Presentations Home - Return to Home Page

Slide 1

LIS 570

Qualitative Research

Slide 2

Definition

• A process of enquiry that draws from the context in which events occur, in an attempt to describe these occurrences, as a means of determining the process in which events are embedded and the perspectives of those participating in the events, using induction to derive possible explanations based on observed phenomena

Slide 3

Features of Qualitative Research

• Context

• Description

• Process

• Participant perspective

• Induction

Slide 4

Context

• Draws from the context or environment in which events occur

• uses the natural setting

• researcher does not remain remote

• enters the context or situation to collect data

• enhances this data through insights gained onsite

Slide 5 

Context

• Identify totally with your subjects

• Experience what they are experiencing

Slide 6

Description

• Describes occurrences

• the ‘flavor’ of events is included in the research

• tape recorders, video cameras, notes, photographs, diaries, memos

• verbal narratives from the participants

• embellished by the researcher’s narrative

Slide 7

Process

• Not just the result of events but the events themselves

• understanding the process of events

• how ideas become action

• the reactions to actions

• components of a process

• richer and fuller understanding through immersion in the entire activity

Slide 8

Participant perspective

• What do the people involved in a particular process think

• what people believe

• how people feel

• how people interpret events

• Often involves participant involvement in or comment on the researchers observations and interpretations

Slide 9

Induction

• How the observations are analyzed in a coherent and meaningful manner

• induction

• a ‘bottom-up” approach after data have been collected

• evidence is used to develop an explanation of events - to establish a theory based on observed phenomena

• grounded theory - built from the ground up

Slide 10

Modes of enquiry

Slide 11

Modes of enquiry

Slide 12

MODES OF ENQUIRY

Slide 13

Modes of enquiry

Slide 14

Slide 15

Summary

• Researchers collect data within the natural setting of the data, and the key data collection instruments are the researchers themselves

• The data are verbal, not numerical

• Researchers are concerned with the process of an activity, not only the outcomes of that activity

• Researchers usually analyze their data verbally rather than statistically

• The outcomes are often the generation of research questions and conjectures, not the verification of predicted relationships or outcomes

Slide 16

Focus groups

• Used to gain an understanding of participants’ attitudes and perceptions relevant to a particular topic

• guided by a facilitator

• some prepared questions

• supplemented by probes, not to obtain yes/no but to address ambiguities - e.g. Can you tell me why you think that?

• Connectors - e.g. Can I pick up on something the previous speaker said; That raises another important question...

Slide 17

Focus groups

• Advantages

• Speed

• Transparency

• Interaction

• Flexibility

• Open-endedness

• Ability to note non-verbal communication

Slide 18

Focus Groups

• Disadvantages

• Getting people together

• Dominating personalities

• Wanting to be agreeable

• Finding a typical group

Slide 19

Focus groups

• Recording the data

• Tape recorder

• Notes taken during the meeting

• Notes taken immediately after the discussion

• Notes taken by someone else during the discussion

Slide 20

Data recording sheet (Bouma: 182)