Chapter 3 Flashcards
quantitative research
Uses instruments that produce quantitative measurements or numerical data
Often involves large n, think 100+ and random sampling
A focus on variables
qualitative research
Involves various kinds of non-numerical data, such as texts, images, spoken language
Often involves small n, can be as small as a single case and purposive or theoretical sampling
A focus on cases
where does qualitative research take place
go directly into the field, observe conditions on the ground, and ask people involved - in their own words - for their interpretation of what is happening and why
what type of method does qualitative research rely on
interpretation
Data are often spoken or written language or images with symbolic content
allows for intersubjectivity
Ability to understand concept or idea from someone else’s perspective
involves purposive or theoretical sampling
People or cases often chosen for specific purpose or to generate theory and number of people or cases is limited b/c more intensive, time consuming
advantages of qualitative research
Broad methodology wide advantages
Theory generating (model building)
Particularly for new or vaguely understood phenomenon
Uncovering causal processes or mechanisms
Rapid reconnaissance
Where time constraints do not permit other approaches
Understanding important individuals or cases, small groups and dynamics, cultures or subcultures
Analyzing visual images or conversations, historical or archival texts
existing qualitative data
Archival or written documents
Including testimony, minutes, laws, regulations, strategic plans, creespondants, etc.
Visual media, popular culture, and the internet
Photos, videos, magazines, newspapers, tv, movies, etc.
limitations of qualitative research
Not good for producing precise measurements of variables, estimating characteristics of a large population, calculating the magnitude of relationships between variables, or providing statistical evidence of a cause-effect relationship
unstructured interviews
Have no set of predetermined questions
Interviewing takes place on many occasions over time (ethnography)
Can seem like ordinary conversation, but has important differences
semi structured interviews
Follow interview guide
Set of Open ended questions, accompanied by probes that guide discussion
More in-depth interviews follow a semi structured interview guide
focus groups
Small group discussions led by a moderator
Group interview of 6-12 people seated around a table
Use a moderator who asks questions and guides discussion
why use focus groups
Include more people at a time
Participants cue each other
Generalizability can be observed
Mimics social process of thinking about issues
qualitative observation
Directly observing a setting or behavior and taking notes of recording the observations using still or video
participant observation
Joining a setting or activity in order to observe it
ethnography
School of qualitative methods that use participant observation to better understand other societies and cultures
complete participant
Researcher takes on central role in setting
participant as observer
Researcher spends significant time in setting joining in important activities and events, but does not assume actual role
observer s participant
Researcher visits setting only on one or few occasions to conduct interviews with people and make observations
complete observer
Researcher attempts to remain unobtrusive and does not interview or engage with people in setting
case study
Focus on one case or just a few complex cases
Typically a larger aggregate - an organization, a neighborhood, or a nation state
paradigmatic case study
Selects a prototypical case that offers the greatest generalizability
extreme case study
Aims to study a particularly good or bad example
critical case study
Selects a case that has a unique importance
competitive case study
Two or more cases used to ofer border perspective on how individuals and groups function
Allows researchers to gauge in comparisons similarities and differences in behavior
Can use cross-case analysis in addition to within-case analysis to uncover factores or explanations
qualitative data analysis
Steps in qualitative data analysis
Preparing and organizing the data
Reducing and summarizing the data, through coding
Presenting data, in narrative form, figures and/or tables
Integration of analysis and data gathering
In qualitative research, the process of analyzing data often occurs simultaneously with collecting data
coding
Tagging text or other qualitative data using a system of categories (a coding scheme)
Enable sorting, counting and organizing data
interceder reliability
Refers to consistency with which codes are applies to the text as a part of the process of coding and content analysis
triangulation
Describes how multiple sources of evidence from both qualitative and quantitative methods can converge a finding or confirm a theory
Uses both quantitative and qualitative methods
Key takeaway - if qual and quant researchers are coming to the same conclusions in their own studies it is probably a pretty darn solid theory
presenting qualitative data
Often hard to disguise individual identities
“Blinding” data - dont release information about org. Where they work, school, any identifiable characteristics
obtaining informed consent
Providing a formal written explanation of the study and obtaining participants’ signatures can be difficult
uncovering sensitive information
Often less predictable than in quantitative research
Researcher should plan for such events and be prepared to give social service/ medical referrals if necessary
