1 / 17

Chapter 10

Section 1. Chapter 10. Qualitative Research: Theory and Practice. Methods chosen for research dependant on a number of factors including: Purpose of the research Characteristics of the participants Researchers’ beliefs about the nature of knowledge and how it can be acquired.

mahala
Télécharger la présentation

Chapter 10

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Section 1 Chapter 10

  2. Qualitative Research: Theory and Practice • Methods chosen for research dependant on a number of factors including: • Purpose of the research • Characteristics of the participants • Researchers’ beliefs about the nature of knowledge and how it can be acquired. • Epistemology: questions such as • “how can we know about the world?” • “what is the basis of our knowledge?” • Ontology: Does a social reality exist independently of human perceptions and interpretations?

  3. Theory and practice • Ritchie and Lewis (2003) • Three main questions on the debate in relation to epistemology: • What is the relationship between the researcher and the researched? • Being studied effects people so they do not behave naturally. • The researcher brings assumptions and influences the way data are collected and analyzed. • Reflexivity: researcher needs to reflect on their own background and beliefs so it can be known the role it plays in the research process. • What can be held as truth? • Correspondence theory of truth: • The claim that truth or falsity of knowledge is determined by if it accurately describes the world. • There must be a match between observations of the natural world and independent reality. • Coherence theory of truth: • The trust or falsity of knowledge is not absolute, but rather consensual. • Truth is determined by whether or not it can be supported by other observations or statements. *assuming the truth is in the data • How is knowledge gathered? • The natural sciences rely on deductive processes (hypothesis testing.) • Focus on cause-and-effect relationships, generalization, and prediction. • Social sciences rely on inductive processes based on collected data to reach conclusions. • Focus on understanding of social processes.

  4. Theory and practice • Ritchie and Lewis (2003) • Interpretative approach – the understanding from the view of those involved. • The goal of qualitative research is to get a picture of the external reality that is diverse and multifaceted. • Rolfe (2006) • There is no unified qualitative paradigm, it only appears so in textbooks.

  5. Theory and practice • The difference between qualitative and quantitative data: • Quantitative: • research based on “numbers” that are easy to summarize and submit for statistical analysis. • Quantitative meant to be generalizations from a sample’s data. • Qualitative: • Qualitative data gathered directly through interaction with participants. • Ex: one-on-one interview, group interview, observation. • Qualitative data consists of text. • Ex: field notes and transcripts. • Qualitative data texts are open-ended and able to be interpreted.

  6. Theory and practice • Strengths of qualitative research: • Provides rich data – descriptions of individuals based on concepts, meanings, and explanations from data. • Useful for investigating complex and sensitive issues. • Ex: illness, sexuality, homelessness, abusive relationships. • Explain phenomena – what lies behind it; why? • Solves problems through identifying and evaluating factors. • Ex: What initiatives are needed to resettle homeless people. • Generates new ideas and theories to explain and overcome problems. • People studied in their own environment increases validity.

  7. Theory and practice • Limitations of qualitative research: • Time-consuming and generates much data. • No clear strategy for breaking down the data. • Interpretations of data may be subjective.

  8. Theory and practice • Can qualitative studies be generalized? • Representational generalization • Findings from a qualitative research study can be applied to populations outside of the study. • Inferential generalization • Findings of the study can be applied to settings outside of the study (aka. Transferability or external validity) • Theoretical generalization • Theoretical concepts derived from the study can be used to develop further theory. (inferences about effective policy.)

  9. Theory and practice • Ethical considerations • Informed consent – sometimes impossible for valid research. • Protecting participants from harm – sensitive issue with violence, abuse, alcoholism, etc. • Anonymity and confidentiality – The identity of participants should not be known by those outside of the research team with few exceptions.

  10. Theory and practice • Sampling techniques of qualitative research • Probability – related to statistical probability and representativeness • Non-probability sampling – most rigorous approach to sampling for statistical research. • Samples in qualitative research are chosen to represent important characteristics of a population. • Three different kinds of sampling: • Purposive sampling • Snowball sampling • Convenience sampling

  11. Theory and practice • Purposive sampling: • Targets a particular group of people. • Criteria based on the aim of the study. • Useful in situations where the researcher needs to obtain a sample quickly to investigate an urgent problem such as a new rehab scheme for people who have had strokes. • May be the only option if sample is hard to locate. • Ex: homeless elderly women • Keep in mind that purposive sampling may be biased.

  12. Theory and practice • Snowball sampling • Used to get a hold of participants without investing much time and energy. • Researchers ask participants if they know anyone else who would fit into the group. • May help locate hidden populations (rare or hard to find people.) • Cost-efficient sampling to locate participants. • Difficult to avoid bias and confidentiality concerns in snowball sampling.

  13. Theory and practice • Convenience sampling • Concentrates on people who are available and asked if they would like to participate. • Ex: high school students, college students, people in the mall. • A sample could represent not only those in the study, but those in similar situations around the country. • Similar research needs to be done in order to confirm it.

  14. Theory and practice • Participant expectations and research bias in qualitative research. • Participation expectations (reactivity) • participants’ ideas of the research and the trustworthiness of the data (behave in certain ways to please researcher. • Researcher bias • The researcher’s own beliefs that determine the research process (little attention paid to participants.

  15. Theory and practice • Credibility in qualitative research • Credibility – internal validity that is used. • Trustworthiness – the findings of the research reflect the meaning as described by the participants. • Guba and Lincoln (1989) – peer reviews are needed to check for proper interpretations of the data or applying other methods of analysis. • Rolfe (2006) – A study is trustworthy if, and only if, the reader of the research report judges it to be so.

  16. Theory and practice • Effect of triangulation on credibility and trustworthiness on qualitative research. • Triangulation – the cross-checking of information and conclusions in research through the use of multiple procedures or sources. • Forms of triangulation: • Method triangulation – involves comparing data that comes from the use of different methods. • Data triangulation – involves comparing data that come from data gathered from other participants or other sources. (ex: observations and interviews) • Researcher triangulation – the use of several observers, interviewers, or researchers to compare and check data collection and interpretation. • Theory triangulation – involves looking at the data using different theoretical perspectives. • Hammersly (1992) – There is no completely reliable way to find “truth.” The closest way is to carefully examine all evidence and see if it supports the interpretation.

  17. Theory and practice • Reflexivity in qualitative research • Willig (2001) – there are two types of reflexivity: • Personal reflexivity – reflecting on ways researcher’s values, beliefs, experiences, interests, and political commitment influence the research. Also, how the research effects the researcher personally and professionally. • Epistemological reflexivity – thinking about the ways knowledge has been generated in the study. • Examples: • Asking if the research question limits what could be found. • Is the design of the study and analysis of results biased? • Would a different approach have brought about a different understanding of the topic?

More Related