Qualitative Research
Qualitative research is a broad term (umbrella term) for methods used to study
social phenomena (how people act, think, and interact in society).
Example: Interviewing teenagers about how social media affects their
friendships.
Worldviews
Perspectives or ways of looking at the world that shape qualitative research
Constructivist – people create their own understanding of reality.
Interpretivist – focus on how people give meaning to their experiences.
Feminist research – highlights women’s voices and experiences.
Postmodernist – challenges fixed truths and looks at multiple perspectives.
Naturalistic research – studies people in their everyday settings.
Qualitative research keeps evolving
Some argue it is scientific, others say it is non-scientific.
Newer approaches: transformative, critical, and decolonizing research – these
aim to challenge power and give a voice to groups who are often ignored.
According to Denzin and Lincoln (2005): QR begins with assumptions, a
worldview, and a theoretical lens (a way of looking at the world) to study the
meanings people or groups attach to experiences.
Example: Studying how patients with diabetes make sense of their daily
routines.
, Five Main Approaches to Qualitative Research
1. Grounded theory
Building a new theory from the data collected. Example: Developing a theory
about how students cope with exam stress, based on interviews.
2. Narrative study
Studying people’s life stories. Example: Collecting life histories from refugees.
3. Case study
Studying one case (person, group, or situation) in detail. Example: Examining
how one school implements anti-bullying policies.
4. Ethnography
Studying cultural groups by spending time with them. Example: Observing how a
religious community practices its rituals.
5. Phenomenology
Exploring people’s lived experiences. Example: Interviewing people about what
it feels like to lose a loved one.
Characteristics of Qualitative Research
Natural setting – Data is collected where the issue happens. Example: Studying
children’s play at their school playground instead of a lab.
Researcher is a key instrument – The researcher is the main tool for collecting
data (through interviews, observations, examining documents).
Multiple sources of data – Interviews, observations, and written documents
are often combined.
Qualitative research is a broad term (umbrella term) for methods used to study
social phenomena (how people act, think, and interact in society).
Example: Interviewing teenagers about how social media affects their
friendships.
Worldviews
Perspectives or ways of looking at the world that shape qualitative research
Constructivist – people create their own understanding of reality.
Interpretivist – focus on how people give meaning to their experiences.
Feminist research – highlights women’s voices and experiences.
Postmodernist – challenges fixed truths and looks at multiple perspectives.
Naturalistic research – studies people in their everyday settings.
Qualitative research keeps evolving
Some argue it is scientific, others say it is non-scientific.
Newer approaches: transformative, critical, and decolonizing research – these
aim to challenge power and give a voice to groups who are often ignored.
According to Denzin and Lincoln (2005): QR begins with assumptions, a
worldview, and a theoretical lens (a way of looking at the world) to study the
meanings people or groups attach to experiences.
Example: Studying how patients with diabetes make sense of their daily
routines.
, Five Main Approaches to Qualitative Research
1. Grounded theory
Building a new theory from the data collected. Example: Developing a theory
about how students cope with exam stress, based on interviews.
2. Narrative study
Studying people’s life stories. Example: Collecting life histories from refugees.
3. Case study
Studying one case (person, group, or situation) in detail. Example: Examining
how one school implements anti-bullying policies.
4. Ethnography
Studying cultural groups by spending time with them. Example: Observing how a
religious community practices its rituals.
5. Phenomenology
Exploring people’s lived experiences. Example: Interviewing people about what
it feels like to lose a loved one.
Characteristics of Qualitative Research
Natural setting – Data is collected where the issue happens. Example: Studying
children’s play at their school playground instead of a lab.
Researcher is a key instrument – The researcher is the main tool for collecting
data (through interviews, observations, examining documents).
Multiple sources of data – Interviews, observations, and written documents
are often combined.
