Qualitative methods

Question 1

what is qualitative methodologies?

types include phenomenology and ethnography

Answer 1

This type of methodology allows us to gain an understanding of the behaviours, interactions and experience. Generally starts with a broad research question.

Question 2

Phenomenology

Answer 2

The meaning of a persons life

• A persons reality is determined by their interpretation of their world.Semi structured interview
• Reveal new unexpected insights. In depth convo
• Their whole life aspect and not just the condition. small sample

Question 3

Action research

Answer 3

• Aim: to assess the problem and implement a change that will address the problem and then evaluate
• Evaluation will identify if further strategies are required
• Concluded when the initial problem has been addressed

Question 4

Ethnography

Answer 4

• Social anthropology
• Wish to explore the behaviours and beliefs of groups
• Interested in cultures, customs, language and interactions.
• Method of data collection: observation

Question 5

Grounded theory

Answer 5

• When the researchers intention is to find out more about a topic
• Data analysis usually involve the constant comparison method.

Question 6

Underpinning philosophies of phenomenology

Answer 6

Person centred approach and holistic and requires skills of communication, observation and interpersonal interaction.
Enables researcher to focus on the whole person not just the condition, situation or problem
Based on the assumption people encounter their experiences with and through others, perceptions are influenced by the context in which they occur

Question 7

Descriptive (Husserl) phenomenology

Answer 7

focuses on the lived experience.
Describe an individual’s perception or account of their experiences. Does not require prior knowledge of the researcher and explore issues with an open mind.

Question 8

Interpretive (Heidegger) phenomenology

Answer 8

Attempts to interpret, analyse or explain the participants experiences. Preconceptions of researchers are an essential factor. (subjective)

Question 9

Bracketing

Answer 9

Researcher sets aside prior knowledge, by reflecting what they assume about the topic and enables them to be receptive to participants account.

Question 10

Phenomenological Research: Sampling

Answer 10

Participant recruitment, data collection and analysis should happen at the same time.
Nonprobability and purposive sampling strategies used- researchers decides on the required inclusion

Question 11

Data saturation

Answer 11

Determine final sample size. When data collection and analysis do not reveal any new findings, so requirement of further participants is deemed unnecessary

Question 12

Phenomenological research: data collection and data analysis

Answer 12

common is semi structured interviews- participants are encouraged to reflect upon feelings and experiences. diaries and case studies

Question 13

Thematic analysis-

Answer 13

sections of the data is coded into broad themes, each of which contains a number of sub themes and may culminate in the development of a theory

Question 14

Phenomenological research: ethical issues

Answer 14

Participants should understand the purpose and scope of study when giving consent. Strategies in place before the study begins to deal with sensitive issues and constantly evaluate the impact it has on the participant.

Question 15

Ethnography

Answer 15

Groups of people. Explores the setting or world in which individuals or groups of people come together. Researchers explore the behaviours and beliefs of groups of people or of individuals within a group

Question 16

Ethnography-Researchers gain insight into the social, psychological, political and economic factors that impact upon the group and the way in which it functions.

Answer 16

Macro-ethnography – study of broadly-defined groups, for example “New Yorkers”
Micro-ethnography – narrowly defined cultural groups, e.g., Japanese pearl divers

Question 17

Ethnographic research: the setting and sample

Answer 17

Size -where the study takes place and number taking part and setting determined by purpose of research.

Question 18

Ethnographic research :data collection and analysis

Answer 18

Concurrently, observation. Nonprobability sampling, convenience sampling- involves the sample being drawn from that part of the population that is close to hand.

Question 19

Reflexivity- researchers consider the impact that they had on the way the research has been conducted and data analysed

Answer 19

Emic perspective – study how members of a given culture perceive their world

• Etic perspective – study of how non-members of a group interpret behaviour of a given culture
• Tacit knowledge – studying a deeply-embedded cultural belief (emic perspective) using knowledge that is rarely or never discussed and must be inferred by the ethnographer

Question 20

Grounded theory

Answer 20

RM. Develop a theory which offers an explanation about the main concern of the population of your substantive area and how that concern is resolved or processed. open mind and no literature search

Question 21

Grounded theory: setting and sample

Theoretical sampling – recruits PP who they think will help challenge or refine theory

Answer 21

Participants: data sources. Looks for factors to explain the phenomena and once identified factors, identifies data sources to provide insight . Purposive or convenience sampling at first.

