles of positivist and interpretivist research philosophies, and assumptions that are

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 • necessary for the perception of subjective nature of the human.
• It relies on the idea of independence of reality from the mind.
• Direct realism portrays the world trough personal human senses.
• Critical realism argues tha sensations and images of the real world can be deceptive and they usually do
• not portray the real world..

(Adapted from Pranas Žukauskas, [Link]., 2018)

Steps in Conducting Qualitative Research

The Research Fundamentals

Research is a series of small steps, steps and more steps

1. Pose a question
2. Collect data to answer the question
3. Present an answer to the question
This is the very basic of researching!

The Qualitative Research Process

The qualitative research process consists of multiple scientific steps in conducting the research work. Each step is
interlinked with other steps. It begins with identifying and selecting a problem for the study, and subsequently advances
to the next steps.
(Creswell, 2015) provides the following stages of research process:
1. Identifying a research problem
2. Reviewing the literature
3. Specifying a purpose and research questions
4. Collecting the qualitative data
5. Analysing and interpreting the data
6. Reporting the research

The six stages/steps of research process are described below:

1. Identify a research problem

What is a research problem?

The first step in research is to identify a suitable topic to study. It could be an issue or problem in education that the
researcher is concerned and interested to resolve. A research problem is a statement about an area of concern, a
condition to be improved, a difficulty to be eliminated, or a troubling question that exists in scholarly literature, in theory, or
in practice that points to the need for meaningful understanding and deliberate investigation
([Link]

Identifying a research problem consists of specifying an issue to study, developing a justification for studying it, and
suggesting the importance of the study for select audiences that will read the report. By specifying a "problem," you limit
the subject matter and focus attention on a specific aspect of study (Creswell and Gueterman, 2015). This is an essential
step for a researcher to embark on, due to the time, efforts and resources required to carry out the [Link] are the
educational issues, controversies, or concerns that guide the need for conducting a study.
Good research problems can be found in the (educational) settings, such as the following:
1. The disruptions caused by at-risk students in classrooms

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2. The increase in violence on college campuses
3. The lack of parental involvement in schools or students with challenging behaviors.
In writing about the research problem, authors state it as a single sentence or several sentences in a research report.
(Creswell, and Guetterman, 2021).

Stating Statement of Problem

Upon identifying the problem the research wishes to investigate, the next step is to formulate the problem statement which
is specific, clear and complete. The researcher must clearly understand the problem he wants to solve. An adequate
statement of the research problem is an important step in the research process.

A problem statement is a concise description of the problem or issues a study seeks to address. It identifies the current
state, the desired future state and any gaps between the two. It serves as an important communication tool that can help
ensure everyone working on a study knows what is the problem they need to address and why the study is important
([Link]
Creswell and Guetterman (2021) establish that the statement of the problem has five aspects. They are
1. The topic
2. The research problem
3. A justification of the importance of the problem as found in the past research and in practice
4. The deficiencies in our existing knowledge about the problem
The audiences that will benefit from a study of the problem By identifying these five elements, you can easily
understand introductions to research studies and write good introductions for your own research reports
([Link]

2. Reviewing the literature

Reviewing the literature refers “locating summaries, books, journals, and indexed publications on a topic; selectively
choosing which literature to include in your review; and then summarising the literature in a written report” (Creswell,
2015). Reviewing relevant literature and past studies on the problem will help the researcher to
• understand the research problem deeper (e.g. concepts, theories)
• Gain knowledge about the past research on the problem and their findings, research methodology (design,
instruments & analysis) used, recommended further research, and related references
• Identify gaps in the area of study.

3. Specifying a purpose, objectives and research questions

Formulating the Purpose of Research

The purpose statement is the most important statement in the research study. Creswell (2015) indicates that the purpose
statement provides the overall objective or intent of the research. In fact, it introduces the entire study as it provides the
procedures the researcher will use to collect data, and indicates the types of results expected to be found in the study. It
also contains the major focus of the study, the participants in the study, and the location or site of the inquiry. This
purpose statement is then narrowed to research questions that the researcher plans to answer in the research study.
Framing Research Objectives

A research objective is a clear and specific goal that a researcher aims to achieve through a research study. It
serves as a roadmap for the research, providing direction and focus. are focused on gaining a deeper understanding
of a particular phenomenon, topic, or issue. It aims to explore and identify new ideas, insights, or patterns that were
previously unknown or poorly understood. It is formulated based on the research questions, and it helps in defining
the scope of the study and guiding the research design and methodology. It also assists in evaluating the
success and outcomes of the research.

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Hence, the research objective must
1. Be Clear and Specific. Clearly state what you intend to achieve with your research. ...
2. Use Action Verbs.
3. Align with Research Questions or Hypotheses.
4. Be Realistic and Feasible.
5. Consider Relevance and Significance.
([Link]
Example of a Qualitative Research Objevctive:
• To identify factors which cause stress among undergraduate students.

