2.6C Qualitative Research summary
Book used: Creswell & Poth (all chapters except 1 and 5)
Article: Jewitt & Oyama: Visual Meaning: A Social Semiotic Approach
Lecture slides
Lecture 1: Interpretive frameworks and assumptions
“QR begins with the assumption and the use of interpretive/theoretical frameworks that informs
the study of research problems by addressing the meaning individuals or groups ascribe to social or
human problems. To study this problem, QR use an emerging qualitative approach to inquiry, the
collection of data in a natural setting, sensitive to the people and places under study, and data
analysis that is both inductive and deductive and establishes patterns of themes.”
- It focuses on nature of things, rather than the number of things, on the how and what,
instead of the how many
- Meaning making, interpretations and perceptions
Philosophical assumptions
The assumptions begin with assessing where it fits within the overall process of research, noting its
importance as an element of research, and considering how to actively write it into a study. Use of
abstract ideas and beliefs that inform our research.
The study of the nature of reality: ontology, epistemology, axiology, and methodology.
Inductive vs. deductive
1
,Interpretive frameworks
- Others: multiple realities, socially constructed, explicate your bias.
- Critical theories: axiology central social justice and change.
- Pragmatism: whatever works.
Post positivism
- Single reality, unbiased
- Scientific approach to research
- Social science theoretical lens
- No strict cause and effect, but all cause and effect are a probability that it may or may not
occur
- Reductionistic, logical, empirical, cause-and-effect oriented, deterministic based on priori
theories
- Deductive
- Does not fit marginalized individuals/groups
Social constructivism
- Also described as interpretivism
- Individuals seek understanding of the world in which they live and work in
- Developing subjective meanings to their experiences directed to certain objects or things
- Subjective meanings are formed through interaction with others as well as through historical
and cultural norms that operate in the individuals’ lives
- Inductive
- The more open-ended the questions, the better
- Can be bias because of the interpretation researchers give to the results
- Does not go far enough in advocating action to help individuals
Postmodernism
- Focus their critiques on changing ways of thinking (rather than calling for action)
- Considered a family of theories and perspectives that have something in common
- Basic concept: knowledge claims must be set within the conditions of the world today and
the multiple perspectives on class, race, gender, and other group affiliations include the
importance of different discourses, marginalized people, and groups “the others”
o These ‘negative’ conditions are articulated by (for example) Foucault, Derrida,
Lyotard, Giroux, and Freire.
- Thomas comments that narrative texts need to be challenged according to postmodernists,
as they have dominant meanings in their subtexts
Transformative frameworks
- Alternative framework, knowledge is not neutral and reflects the power and social
relationships within the society the purpose is to aid people to improve society
- Individuals include marginalized groups
- Researchers may ask participants in collecting data, analyzing it, and shaping the final report
this way, the voice of participants becomes heard throughout the research process
2
, Pragmatism
- Focus on the outcomes of the research the actions, situations, and consequences of
inquiry (rather than antecedent conditions as in post positivism)
- Using multiple methods of data collection to best answer the research question will
employ multiple courses of data collection, focus on practical implications of research, and
emphasizes the importance of conducting research that best addresses the problem
Critical Race Theory
- Are concerned with empowering human being to transcend the constraints placed on them
by race, class, and gender
- Researchers need to acknowledge their own power, engage in dialogues, and use theory to
interpret or illuminate social action
- Scientific study of social institutions and their transformations through interpreting the
meanings of social life
- End goal might be social theorizing “the desire to comprehend and, in some cases,
transform the underlying orders of social life”
- Focuses theoretical attention on race and how racism is deeply embedded within the
framework of American society
- Three main goals:
o Present stories about discrimination from people of color
o CRT argues for eradication of racial subjugation while simultaneously recognizing
that race is a social construct race is not a fixed term, but fluid and continually
shaped by political pressures and informed by individual lived experiences
o CRT addresses other areas of difference, such as gender, class, and inequities
experiences by individuals
Set of philosophical assumptions: theoretical lens or social justice lens.
Creswell & Poth Ontology Epistemology Axiology Methodology
(Chapter 2)
Post positivism - A single reality exists - Reality can only be - Control researcher bias - Rigorous scientific
beyond us approximated /discovered - No need to explicate methods important:
- Reality can be instead of constructed them (because they are measuring and
discovered following a - It is revealed through controlled) objectifying
series of logically research and statistics - Deductive: theory
related steps. But - Validity comes from peers testing
researchers may not (not participants)
be able to understand
it perfectly
Social - Multiple realities are - Important to understand Individual values of - Aimed at
constructed through how people construct reality, researcher matter: ‘co reconstructing
constructivism our lived experiences rather than facts creation’ subjective meanings
and interactions with - Knowledge about reality co- of subjects
others constructed between - Inductive and
- Truth derived from researcher and subjects emergent
social interactions and
experiences
Postmodernism Multiple realities - Knowledge defined through - Respect for multiple - Questioning of
defined by our language and social habits value system methods
experiences and - One’s position and power (indigenous values) - Stress transparency
concepts (no reality structures are crucial in - Values need to be by highlighting issues
beyond that) knowledge development problematized and and concerns
- Dominant neo-liberal interrogated:
ideology and discourse; transformative goal, Critique: if there is no
emphasis on marginalized deconstruct language objective
groups and showing reality/truth, there
- Truth is relative to a certain dominations and power are no facts? The
frame of reference structures
3
Book used: Creswell & Poth (all chapters except 1 and 5)
Article: Jewitt & Oyama: Visual Meaning: A Social Semiotic Approach
Lecture slides
Lecture 1: Interpretive frameworks and assumptions
“QR begins with the assumption and the use of interpretive/theoretical frameworks that informs
the study of research problems by addressing the meaning individuals or groups ascribe to social or
human problems. To study this problem, QR use an emerging qualitative approach to inquiry, the
collection of data in a natural setting, sensitive to the people and places under study, and data
analysis that is both inductive and deductive and establishes patterns of themes.”
