Qualitative Research

Question 1

What ius Qual Research?

Answer 1

Qual Research is about meaning and capturing aspects of the social and psychological world. In Qual, there is more that one way of making meaning, therefore there is no single right answer. It is exploratory, open-ended and organic, it also provides rich and detailed data. It is also focused on the subjective experiences of individuals.

Question 2

What is Qualitative underpinned by?

Answer 2

Qual is underpinned by epestimology and otological assumptions. It focuses on a variety of philosophical assumptions which include realism, relativism, critical realism, epistemology, positivism, constructionism, contextualism. It also values subjectivity and Reflexivity.

Question 3

Thematic Analysis

Answer 3

A data analysis approach which identifies and analyse patterns or themes across a data set.

Question 4

Name and describe the 6 phases of a TA. (Think back to assignment)

Answer 4

1) Familiarise yourself with data: Transcribe data, reading and re-reading data, ad making notes.
2) Generating codes: Identify interesting features or key word in the data.
3) Searching for themes: Group codes into potential themes.
4) Reviewing themes: check if the themes relate to the codes and the data set, can make a thematic map.
5) Defining and naming themes: Define themes and generate a name which fully represent the theme.
6) Producing the report: Relate the themes back to the research questions, producing a scholarly report of the analysis.

Question 5

What is a deductive analysis

Answer 5

A researcher driven approach. The analysis start with themes that are identified by the researcher through a lit review. Codes acn be developed to use as an organisational tool or they can be created from concepts in existing literature/ theory. It is a top-down approach to data analysis, and it’s key purpose is to keep research focused and organize the data.

Question 6

What is an inductive analysis?

Answer 6

This is an approach where the codes is alloweed to emerge from the data, it is more of a bottom up startegy. The data is coded without trying to fit it into themes or the researchers preconceptions about the research. Uses open coding where you read through the data and develelop codes as you go. The key purpose of this is to really dig into what is happenin in the data, to understand the themes present in the data and to produce findings to answer your research question,

Question 6

What is a Reflexive thematic analysis

Answer 6

It highlights the researchers activ role in knowledge production. In this case codes represent the researchers interpretations of pattens of meaning across the dataset. It is considered a reflection of the researchers interpretative analysis of the data. Themes are produced by organising codes around a central organising concept.

Question 7

Positionality

Answer 7

An individuals worldview and the position they adopt about a research task and its social and political context.

Question 8

Reflexivity (what does it involve)

Answer 8

Involves reflecting on the ways in which we as researchers with social identities and particular perspectives have an impact on the research process

Question 9

Functional/ Epistemology Reflexivity

Answer 9

How research tools and processes may have shaped the research allows us to interrogate and reflect on our ontological and epistemological assumptions used to construct our research.
HOW WAS THE RESEARCH QUESTION LIMITED WHAT CAN BE FOUND?

Question 10

Personal Reflexivity

Answer 10

Making the researcher visible in the research process. reflecting on the ways in which our own belief systems, values, experiences etc. shape the research process.
HOW DID THE RESEARCH CHANGE US?

Question 11

What are 4 advantages of THEMATIC ANALYSIS

Answer 11

1) It is a flexible approach
2) Can summarixe key features of a large dataset, and it offers a thick description of dataset.
3) It can highlight similarities and differences across dataset.
4) Can also generate unanticipated insights.

Question 12

What are 4 disadvantages of THEMATIC ANALYSIS

Answer 12

1)Flexibility can be seen as a drawback.
2) Contributes to the perecption that it is not a rigorous method.
3) Research questions related tp discourse or language does not work well for TA.
4) Has kimited interpretative power and being unable to examine the complex ad subtle ways in which langauages is used.

Question 12

Narrative analysis

Answer 12

Focuses on stories, it consist of diverse kinds of text which have in common a story formed. It covers a wide range of textual possibilities such as paintings and interviews, and observations.

Question 13

Structuralist Sociolinguistic Approach

Answer 13

Focuses on the stricture of the narrative and the reported chronological verbal sequencing of personal events compared to the order in which is actually happned , as well as how this construction has conveyed meaning to the receiver. IN this case narritives are primarily events.

Question 14

The analysis/ the 6 elements of Structural Sociolinguistic approach

Answer 14

1) Abstract: The first clause that summarizes the entire aequence of events of the narrative.
2) Orientation: The time, place and events of the narrative
3) Complicating action: This clauses form the main body, and orovide the next seqquential event.
4) Evaluation: Interpretation of the significance of events and meanings.
5) Result: The final outcome of the narrative.
6) Coda: It ties the narrator and the audience back to present.

Question 15

Advantages of Structuralist Sociolinguistic approach

Answer 15

1) Can be used to identify some interesting narratives within the transcript.
2) The application of the model reveals the specific structure of individual narratives.

