Lecture 1 - Qualitiative Research

Question 1

What is the basic premise of qualitative research according to Gratton and Jones (2010) and Mason (2002)?

Answer 1

• Captures qualities not quantifiable e.g., feelings thoughts and experiences
• produces finding not by statistical procedures
• dimensions of the social world, relationships, social world

Question 2

What is a research paradigm and what are the 2 main paradigms that inform research??

Answer 2

Underlying assumptions and beliefs about the world.

Positivist and interpretivist

Question 3

What is the pyramid structure of research ?

Answer 3

Research proposal development -> qualitative and quantitative research approaches -> foundation

Question 4

Describe other key components of qualitiative research? (Denzin and Lincoln; Creswell, 1998)

Answer 4

• study of things in their natural setting (e.g. Ethnography)
• describe and tries to explain routines problematic moments and meaning in individual’s lives
• analyses words and produce rich and volume data

Question 5

Describe research design when using the qualitative approach?

Answer 5

Problem is posed
Open ended research questions
Observation - participant observation
Non statistical based analysis
Presents findings based on informants own words

Question 6

What does ontology and epistemology mean

?

Answer 6

Ontology - The philosophy of the existence and nature of a phenomena

Epistemology- how we gain knowledge of such a phenomena

Question 7

What does it mean if the question has been analysed deductively?

Answer 7

SETI g setting up a coding system before you start and code the data you have collected

Question 8

What does it mean if the question has been analysed inductively?

Answer 8

Explore the as it is generated and develop themes and ideas as you explore it in detail

Question 9

Deductive qualitative research is ‘theory based’ and hence explores pre-existing knowledge, what is inductive qualitative research??

Answer 9

Considered ‘theory generating’ and explores new knowledge

Question 10

What is considered the most important aspect of qualitative research?

Answer 10

Its commitment to viewing events and actions from the perspective of the people who are being studied

Question 11

What are outputs in qualitative research tend to focus on??

Answer 11

Tend to focus on ‘re-presenting’ the social world

Question 12

What are the 5 key components of purposeful sampling strategy (Miles and Huberman, 1994)

Answer 12

• Homogenous
• random purposeful (adds credibility to sample when too large)
• stratified purposeful (illustrates subgroups, facilitates comparison)
• opportunistic
• convenience

Question 13

What are the qualitative methods of data collection?

Answer 13

Interviews, qualitative questionnaires, observations, ethnographies, case studies, biographies, life histories