Alternative qualitative data collection

Question 1

Experiments with conventional quantitative formats

Answer 1

Surveys:
Groups of ppts selected from a population
Can generate a lot of data - large sample sizes
Includes:
- measures
- demographic questions
- usually self report

-Qualitative surveys

Question 2

Qualitative surveys

Answer 2

Terry and Braun (2017)
- scope to bind data with quantitative responses, purely qual is less common
- less reliant on researcher craft-skills
- more control and consideration over responses
- possible anonymisation in recruitment
- broad and specific topics of interest
- suits realist, critical realist or essentialist perspectives
- no interaction with subject, nuances of emotion or environment lost.

Question 3

Enhancing traditional methods

Answer 3

Use videos//vignettes/activities/audio/photos to start discussions

participant-led

encourages reflection and critical dialogue

-E.g. watch a movie and discuss understandings

Question 4

Review of photo voice research

Answer 4

-Inconsistent evaluations of the outcomes and impact
-Inconistant implementation of the method
-Implementation challenges with specific populations

Question 5

New methods

Answer 5

Story completion
- projective test
- allows for ppts creativity
- explore a range of assumptions
- explore socially sensitive, ambiguous and contentious issues

Developing story stems
- ppts respond to beginning of story
- meaningful but ambiguous enough to draw on assumptions
- considerations: topic, length, characters, detail, ambiguity, 1st or 3rd person, clear instructions

Question 6

Technology and diaries (solicited diaries)

Answer 6

• writing within pre-defined guidelines, intended for research purposes
• can be more stringent
• partial access to thoughts/feelings of ppts
• more ppt control, useful for sensitive subjects
• can feel cathartic for ppts, giving voice

Question 7

Technology and diaries (apps)

Answer 7

-easy to use in DBT treatment programmes for people with BPD
useful for caregivers of children with health needs, improved holistic information

Question 8

Existent data:media data

Answer 8

e.g. newspapers magazines, tv, films
+easily accesibile
+taps into our mediated luves

Question 9

User generated content

Answer 9

pre-existing ‘naturalistic’ data from online sources in qualitative research e.g. forums, blogs, social media etc.
- data ‘harvesting’ e.g. existing forums, blogs, chats, tweets etc
- data is naturalistic but may not be fit for purpose e.g. specific focus os project

Question 10

Discussion boards

Answer 10

useful in exploring interactions, linguistic patterns, community and formation, group norms, organisation and conflict resolution.

Question 11

How to generate a discussion board

Answer 11

1. select forum
2. identify time frame
3. select threads and appropriate number of them
4. download and format, ready for analysis
5. select which elements of the data you need to focus on your research question.