Professional Documents
Culture Documents
meaning that, in contrast to the adoption of a natural scientific model in quantitative research, the stress is on the understanding of the social world through an examination of the interpretation of that world by its participants; and
An ontological position described as constructionist, which
implies that social properties are outcomes of the interactions between individuals, rather than phenomena `out there' and separate from those involved in its construction
Main Research Methods Associated With Qualitative Research Ethnography/participant observation Qualitative interviewing Focus groups Language-based approaches: conversation analysis; discourse analysis Collection and qualitative analysis of texts and documents
Authored by David McHugh
4. Interpretation of data
6. Writing up findings/conclusions
own terms; `as it really is'; provides rich descriptions of people and interaction in natural settings. Ethnomethodology - seeks to understand how social order is created through talk and interaction; has a naturalistic orientation. Emotionalism - exhibits a concern with subjectivity and gaining access to `inside' experience; concern with the inner reality of humans.
Postmodernism - there is an emphasis on `method talk'; sensitive to the different ways social reality can be constructed.
Gubrium and Holstein (1997) : see Key Concept 16.1
Authored by David McHugh
can be replicated Internal reliability - whether, when there is more than one observer, members of the research team agree about what they see and hear Internal validity - whether there is a good match between researchers' observations and the theoretical ideas they develop External validity - the degree to which findings can be generalized across social settings
Authored by David McHugh Based on: LeCompte and Goetz (1982)
Authenticity:
Fairness
Ontological
Dependability
Confirmability
Educative
Catalytic Tactical
Authored by David McHugh
Practical difficulties:
respondent validation may occasion defensive reactions and even censorship on the part of research participants. it is highly questionable whether research participants can validate a researcher's analysis, since this entails inferences being made for an audience of social science peers. see Key concept 16.3
Authored by David McHugh
What is Triangulation?
Triangulation: entails using more than one method or source of data in the study of social phenomena. is an approach that uses `multiple observers, theoretical perspectives, sources of data, and methodologies (Denzin) has tended to emphasise multiple methods of investigation and sources of data can operate within and across research strategies can to refer to a process of cross-checking findings deriving from both quantitative and qualitative research (triangulation of methods) may often allow access to different levels of reality
see Key concept 16.4
Authored by David McHugh
Qualitative Words Points of view of participants Researcher close Theory emergent Process Unstructured Contextual understanding Rich, deep data Micro Meaning Natural settings
Action researchers must recognize that their findings will have practical implications and they should be clear about what they expect participants to take away from the project
Eden and Huxham (1996)
Authored by David McHugh
Cognitive Mapping
A predominantly qualitative method
used widely by business and management researchers in a variety of contexts
Interviewee talks openly and spontaneously, rather than just answering the questions in a defensive manner Interviewer maintains flexibility by following up on particular issues raised by the interviewee and varying the order of questions as appropriate Interviewee feels positive towards the interviewer and about the process of being interviewed
Fig. 16.2
However
Many of the worst excesses of discrimination against women might not have come to light were it not for the collection and analysis of statistics revealing discrimination (Maynard 1994; Oakley 1998). It is difficult to see why feminist research that combines quantitative and qualitative research would be incompatible with the feminist cause (Jayaratne and Stewart, 1991 & Maynard, 1994, 1998). Qualitative research is not ipso facto feminist in orientation and some writers have preferred to write about feminist research practice rather than about feminist methods (Maynard 1998).
Authored by David McHugh
3.
4. 5.