PSYC701 QUALITATIVE STUDIES
BABIE CH1.
What is Qual Research?
Qualitative research is an attempt to study human action from the
perspective of social actors themselves.
Primary goal? is describing and understanding rather than explaining human
behaviors.
Will use qualitative methods of data collection such as participation
observation, semi-structured interviews.
Methods of analysis like grounded theory approach, narrative analysis.
3 types of designs under qualitative research: ethnographic studies, case
studies and life histories.
Qual research conducted in natural setting. Focuses on process rather than
outcome.
Aim is in-depth descriptions of actions and events.
The research process is inductive. Creates new hypothesis and theories.
Naturalism.
Emphasis on natural setting. Term used in qual research is naturalistic
inquiry.
Natural reflects concern for normal course of events. Researcher wants to be
non-intrusive.
Aim is to blend in and become participants.
Process.
Qual research is suited for studying social processes over time.
Wishes to study events as they occur. Not reconstruct the past.
Insider perspective (seeing through eyes of…)
Qual research aims to view world through the eyes of the actors
themselves.
Place selves in shoes of people being observed.
Also called the “emic” perspective.
Description and understanding.
Focuses on ‘thick description’. A rich detailed story.
Not a summary. Must be lengthy.
Should contain terminology and language used by the actors themselves.
Want to use categories and concepts used by the actors themselves. To
stay true to the meaning of the actors.
Contextual interests.
The preference for understanding events and actions. Is referred to as the
contextualist or holistic research strategy. Contrasts the analytical
approach.
Idiographic research strategy.
, More concerned with ideographic research strategies. Not nomothetic.
Distinction has roots with German hermeneuticist Wilhelm Windelband.
Nomothetic strategy empirical regularity of human law. Idiographic is
associated with a single event and its coherence.
Inductive approach.
Qualitative researcher begins by immersing self in natural setting. Describes
events accurately.
Intersubjectivity.
In quant research, aim is to control various sources of error that affects
validity of results.
In qual research, objectivity is seen in the researcher being an observer. And
they must be unbiased in their descriptions.
Objectivity also means gaining the trust of the participants. Being honest.
Table 10.1
Objectivity and validity in qualitative research.
2 approaches:
Munchhausen conception by Dutch philosopher Adri Smaling.
Notion of Trustworthiness by 2 American researchers Egon Guba and Yvonna
Lincoln.
(1) Munchhausen objectivity-
Smaling said objectivity can be a higher level of abstraction.
Doing justice to the object of study.
Example- investigating battered spouses in area.
If quant approach, use a survey and attain objectivity by making sure
questions don’t distort participants, sample size, time frame.
If using qual approach (to get their experiences), then attain objectivity
DIFFERENTLY. Use triangulation, field notes, member checks etc.
Triangulation is a method to rise above personal biases. Best way to
enhance validity and reliability in qual studies.
Extensive field notes also enhance validity and reliability.
Using notes, you can adjust your research design as the project goes on
because people and social worlds are never static.
Member checks is when you ask respondents (ppl being studied) to check
what you’ve written and if its accurate to them.
Peer review (2/more researcher debate) and audit trial (giving all your data
to an examiner) also improve objectivity. The audit trial means the examiner
will point out your biases and flaws.
(2) Trustworthiness-
Neutrality of findings. How can you persuade your audience that your info is
worth listening to?
A qualitative study can't be transferable unless it is credible. And it cannot
be credible unless it is dependable.
Credibility: achieved through prolonged engagement (Staying in the field for
long). Persistent observation (Pursue interpretations in different ways) and
triangulation. Focuses on richness of data and not quantity. use ‘member
checking’ to share info w/participants so they can clarify.
BABIE CH1.
What is Qual Research?
Qualitative research is an attempt to study human action from the
perspective of social actors themselves.
Primary goal? is describing and understanding rather than explaining human
behaviors.
Will use qualitative methods of data collection such as participation
observation, semi-structured interviews.
Methods of analysis like grounded theory approach, narrative analysis.
3 types of designs under qualitative research: ethnographic studies, case
studies and life histories.
Qual research conducted in natural setting. Focuses on process rather than
outcome.
Aim is in-depth descriptions of actions and events.
The research process is inductive. Creates new hypothesis and theories.
Naturalism.
Emphasis on natural setting. Term used in qual research is naturalistic
inquiry.
Natural reflects concern for normal course of events. Researcher wants to be
non-intrusive.
Aim is to blend in and become participants.
Process.
Qual research is suited for studying social processes over time.
Wishes to study events as they occur. Not reconstruct the past.
Insider perspective (seeing through eyes of…)
Qual research aims to view world through the eyes of the actors
themselves.
Place selves in shoes of people being observed.
Also called the “emic” perspective.
Description and understanding.
Focuses on ‘thick description’. A rich detailed story.
Not a summary. Must be lengthy.
Should contain terminology and language used by the actors themselves.
Want to use categories and concepts used by the actors themselves. To
stay true to the meaning of the actors.
Contextual interests.
The preference for understanding events and actions. Is referred to as the
contextualist or holistic research strategy. Contrasts the analytical
approach.
Idiographic research strategy.
, More concerned with ideographic research strategies. Not nomothetic.
Distinction has roots with German hermeneuticist Wilhelm Windelband.
Nomothetic strategy empirical regularity of human law. Idiographic is
associated with a single event and its coherence.
Inductive approach.
Qualitative researcher begins by immersing self in natural setting. Describes
events accurately.
Intersubjectivity.
In quant research, aim is to control various sources of error that affects
validity of results.
In qual research, objectivity is seen in the researcher being an observer. And
they must be unbiased in their descriptions.
Objectivity also means gaining the trust of the participants. Being honest.
Table 10.1
Objectivity and validity in qualitative research.
2 approaches:
Munchhausen conception by Dutch philosopher Adri Smaling.
Notion of Trustworthiness by 2 American researchers Egon Guba and Yvonna
Lincoln.
(1) Munchhausen objectivity-
Smaling said objectivity can be a higher level of abstraction.
Doing justice to the object of study.
Example- investigating battered spouses in area.
If quant approach, use a survey and attain objectivity by making sure
questions don’t distort participants, sample size, time frame.
If using qual approach (to get their experiences), then attain objectivity
DIFFERENTLY. Use triangulation, field notes, member checks etc.
Triangulation is a method to rise above personal biases. Best way to
enhance validity and reliability in qual studies.
Extensive field notes also enhance validity and reliability.
Using notes, you can adjust your research design as the project goes on
because people and social worlds are never static.
Member checks is when you ask respondents (ppl being studied) to check
what you’ve written and if its accurate to them.
Peer review (2/more researcher debate) and audit trial (giving all your data
to an examiner) also improve objectivity. The audit trial means the examiner
will point out your biases and flaws.
(2) Trustworthiness-
Neutrality of findings. How can you persuade your audience that your info is
worth listening to?
A qualitative study can't be transferable unless it is credible. And it cannot
be credible unless it is dependable.
Credibility: achieved through prolonged engagement (Staying in the field for
long). Persistent observation (Pursue interpretations in different ways) and
triangulation. Focuses on richness of data and not quantity. use ‘member
checking’ to share info w/participants so they can clarify.
