Qual Methods 1 Flashcards
Three methods of data collection:
Interviews
Focus groups
Participant observation
What is qualitative research?
the most basic level, qualitative research is concerned with the collection and analysis of text-based data (e.g., interviews, focus groups, open-ended survey questions or newspaper articles).
Psychology has been heavily influenced by…
behaviourism and cognitive experimentalism.
•Positivism and post-positivism philosophy.
•Qualitative research questions the assumption that there is an…
objective and true conception of reality.
- There are multiple versions of reality – even for the same person.
- Focus on the…
experience, construction and interpretation of reality.
Willig 2013 on qualitative research
Qualitative researchers tend to be concerned with meaning. That is, they are interested in how people make sense of the world and how they experience events. They aim to understand ‘what it is like’ to experience particular conditions and how people manage certain situations”
Greenhalgh and Taylor 1997 on qualitative research
Researchers who use qualitative methods seek a deeper truth. They aim to study things in their natural setting, attempting to make sense of, or interpret phenomena in terms of the meanings people bring to them”
The central questions are
•“to count or to discover the name”
•“to measure or to listen and observe”
•“to administer a questionnaire or talk with someone”
(Camic, Rhodes, & Yardley, 2003, p.4)
•Unexplored and sensitive topics may benefit from listening to people affected.
Qualitative research paradigms
Words
Seeks to understand and interpret in terms of local meanings
Narrow but rich data (few people, lots of info)
Tends to be Theory generating
Seeks patterns, but can explore divergent narratives
Acknowledges subjectivity
Quantitative research
Numbers
Seek to identify relationships that generalise to a wider population
Shallow but broad data (lots of people, less contextual detail)
Tends to be Theory testing
Seeks consensus (what people do on average)
Objective
Using interviews in research
Aims:
- Professional conversation.
- Participants to talk about their experiences and perspectives, to capture their language & concepts on a topic.
- To explore views, experiences, beliefs, perceptions, motivations on specific matters.
- Good method when people have a personal stake in the matter.
Using interviews in research
Advantages
Rich and detailed data about personal experiences
Flexible- can probe and ask unplanned questions
Small samples
Ideal for sensitive issues
Accessible- can be used to collect data from vulnerable populations
Using interviews in research
Disadvantages
Time consuming for researchers and participants
Lack of breadth due to small Samples
Lack of anonymity
Some people more comfortable disclosing sensitive info in group setting or anonymous survey
Not always empowering for participants - less control compared to qualitative surveys
Structured interview
questions & response categories predetermined by researcher.
Unstructured
list of topics to discuss with participant; interview strongly participant-led.
Semi structured interview
•Researcher has a list of questions, but scope for participants to discuss issues important to them & not anticipated by researcher.
•Most widely used interview method in Psychology.
(Willig, 2013)
Semi structured interviews
- Interview schedule is planned in advance with open-ended questions and issues to probe further.
- Open-ended questions encourage participants to provide in-depth, detailed responses.
- Interview can be flexible and responsive to the participant; follow up on unanticipated issues.
- Usually recorded and transcribed.
- Transcription: process of turning audio (and video) recordings into written text for subsequent analysis.
Semi structured interviews
- Interview schedule – key to building trust and rapport with your participants (e.g., opening and closing questions).
- Order of questions – organise into topics that flow logically and avoid asking sensitive topics immediately.
- Wording of questions:
- Open questions, which avoid yes/no answers.
- Non-leading questions
- Singular questions are better; questions that ask about multiple things can be confusing.
Focus groups
- Group discussion focused on a particular topic or set of core issues.
- Typically 6 – 8 participants.
- Discussion based around a series of questions (‘schedule’).
- Researcher generally acts as a moderator.
- There can be a second researcher present taking notes.
- Interaction between participants key feature.
- Typically recorded and transcribed.
Sample size
- Qualitative research tends to use smaller samples than quantitative research.
- No rule to generate the required sample size.
- It depends on the purpose of the inquiry, what will be useful, what will have credibility, what can be done with the available time and resources (Patton, 2002).
- One method is data saturation - refers to the point at which no new information or themes are observed in the data.
Types of sampling
Convenience sample
Purposive sample
Theoretical sampling
Convenience sample
- Selection of most accessible participants.
* Identified as the least rigorous and justifiable sampling method.
Purposive sample
Aim – generate insight and in-depth understanding of the topic of interest.
Theoretical sampling
Data analysis and theory development shapes the selection of subsequent participants to elaborate the developing theory.
Mixed methods
- Combination of qualitative and quantitative methods in the design of a research study:
- Qualitative study (i.e., focus groups, interviews) to inform design of a questionnaire.
- Questionnaire, followed by interview or focus group with small sample of participants - further investigation.
Focus groups
- Participants may be pre-existing groups (e.g., colleagues) or brought together specifically for the research based on shared experiences/characteristics.
- Focus group structure – 1 session or multiple sessions (or repeated sessions with same groups).
- Not always just group discussion – responses to stimuli or group activities.
Focus groups advantages
- Flexibility for exploring unanticipated issues.
- Access to everyday ways of talking about topics (& meaning-making).
- Can facilitate personal disclosure.
- Good for participants who may find the prospect of research daunting.
- Reduce the influence of the researcher – more naturalistic data.
Focus groups disadvantages
- Logistically difficult – recruit & organise.
- Easy to get off-topic & can be difficult to manage.
- Ethical issues – whole group knows ‘who said what’ (privacy & confidentiality issues).
- Transcription is very time-consuming.