Question 22

Data collection and analysis
Iterative/ cyclical process- identify required characteristics of further PP, issues to explore with them and type of data collection to use

Answer 22

Recruitment of PP, data collection and analysis occur simultaneously
Compares the data they have collected and look for contraindications, similarities, difference- comparison will enable to identify potential data sources that will conform theory

Question 23

Theoretical sampling

Answer 23

recruits PP who they think will help challenge or refine theory

Question 24

Interviews

Answer 24

qualitative studies- semi structured or unstructured schedule- a topic guide

Question 25

Observation

Answer 25

Enables researcher to understand how people behave in particular situations and how they interact with others. provides essential info about the context.

Question 26

Focus groups

Answer 26

Regarded as a group interview, respond to question and discuss issues raised. - Qualitative research

Question 27

Different approaches to observation

Answer 27

Overt observation is when pp are fully aware that they are being observed and researcher will be present in setting, covert is when they don’t know

Question 28

Participant reactivity

Answer 28

Behaviour altercations in pp arising from the presence of an observer - Hawthorne effect

Question 29

Diaries: e.g. a checklist, semi structured or unstructured

Produce accurate data as documented as soon as or after not recalled

Answer 29

collect the data over a refined period of time include actions, behaviours, thoughts and feelings and time can vary. (large groups of people)

Question 30

Vignettes

- Can be structured or unstructured

Answer 30

scenarios which describe a real or fictious event can be used to elicit pp responses about how they would respond in that situation, thoughts and feelings about scenario

Question 31

Q sort

Answer 31

Quantative method- pp is given pre-determined statements about a particular topic on individual cards. sort/rank cards between strongly agree and disagree. Initial statements developed from current literature

Question 32

Art based methods of data collection

- useful with young children, difficult or sensitive topics

Answer 32

Where pp draw, paint, take photos, make collages or collect objects that illustrate thoughts feelings and experiences.

Question 33

Choosing a method of data collection

Answer 33

impacts affect the final choice like time available, research setting, researcher skills, resources required and available, cost.

Question 34

Thematic analysis

Answer 34

Text is coded into broad/ key themes, sub themes. Reading transcript to become familiar with the data .

Question 35

Thematic analysis

Analysed the data rather than just para phrasing or describing it. 4-6 broad themes with sub themes

Answer 35

Form codes into themes with each theme capturing the essence for the data it contains.
Framework evolves, consist of broad/sub themes. The thematic framework is a large filling system which contain the data.

Question 36

Interpretative phenomenological analysis
common in phenomenological studies
Draws on prior knowledge and experiences when interpreting data

Answer 36

analytical induction)- the analysis or the findings come from the data.
Usually print off the data, annotations in the left-hand margin identify codes, whilst the right hand margin make annotations about analysis, eventually becomes themes and sub themes.

Question 37

Conversation analysis

Answer 37

Analyse naturally occurring everyday conversation between individuals. Will analyse language , emotions, pauses etc

Question 38

Discourse analysis

e.g video or someone making detailed notes about behaviour

Answer 38

elements of conversation analysis but aims to understand any communication between people
Include analysis of non-verbal and written communication

Question 39

Content analysis
Both quantative and Qualative

Advantage is that different coders could obtain the same results as long as the codes are clear. Can be useful in analysing written material such as new reports or journals articles

Answer 39

Top down approach- a coding framework is divided before data analysis begins. They decide in advance what they are going to look for in the data and develops a list of codes and categories.
Then they read through the data and counts the number of cases within the category

Question 40

What methods of qualitive data should I use?

Answer 40

Top down approach or bottom up approach (the coding comes from the data).
Should be determined by research question and research method used

Question 41

Qualative analysis is another term for thematic analysis.

Answer 41

Quantative is referred to as template analysis.