Question 16

Disadvantages of Structuralist Sociolinguistic approach

Answer 16

1) Narratives may not follow a chronological order in a linear way hrough time .
2) The mdoel is inadequate for subjective experiences.

Question 17

Sociocultural Approach

Answer 17

Focused on the broader interpretative frameworkd that people use to make sense of everyday happenings. In this approach research is oriented to the social, and cultural character of personal narratives. It related to specific incidents which was observed or experienced. STORIES DO NOT ONLY RELFECT CULTURE, IDEOLOGY AND SOCIALISATION, THEY ALSO PROVIE INSIGHTS INTO THE POLITICAL AND HISTORICAL CLIMATES IMPACTIN THE STORYTELLERS’ LIVES.

Question 18

What are the 5 steps of analysis for the Sciocultural approach

Answer 18

1) Identify the boundaries of the narative segments in the interview transcript.
2) Explore the content and context of the stories. How do people make sense of an event, what emotions fo the display?
3 Compare different people stories( similar events)
4) Link stories to relevant poltical structures and cultural locations.
5 Interpret stories being aware of your own positions and reactions and how they shape the final text.

Question 19

Discourse analysis

Answer 19

DA examines language usage. OIt is a way of questioning the ways of thinking, writin and speaking about particular topics in rder to discover rules assumptions, ways of seeing and hidden motivations. It is grounded in constructivism, meaning that reality is talked or texted into existence. Language is considered a means of constructing.
HOW ARE WORK IDENTITIES NEGOTIATED IN DISCOURSES?

Question 20

Foucauldian Discourse Analysis.

Answer 20

It is concerned with the ways in which knowledge was created and sustained within cultures. It identifies statements and tracks their chanages and challenges histrorically in the mapping of the creation and manitenanace of power-laden discourses. Power is a key apsect of discourse- institutionalised control of the population throug knowledeges of power (rules and legal system etc.)

Question 21

What are the guidelines of Foucauldian discourse analysis (FDA)

Answer 21

1) Outsider looking in: Historical development and tracking of discourse over time.
e.g. where is it coming from (apartheid discourse, gender and sexuality)
2) The inside looking out:

Question 22

Critical discourse analysis

Answer 22

Focus is on social problems. According to CDA power is developed and maintained in society by discursive practices.

Question 23

Underlying principles of CDA

Answer 23

1)Identifying framing: read text twice. First in general and next more critically within the expected structure of the genre. Identify strategies of placement such as headings and graphs. Note what could have been said but wasn’t also whose voices are used and whose are missing.
2)Interpretation: Note the use of sentences and passive verbs to focus on one aspects. Also notes insinuations to take power from people and also note connotations.

Question 24

Theorethical frameworks

Answer 24

TF is a structure that guides research by relying on a formal theory. It ois constrited by using an established, coherent explanation of crtain phenomenas and relationships. It is the foundation from which all knowledge is constructed.
It provides a grounding base, structure and anchor for the research.

Question 26

What are commonly used theories across diciplines( theorethical frameworks)

Answer 26

1)management theories, 2) moral theories,
3) trait theories
4) Behavioural theories
5) Social construction theory
6) feminist theory
7_ change theory

Question 27

Intersectionality

Answer 27

The need to acknowldge the ways in which social power worls to exclude or marginalise those who are different. Importance of acknoledging group differences. It ultimately challenges western hegemonic structures and institutions.

Question 28

African Feminist theories

Answer 28

Critical and reflxive tool that allows us to understand and trethink the worl and agency of African women, men and children. It rejects dominant narrative, that esentializes and generalizes the lives of Africa people. It helps us theorize from the cultures and lived experiences to produce contextually relevant knowledge, build relationships, healthe self and the community at large.

Question 29

Decolonial African Feminism theory

Answer 29

Allows the revelation of the perpetually silenced coices of African women. It allows for the recoverin of indigenous noledge of African women. The term represents a deconstructive, decolonial analytical framework which allows us to re-imagine, recover and reclaim identity construction processes in indigenous societies.

Question 30

Gender Theories

Answer 30

The study of what is understood as masculine and feminine or queer behaviour in any given context, commuity, society or field of study. It unpacks the social expectations, roles and behaviours that are understood as masculine or feminine. Understand that gender is socially constructed.

Question 31

Critical race theories

Answer 31

Understands that race is not biological or natural but is socially constructed to oppress and exploit people of colour. It unpacks what is means to be raced, and to understand the institutional and structural nature of racism. The goal is to understand racism and to evntually eliminate all race-based hierachies.

Question 32

Social construction theories

Answer 32

People develop knowledge of the world in a social context, and that much of hwat we perceive as eality depends on shared assumption. Sees meaning and knowlege as socially constructed.