Introduction to qualitative research methods Flashcards
1
Q
What is qualitative research?
A
- focuses on everyday life of people
- interested in their social worlds
- origins in anthropology (report = ethnography)
2
Q
Why are qualtitative methods used?
A
- useful when little is know about a subject
- not everything can be measured in a meaningful way
- collect rich/in depth data
- small scale studies
- insight into peoples lives (within social context - natural environment)
- holisitc - focus on whole person
- EMIC perspective - insides point of view
3
Q
What does the key term constructivism mean?
A
- we construct out social worlds
- reality = constructed through human activity (we invent properties of the world)
- indivs. create meaning through their interactions with each other and with their environment
4
Q
What does the key term interpretation mean?
A
- closely related to idea of social construction
- interpret events and things in our lives differently
5
Q
How are data collected?
A
- in-depth interviews (group/individual)
- observation
6
Q
What are the main features of qualitative research?
A
- EMIC perspective - researcher explores experiences and feelings
- how these are interpreted by indivs. (not fixed - change over time)
- researcher then interprets what they see and hear
7
Q
What are the different types of study?
A
Methodologies:
- ethnography
- phenomenology
- grounded theory
8
Q
What is an ethnography?
A
- study of culture
- origins in anthropology
- e.g. study of the culture of a seminar group
9
Q
What is a phenomenology?
A
- study of phenomena
- study of the lived experience of indivs.
- e.g. study of lived experience of being a student nurse
10
Q
What is grounded theory?
A
- specific set of methods
- idea = generate a theory (set of ideas about how something works)
- e.g. how STNs are socialised in to a ward environment
- which actions lead to which outcomes and in which circumstances?
- hypotheses generated - tested out
