Qualitative

Question 1

6 research methods

Answer 1

1. basic qualitative research
2. case study research
3. grounded theory
4. narrative inquiry
5. ethnography
6. phenomenology

Question 2

Basic qualitative research

Answer 2

Q = pattern of similarities and differences

research analysis = thematic analysis (from data, no pre-conceived ideas)

Question 3

Case study research

Answer 3

Purpose = describe in-depth the experience of one person, family, group, community or institution
Methods
-Interviews
-Observations
Q = bounded system
analysis = thematic analysis/synthesis

Question 4

Grounded theory

Answer 4

Continuous interplay between data collection and analysis

• so, when data is collected and coded, this is used to look for more data etc.
• concepts and ideas ‘emerging’ from data, tagged w codes and later grouped into higher level concepts which form the basis of a theory
• memo-ing throughout process

Q=a process
analysis = GT

Question 5

Narrative inquiry

Answer 5

• guided by participant
• telling of the story = as important as the story itself
  Q=a story
  analysis = narrative analysis

Question 6

Ethnography

Answer 6

fieldwork = crucial! immersion into culture
- direct involvement, field notes, participation
Q = a culture/shared belief
analysis = thematic analysis/synthesis

Question 7

Phenomenology

Answer 7

• interest in lived experience, central = individual experience, with an interest in emotion
• rich and specific
  Q= an affect/emotion
  analysis = Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA)

Question 8

advantages/disadvantages of quant

Answer 8

+Detail ! Richness !
+Provides insight for further research
+ possibility of ambiguity, change of relationships (reflective of life)
- Not able to generalise, not transferable to other settings
- Researcher bias, very dependent on researcher interpretation
- time consuming

Question 9

Ways of collecting qualitative data

Answer 9

Interviews (can be structured/semi/not)
Focus groups
Naturalistic observation
Surveys and Questionnaires

Question 10

IPA

Answer 10

• Detailed exploration of how participants construct meaning from personal and social contexts
• Rigorous investigation of personal meaning and lived experience
• Inductive in nature - ideas and themes emerge rather than imposing a hypothesis
• Emic (insider) and etic (interpretative, outsider) positions
• Dual focus on unique characteristics of individual participants and patterning of meaning across participants
  ○ Contrasts w TA, mainly just patterning
• Much more detailed examination of individual experience

Question 11

Thematic analysis

Answer 11

• Method for identifying analysing and recording patterns or themes within data. Minimally organises and describes your data set in (rich) detail
• Transparency in decisions - understanding positionality of research (biases etc.)
• Flexible - not tied to one epistemology or approach
• Themes can be identified either in an inductive (‘bottom-up’) way, or in a theoretical/deductive (‘top-down’ way)

Question 12

Advantages/disadvantages of thematic analysis

Answer 12

\+ quick easy and convenient
\+ allows for patterns to arise
\+ unexpected results!
\+ summarise key features
\+ accessible

• limited interpretative power beyond mere description
• not a formal method (lack of expertise?)
• too much data
• disregard of the individual experience
• no standardisation
• researcher bias

Question 13

Advantages/disadvantages of grounded theory

Answer 13

\+ iterative process, responds to data
\+ rich and descriptive
\+ patterns
\+ avoids assumptions
\+ good for little known areas

• obscures researcher bias
• too much data
• no standardisation
• limited interpretative power beyond mere description
• disregard of the individual experience