1. Qualitative Research Elke Johanna de Buhr, PhD Tulane University

2. Textbook Chapters • Creswell, Chapter 9 • Salkind, Chapter 10

3. Your Research Proposal I. Introduction • A. Problemstatement • B. Research question(s) • C. Hypothesis • D. Definitions of terms II. Review of the relevant literature (the more complete, the better) • A. Importance of the question being asked • B. Current status of the topic • C. Relationship between the literature and the problem statement III. Method • A. Target population • B. Research design and sampling • C. Data collection plans • D. Proposed analysis of the data IV. Implications and limitations 

4. Research Proposal: Part I I. Introduction • A. Problemstatement • B. Research question(s) • C. Hypothesis • D. Definitions of terms

5. Research Proposal: Part II II. Review of the relevant literature (the more complete, the better) • A. Importance of the question being asked • B. Current status of the topic • C. Relationship between the literature and the problem statement 

6. Research Proposal: Part III III. Method • A. Target population • B. Research design and sampling • C. Data collection plans • D. Proposed analysis of the data

7. Research Proposal: Part IV IV. Implications and limitations (Section discussing generalizability, reliability and validity of the collected data.)

8. Qualitative Research: Basic Characteristics • Natural setting • Researcher as key instrument • Multiple sources of data • Inductive and deductive data analysis • Participants’ meanings • Emergent design • Reflexivity • Holistic account

9. Qualitative Research: Sampling • Often purposeful selection (non-probability sampling) • Sample size depends on method used (e.g. observation, interviews, etc.) but usually small • Idea of saturation (stop collecting data when more data no longer sparks new insights or reveals new properties)

12. Qualitative Research: Data Collection Types • Observations • Interviews • Documents • Audio-visual materials

13. Data Collection Types: Observations Creswell

14. Data Collection Types: Interviews Creswell

15. Functions of a Focus Group Salkind

16. Data Collection Types: Documents Creswell

17. Sources of Historical Data Salkind

18. Data Collection Types: Audio-Visual Materials Creswell

19. Qualitative Research: Data Collection Approaches Creswell

20. Qualitative Research: Data Collection Approaches (cont.) Creswell

21. Qualitative Research: Data Analysis • Descriptive analysis • Classifyresponses • Assesslevel of agreement betweenresponses • « Hypothesistesting » • Compare responses • Assessrelationshipsbetween variables

22. Qualitative Research: Data Analysis (cont.) Creswell

23. Data Analysis: Triangulation Margoluis& Salafsky

24. Qualitative Research: Other Issues • Observational/interview protocols • Data coding • (Limitations of) interpretation of qualitative research • Validity and reliability • Generalizability • Report writing

25. Group Discussion • Qualitative vs. quantitative data in international development • Is qualitative data collection overused/underused? • In what contexts is qualitative data most useful? When least? • Discussion of individual projects • Other questions/concerns