1
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS
INHOUD
Foundational Lecture 1 .......................................................................................................................2
Chapter 2: Qualitative Traditions Epistomology and Ontology – Barbour, R. (2014) ................................2
Chapter 6: Conversation Analytic – Pomerantz, A. & Mandelbaum, J. (2005) .........................................5
Chapter 1: Orienting Concepts and Ways of Understanding – Rogoff, B. (2003) .....................................8
Foundational Lecture 2 ..................................................................................................................... 11
The Central Role of Theory in Qualitative Research – Collins, C., & Stockton, C.M. (2018) ................... 11
Chapter 2: Philosophical Assumptions and Interpretative Frameworks – Cresswell, J. (2013) .............. 15
Foundational Lecture 3 ..................................................................................................................... 17
Chapter 4: Philosophical Assumptions and Interpretative Frameworks – Cresswell, J. (2013) .............. 17
Foundational Lecture 4 ..................................................................................................................... 20
Quality Criteria in Qualitative and Quantitative Research – Framback, J.M. et al. (2013) ...................... 20
The Gold Standard: Epistemologically, Ecologically Informed Research – Breitkreuz, R. (2022) ........... 22
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FOUNDATIONAL LECTURE 1
CHAPTER 2: QUALITATIVE TRADITIONS EPISTOMOLOGY AND ONTOLOGY – BARBOUR, R.
(2014)
Barbour explores the major qualitative research traditions, their historical and philosophical roots,
and their underlying assumptions about knowledge (epistemology) and reality (ontology). She argues
that qualitative research is not a single uniform approach but a collection of traditions—such as
symbolic interactionism, phenomenology, ethnomethodology, and discourse analysis—that all share
an understanding of reality as socially constructed.
Barbour also revisits the so-called “paradigm wars” between quantitative and qualitative research,
emphasizing nuance and hybrid approaches rather than opposition. She advocates for reflexivity,
methodological openness, and awareness of the epistemological foundations guiding research.
Ultimately, she calls for a constructivist–critical realist middle ground, capable of explaining both
meaning-making and social action.
AIMS & INTRODUCTION
The chapter aims to position the main qualitative traditions, clarify their philosophical assumptions,
and examine their relationship to quantitative research.
Qualitative research is viewed as socially constructed, context-dependent, and often concerned with
social change. Yet in practice, elements from multiple traditions are frequently combined.
THE RANGE OF QUALITATIVE TRADITIONS
Barbour outlines the diversity of qualitative methods and the influence of disciplinary backgrounds.
She stresses that methods are not universally applicable; their meaning shifts depending on the
researcher, context, and discipline.
SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM
Originating from the Chicago School (e.g., Blumer, Becker), this perspective studies how individuals
create meaning through interaction. Human action is seen as constructed, not simply executed.
Ethnographic methods are common. Although less dominant today, its focus on meaning and role
formation remains influential.
PHENOMENOLOGY AND ETHNOMETHODOLOGY
Phenomenology (Schutz) investigates how people make sense of their everyday world using
“common-sense” categories. Ethnomethodology (Garfinkel) examines how social order is produced
through everyday practices, including what happens when conventions are breached. Both
approaches emphasize locally meaningful practices and “folk methods.”
CONVERSATION ANALYSIS (CA) AND DISCOURSE ANALYSIS (DA)
CA (Sacks) analyzes natural talk to uncover the underlying rules of communication—such as turn-
taking and repair. DA examines language as social action; its Foucauldian variant considers language
as a site of power and knowledge. Both focus on the performative nature of language, though CA
takes a micro-analytic approach, while DA situates discourse within ideological and institutional
contexts.
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FOUCAULDIAN DISCOURSE ANALYSIS
Based on Foucault’s ideas about discourse and power, this approach studies how language constructs
social reality and delineates what can be said or thought. It highlights identity, legitimation, and
power relations within discursive structures.
PARADIGM WARS
The traditional dichotomy between positivism (objective, measurable) and interpretivism (subjective,
meaning-oriented) is portrayed as overstated. Barbour argues that most research actually exists
between these extremes and that the divide is more ideological than practical.
EPISTEMOLOGY AND ONTOLOGY
• Epistemology: how knowledge is acquired and justified.
• Ontology: what reality is and how it can be studied.
Barbour presents three main positions:
1. Positivism – one objective reality exists.
2. Interpretivism / Constructivism – reality is socially constructed.
3. Critical Realism (Bhaskar, Maxwell) – a real world exists, but our knowledge of it is
socially mediated. She regards critical realism as a productive middle position.
OBJECTIVITY VS. SUBJECTIVITY
Barbour discusses the tension between neutrality and involvement. Total objectivity is impossible;
researchers must make their position explicit through reflexivity. The practice of bracketing helps
identify one’s assumptions and power relations—especially relevant in participatory and social work
research.
DEDUCTION VS. INDUCTION
While qualitative research is typically inductive (developing theory from data), it can also provide
causal explanations through causal realism and analytic induction—examining processes, context,
and exceptions to refine theory.
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN PRACTICE
Given the diversity of traditions, researchers must remain open and critically informed. Students are
urged not to adopt a single paradigm prematurely but to navigate complexity and theoretical
overlap.
THE POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPING HYBRID APPROACHES
Barbour advocates for hybrid or integrative approaches (e.g., Denzin’s interpretive interactionism),
which blend micro- and macro-level perspectives.
Social constructionism provides a unifying framework by combining individual meaning-making with
structural and cultural influences—allowing for analyses of both interaction and social change.
