Lecture 12 Flashcards
What to include in qualitative purpose statement:
- include action verbs: develop, explore, describe
- strategy of inquiry (sometimes philosophical worldview)
- phenomenon
- participants
- research site
What to remember in qualitative purpose statement:
neutral wording
Qualitative research questions can assume 2 forms:
- central question
- associated subquestions
Central question:
- focus on single phenomenon or concept
- uses exploratory verbs
- nondirectional (eg. do not use words such as influence, cause, relate)
- open-ended
Research sample can include…
- individuals
- organizations
- teams
- schools
The intent of purposeful sampling is to…
recruit a sample of information-rich participants that will purposefully inform an understanding of the topic being studied
Purposeful sampling is sometimes referred to as ….
purposive sampling
3 types of purposeful sampling:
- extreme case
- maximum variation
- snowball
Describe extreme case purposeful sampling:
- identifying participants who are unusual or represent extremes
- also called deviant cases
Give an example of extreme case purposeful sampling:
selecting kin professors who are rated as the best and worst instructors
Describe maximum variation purposeful sampling:
- heterogeneity is sought in people, experiences, places, perspectives etc.
- participants who represent diversity
Give an example of maximum variation purposeful sampling:
sampling rehabilitation centre programs in urban and rural areas in different parts of Canada (diversity in location)
Describe snowball purposive sampling:
participants identify other potential participants that are deemed fitting to the research purpose
Remember that the intent of qualitative research is not to ______ findings …. but instead to…
- generalize findings to a broad range of people
- provide in-depth detail and understanding about the topic being studied
Breadth vs. depth:
- breadth: full span of knowledge
- depth: extent to which specific topics are explored
_____ is often used to justify sample size.
saturation
Saturation:
researchers recruit participants until no (or very little) new information is being uncovered through data generation
5 considerations for saturation and determining sample size:
- scope of the study
- nature of the topic
- quality of data
- number of interviews per participant
- study design
General guidelines: sample size for narrative:
1-2 participants
General guidelines: sample size for phenomenology:
5-8 participants
General guidelines: sample size for grounded theory:
30-50 participants
General guidelines: sample size for ethnography:
typically a single group
General guidelines: sample size for case study:
- as single case
OR - 4-5 cases (collective case study)
Qualitative description:
- takes on the tones of other study designs
- depends on which type of study design it is mirroring in that instance
Recruiting participants in qualitative research is often done through _____ because qualitative research is ______.
- relationships
- relational
Known sponsor approach:
- person who has a legitimate relationship with the group of interest
- gives you credibility right from the start
How does the known sponsor approach differ from snowball?
snowball = someone who has participated in the research tells someone else
_____ is paramount to achieving understanding.
rapport
Gaining _____ is essential to an interviewer’s success.
trust
Once trust is gained, it can be very _____.
fragile
In qualitative research, the researcher is a ____ ______.
key instrument
There is often a _____ and/or _____ experience between participants and researcher.
- sustained
- intensive
Qualitative research involves _______ of….
- interpretation
- one’s own experiences, values, beliefs influence what is seen, what is deemed important, and what conclusions are drawn
Since the researcher is the ______ in qualitative research, ______ is essential.
- instrument
- reflexivity
Reflexivity:
- what you see and what you don’t
- how your assumptions impact study
How can we keep track of reflexivity?
keep a research journal
How can qualitative research be emotional?
- topic explored
- relational nature
- lack of definitive structure (emerging nature)
- time intensive
- insecurity with interpretations and representations
