Basics of qualitative research Flashcards
What is qualitative research?
The study of the nature of phenomena
What are the characteristics of qualitative research?
- Exploration/explanation, meaning- and sense-making, intensive, time-consuming, theory-building
- Iterative process working towards data saturation
- Inductive research
- Constructivism/relativism
What is quantitative research and its characteristics?
The process of collecting and analyzing numerical data using the scientific method
- Deductive research
- Positivism/realism
What are the differences between qualitative and quantitative research?
Quantitative research relies on:
- Positivism or realism
- Uses the scientific method/deductive research
What is the difference between ontology and epistemology?
1) Ontology is the nature of our beliefs on reality, what is reality, how does it exist
2) Epistemology is the nature of knowledge, how is knowledge acquired/validated
What is the differences between realism and relativism?
Realism = there is one truth, reality is objectively observable (generalize to other situations)
Relativism = reality is socially and experientially based therefore multiple realist exist (generalize to similar situations)
What is the difference between objectivism and subjectivism?
Objectivism = knowledge is objective, everyone observes the same reality
Subjectivism = knowledge consists of constructions that arise from interaction between research and participants
What is the difference between methodology and methods?
1) Methodology is the study of methods, the discussion/decisions/debates/choices you make to get to the methods, the strategic approach to gain knowledge
2) Methods is the methods we choose according to our assumptions to collect and analyze data
What are the four types of methodology?
Verification, Falsification, Transformation, Interaction
What is verification?
Knowledge is gained through hypothesis generation and testing (deduction)
Goal is to produce generalizable data
What is falsification?
Knowledge is gained by testing if hypotheses can be disproved, using a duductive approach
Outcomes are never totally objective
What is transformation?
Knowledge is gained by raising participants to a different level of consciousness and thereby empowering them
What is interaction?
Knowledge is gained by an inductive approach
Recognizing, understanding, developing, and contrasting constructions through dialogue
What is the two different paradigms?
Positivism = there is one truth and it can be observed
Constructivism = multiple truths are constructed by and between people