- It focuses on nature of things, rather than the number of things, on the how and what,
instead of the how many
- Meaning making, interpretations and perceptions
Philosophical assumptions
The assumptions begin with assessing where it fits within the overall process of research, noting its
importance as an element of research, and considering how to actively write it into a study. Use of
abstract ideas and beliefs that inform our research.
The study of the nature of reality: ontology, epistemology, axiology, and methodology.
Inductive vs. deductive
1
,Interpretive frameworks
- Others: multiple realities, socially constructed, explicate your bias.
- Critical theories: axiology central social justice and change.
- Pragmatism: whatever works.
Post positivism
- Single reality, unbiased
- Scientific approach to research
- Social science theoretical lens
- No strict cause and effect, but all cause and effect are a probability that it may or may not
occur
- Reductionistic, logical, empirical, cause-and-effect oriented, deterministic based on priori
theories
- Deductive
- Does not fit marginalized individuals/groups
Social constructivism
- Also described as interpretivism
- Individuals seek understanding of the world in which they live and work in
- Developing subjective meanings to their experiences directed to certain objects or things
- Subjective meanings are formed through interaction with others as well as through historical
and cultural norms that operate in the individuals’ lives
- Inductive
- The more open-ended the questions, the better
- Can be bias because of the interpretation researchers give to the results
- Does not go far enough in advocating action to help individuals
Postmodernism
- Focus their critiques on changing ways of thinking (rather than calling for action)
- Considered a family of theories and perspectives that have something in common
- Basic concept: knowledge claims must be set within the conditions of the world today and
the multiple perspectives on class, race, gender, and other group affiliations include the
importance of different discourses, marginalized people, and groups “the others”
o These ‘negative’ conditions are articulated by (for example) Foucault, Derrida,
Lyotard, Giroux, and Freire.
- Thomas comments that narrative texts need to be challenged according to postmodernists,
as they have dominant meanings in their subtexts
Transformative frameworks
- Alternative framework, knowledge is not neutral and reflects the power and social
relationships within the society the purpose is to aid people to improve society
- Individuals include marginalized groups
- Researchers may ask participants in collecting data, analyzing it, and shaping the final report
this way, the voice of participants becomes heard throughout the research process
2
, Pragmatism
- Focus on the outcomes of the research the actions, situations, and consequences of
inquiry (rather than antecedent conditions as in post positivism)
- Using multiple methods of data collection to best answer the research question will
employ multiple courses of data collection, focus on practical implications of research, and
emphasizes the importance of conducting research that best addresses the problem
Critical Race Theory
- Are concerned with empowering human being to transcend the constraints placed on them
by race, class, and gender
- Researchers need to acknowledge their own power, engage in dialogues, and use theory to
interpret or illuminate social action
- Scientific study of social institutions and their transformations through interpreting the
meanings of social life
- End goal might be social theorizing “the desire to comprehend and, in some cases,
transform the underlying orders of social life”
- Focuses theoretical attention on race and how racism is deeply embedded within the
framework of American society
- Three main goals:
o Present stories about discrimination from people of color
o CRT argues for eradication of racial subjugation while simultaneously recognizing
that race is a social construct race is not a fixed term, but fluid and continually
shaped by political pressures and informed by individual lived experiences
o CRT addresses other areas of difference, such as gender, class, and inequities
experiences by individuals
Set of philosophical assumptions: theoretical lens or social justice lens.
Creswell & Poth Ontology Epistemology Axiology Methodology
(Chapter 2)
Post positivism - A single reality exists - Reality can only be - Control researcher bias - Rigorous scientific
beyond us approximated /discovered - No need to explicate methods important:
- Reality can be instead of constructed them (because they are measuring and
discovered following a - It is revealed through controlled) objectifying
series of logically research and statistics - Deductive: theory
related steps. But - Validity comes from peers testing
researchers may not (not participants)
be able to understand
it perfectly
Social - Multiple realities are - Important to understand Individual values of - Aimed at
constructed through how people construct reality, researcher matter: ‘co reconstructing
constructivism our lived experiences rather than facts creation’ subjective meanings
and interactions with - Knowledge about reality co- of subjects
others constructed between - Inductive and
- Truth derived from researcher and subjects emergent
social interactions and
experiences
Postmodernism Multiple realities - Knowledge defined through - Respect for multiple - Questioning of
defined by our language and social habits value system methods
experiences and - One’s position and power (indigenous values) - Stress transparency
concepts (no reality structures are crucial in - Values need to be by highlighting issues
beyond that) knowledge development problematized and and concerns
- Dominant neo-liberal interrogated:
ideology and discourse; transformative goal, Critique: if there is no
emphasis on marginalized deconstruct language objective
groups and showing reality/truth, there
- Truth is relative to a certain dominations and power are no facts? The
frame of reference structures
3