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS
INHOUD
Foundational Lecture 1 .......................................................................................................................2
Chapter 2: Qualitative Traditions Epistomology and Ontology – Barbour, R. (2014) ................................2
Chapter 6: Conversation Analytic – Pomerantz, A. & Mandelbaum, J. (2005) .........................................5
Chapter 1: Orienting Concepts and Ways of Understanding – Rogoff, B. (2003) .....................................8
Foundational Lecture 2 ..................................................................................................................... 11
The Central Role of Theory in Qualitative Research – Collins, C., & Stockton, C.M. (2018) ................... 11
Chapter 2: Philosophical Assumptions and Interpretative Frameworks – Cresswell, J. (2013) .............. 15
Foundational Lecture 3 ..................................................................................................................... 17
Chapter 4: Philosophical Assumptions and Interpretative Frameworks – Cresswell, J. (2013) .............. 17
Foundational Lecture 4 ..................................................................................................................... 20
Quality Criteria in Qualitative and Quantitative Research – Framback, J.M. et al. (2013) ...................... 20
The Gold Standard: Epistemologically, Ecologically Informed Research – Breitkreuz, R. (2022) ........... 22
, 2
FOUNDATIONAL LECTURE 1
CHAPTER 2: QUALITATIVE TRADITIONS EPISTOMOLOGY AND ONTOLOGY – BARBOUR, R.
(2014)
Barbour explores the major qualitative research traditions, their historical and philosophical roots,
and their underlying assumptions about knowledge (epistemology) and reality (ontology). She argues
that qualitative research is not a single uniform approach but a collection of traditions—such as
symbolic interactionism, phenomenology, ethnomethodology, and discourse analysis—that all share
an understanding of reality as socially constructed.
Barbour also revisits the so-called “paradigm wars” between quantitative and qualitative research,
emphasizing nuance and hybrid approaches rather than opposition. She advocates for reflexivity,
methodological openness, and awareness of the epistemological foundations guiding research.
Ultimately, she calls for a constructivist–critical realist middle ground, capable of explaining both
meaning-making and social action.
AIMS & INTRODUCTION
The chapter aims to position the main qualitative traditions, clarify their philosophical assumptions,
and examine their relationship to quantitative research.
Qualitative research is viewed as socially constructed, context-dependent, and often concerned with
social change. Yet in practice, elements from multiple traditions are frequently combined.
THE RANGE OF QUALITATIVE TRADITIONS
Barbour outlines the diversity of qualitative methods and the influence of disciplinary backgrounds.
She stresses that methods are not universally applicable; their meaning shifts depending on the
researcher, context, and discipline.
SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM
Originating from the Chicago School (e.g., Blumer, Becker), this perspective studies how individuals
create meaning through interaction. Human action is seen as constructed, not simply executed.
Ethnographic methods are common. Although less dominant today, its focus on meaning and role
formation remains influential.
PHENOMENOLOGY AND ETHNOMETHODOLOGY
Phenomenology (Schutz) investigates how people make sense of their everyday world using
“common-sense” categories. Ethnomethodology (Garfinkel) examines how social order is produced
through everyday practices, including what happens when conventions are breached. Both
approaches emphasize locally meaningful practices and “folk methods.”
CONVERSATION ANALYSIS (CA) AND DISCOURSE ANALYSIS (DA)
CA (Sacks) analyzes natural talk to uncover the underlying rules of communication—such as turn-
taking and repair. DA examines language as social action; its Foucauldian variant considers language
as a site of power and knowledge. Both focus on the performative nature of language, though CA
takes a micro-analytic approach, while DA situates discourse within ideological and institutional
contexts.
, 3
FOUCAULDIAN DISCOURSE ANALYSIS
Based on Foucault’s ideas about discourse and power, this approach studies how language constructs
social reality and delineates what can be said or thought. It highlights identity, legitimation, and
power relations within discursive structures.
PARADIGM WARS
The traditional dichotomy between positivism (objective, measurable) and interpretivism (subjective,
meaning-oriented) is portrayed as overstated. Barbour argues that most research actually exists
between these extremes and that the divide is more ideological than practical.
EPISTEMOLOGY AND ONTOLOGY
• Epistemology: how knowledge is acquired and justified.
• Ontology: what reality is and how it can be studied.
Barbour presents three main positions:
1. Positivism – one objective reality exists.
2. Interpretivism / Constructivism – reality is socially constructed.
3. Critical Realism (Bhaskar, Maxwell) – a real world exists, but our knowledge of it is
socially mediated. She regards critical realism as a productive middle position.
OBJECTIVITY VS. SUBJECTIVITY
Barbour discusses the tension between neutrality and involvement. Total objectivity is impossible;
researchers must make their position explicit through reflexivity. The practice of bracketing helps
identify one’s assumptions and power relations—especially relevant in participatory and social work
research.
DEDUCTION VS. INDUCTION
While qualitative research is typically inductive (developing theory from data), it can also provide
causal explanations through causal realism and analytic induction—examining processes, context,
and exceptions to refine theory.
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN PRACTICE
Given the diversity of traditions, researchers must remain open and critically informed. Students are
urged not to adopt a single paradigm prematurely but to navigate complexity and theoretical
overlap.
THE POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPING HYBRID APPROACHES
Barbour advocates for hybrid or integrative approaches (e.g., Denzin’s interpretive interactionism),
which blend micro- and macro-level perspectives.
Social constructionism provides a unifying framework by combining individual meaning-making with
structural and cultural influences—allowing for analyses of both interaction and social change.