Framing Research Questions

A research question is a question that a study or research seeks to answer. It often addresses an issue or a problem that
is answered in the study's conclusion. It is the question around which the researcher centres his research, and it is aligned
to the research problem. It resides at the core of systematic investigation and it helps the researcher to clearly define a
path for the research
process. Asking the right questions when conducting research can help the researcher to collect relevant and insightful
information that ultimately influences the research work, positively ([Link]

A good research question should be:

• Clear and specific.
• Focused and narrow enough that it could be answered.
• Concise
• Complex and requires synthesis and analysis.
• Debatable and arguable.
Examples of Research Questions
Qualitative research question: “What are the factors that cause stress among undergraduates?”

4. Collecting the Qualitative Data

Data collection provides the mechanics and administration of data collection. The researcher gathers data (ie.
Information) to answer the research question(s) through the use of instruments. Instruments are tools for data collection.
A qualitative researcher, hence, may use the main instruments namely in-depth interview, observation or document
analysis to collectqualitative data for the proposed study.

Creswell (2015) also indicates that ollecting data also involves identifying and selecting subjects for a study, obtaining
their permission to study them, and gathering information by asking people questions or observing their behaviors. An
important concern at this stage is to obtain accurate and reliable data from the from the subjects which will be in the forms
of numbers (e.g. test scores, measurements or frequency) and words (perspectives, opinions, or views). They will be
analysed at the next stage.

5. Analysing and Interpreting the Data

The data collected from subjects (e.g. students, teachers, school administrators and others) will have to be analysed
during or immediately after the data collection. The researcher needs to make sense of the information (i.e. from the data)
gathered in the study. Analysing the data consists of ‘taking the data apart” to determine subjects’ responses and then
putting it together to summarise it (Creswell, 2015).

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A qualitative researcher in analysisng and interpreting the data uses explanations in words (descriptions, observations,
impressions) or to code the unstructured data into themes or categories based on frequency of occurrences and
presented in the form of words and sentences.
Interpreting the results of analysed data and stating the findings are based on research questions or hypotheses. The
qualitative researcher will organise the interpretations using themes or categories uncovered in the study; they may even
present the interpretations, conclusions and findings in narrative form (Creswell, 2015).

6. Reporting the research

Reporting research involves “deciding on audiences, structuring the report in a format acceptable to these audiences, and
then writing the report in a manner that is sensitive to all readers” (Creswell, 2015).
Considerations for reporting the research project:
• The audiences for research will vary and will include academic researchers who contribute and read journal
articles, faculty advisers and committees that review master's theses and dissertations, and personnel in
educational agencies and school districts that look for reports of research on timely topics.
• Structure for the research report will vary for each audience, from a formal format for theses and dissertations to a
more informal document for in-house school reports” (Creswell, 2015).

Strengths and Limitations of Qualitative Research

Strengths of Qualitative Research Methods

Qualitative market research techniques offer a more comprehensive and complete picture of the subject than quantitative
research which focuses on specific and narrow areas. Other advantages of using qualitative research methods are:

• Explore the subject in-depth: Qualitative research is personal and offers a deep understanding of the
respondent’s feelings, thoughts, and actions so that the researcher can perform an in-depth analysis of the
subject.
• Promotes discussion: Qualitative research methods are open-ended in approach rather than rigorously
following a predetermined set of questions. It adds context to the research rather than just numbers.
• More flexibility: The interviewer can study and ask questions on the subject they feel is pertinent or had not
previously thought about during the discussions. Moreover, open-ended questions enable respondents to be
free to share their thoughts, leading to more information.
• Capture trends as they change: Qualitative research can track how people’s feelings and attitudes change
over time. Respondents’ opinions can change during the conversation, and qualitative research can show this.

([Link]

Limitations of Qualitative Research

• Research quality is heavily dependent on the individual skills of the researcher and more easily influenced by the
researcher's personal biases and idiosyncrasies.
• Rigor is more difficult to maintain, assess, and demonstrate.
• The volume of data makes analysis and interpretation time consuming.
• It is sometimes not as well understood and accepted as quantitative research within the scientific community
• The researcher's presence during data gathering, which is often unavoidable in qualitative research, can affect
the subjects' responses.
• Issues of anonymity and confidentiality can present problems when presenting findings
• Findings can be more difficult and time consuming to characterize in a visual way.

([Link]

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 References
Creswell, J.W. 2015. Educational research : planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research.
Fifth edition. Pearson Education
Creswell, J.W., and Guetterman. (2021). Designing Quantitative and Qualitative Research. 6th Edition. Pearson
Education
Wiersma, W. & Jurs, S. (2005). Research Methods in Education: An Introduction (8th ed.). Boston: Pearson Education,
Inc.
Pranas Žukauskas, Jolita Vveinhardt and Regina Andriukaitienė (2018) Philosophy and Paradigm of Scientific:
Research. [Link]
Ethic in Educational Research.
[Link]. [Link]
[Link]. Research Questions. [Link]
[Link]. How to Write Research Questions. [Link]
question
[Link]. What is a Problem Statement. [Link]
statement.
Sacredheart. Edu. What is Research. [Link]
Meriam Webster Dictionary. 10th Edition. What is Research. [Link]

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