Qualitative methods Flashcards
what is qualitative methodologies?
types include phenomenology and ethnography
This type of methodology allows us to gain an understanding of the behaviours, interactions and experience. Generally starts with a broad research question.
Phenomenology
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
Action research
- 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
Ethnography
- Social anthropology
- Wish to explore the behaviours and beliefs of groups
- Interested in cultures, customs, language and interactions.
- Method of data collection: observation
Grounded theory
- When the researchers intention is to find out more about a topic
- Data analysis usually involve the constant comparison method.
Underpinning philosophies of phenomenology
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
Descriptive (Husserl) phenomenology
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.
Interpretive (Heidegger) phenomenology
Attempts to interpret, analyse or explain the participants experiences. Preconceptions of researchers are an essential factor. (subjective)
Bracketing
Researcher sets aside prior knowledge, by reflecting what they assume about the topic and enables them to be receptive to participants account.
Phenomenological Research: Sampling
Participant recruitment, data collection and analysis should happen at the same time.
Nonprobability and purposive sampling strategies used- researchers decides on the required inclusion
Data saturation
Determine final sample size. When data collection and analysis do not reveal any new findings, so requirement of further participants is deemed unnecessary
Phenomenological research: data collection and data analysis
common is semi structured interviews- participants are encouraged to reflect upon feelings and experiences. diaries and case studies
Thematic analysis-
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
Phenomenological research: ethical issues
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.
Ethnography
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
Ethnography-Researchers gain insight into the social, psychological, political and economic factors that impact upon the group and the way in which it functions.
Macro-ethnography – study of broadly-defined groups, for example “New Yorkers”
Micro-ethnography – narrowly defined cultural groups, e.g., Japanese pearl divers
Ethnographic research: the setting and sample
Size -where the study takes place and number taking part and setting determined by purpose of research.
Ethnographic research :data collection and analysis
Concurrently, observation. Nonprobability sampling, convenience sampling- involves the sample being drawn from that part of the population that is close to hand.
Reflexivity- researchers consider the impact that they had on the way the research has been conducted and data analysed
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
Grounded theory
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
Grounded theory: setting and sample
Theoretical sampling – recruits PP who they think will help challenge or refine theory
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.
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
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
Theoretical sampling
recruits PP who they think will help challenge or refine theory
Interviews
qualitative studies- semi structured or unstructured schedule- a topic guide
Observation
Enables researcher to understand how people behave in particular situations and how they interact with others. provides essential info about the context.
Focus groups
Regarded as a group interview, respond to question and discuss issues raised. - Qualitative research
Different approaches to observation
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
Participant reactivity
Behaviour altercations in pp arising from the presence of an observer - Hawthorne effect
Diaries: e.g. a checklist, semi structured or unstructured
Produce accurate data as documented as soon as or after not recalled
collect the data over a refined period of time include actions, behaviours, thoughts and feelings and time can vary. (large groups of people)
Vignettes
- Can be structured or unstructured
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
Q sort
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
Art based methods of data collection
- useful with young children, difficult or sensitive topics
Where pp draw, paint, take photos, make collages or collect objects that illustrate thoughts feelings and experiences.
Choosing a method of data collection
impacts affect the final choice like time available, research setting, researcher skills, resources required and available, cost.
Thematic analysis
Text is coded into broad/ key themes, sub themes. Reading transcript to become familiar with the data .
Thematic analysis
Analysed the data rather than just para phrasing or describing it. 4-6 broad themes with sub themes
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.
Interpretative phenomenological analysis
common in phenomenological studies
Draws on prior knowledge and experiences when interpreting data
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.
Conversation analysis
Analyse naturally occurring everyday conversation between individuals. Will analyse language , emotions, pauses etc
Discourse analysis
e.g video or someone making detailed notes about behaviour
elements of conversation analysis but aims to understand any communication between people
Include analysis of non-verbal and written communication
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
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
What methods of qualitive data should I use?
Top down approach or bottom up approach (the coding comes from the data).
Should be determined by research question and research method used
Qualative analysis is another term for thematic analysis.
Quantative is referred to as template analysis.
