Qualitative Research Flashcards

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1
Q

resistant view of qualitative research

A
  • unscientific
  • soft science
  • subjective
  • criticism and not theory
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2
Q

why is there resistance to qualitative research?

A

truth is often only seen as being defined by “neutral, objective, apolitical”

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3
Q

Interpretivism’s main claim

A

human action is inherently meaningful

  • actions contain within them meaning or intention
  • actions can be understood within a system of meanings to which they belong
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4
Q

The three theorisations of interpretivism

A
  1. empathic identification
  2. phenomenological sociology
  3. language games
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5
Q

Empathic identification

A
  • aims to understand subjective unconsciousness
  • believe psychological re-enactment can be accomplished through an objectivist approach
  • does this through application of methods that allow them to become an observer
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6
Q

psychological re-enactment

A
  • getting inside someone’s head to understand their beliefs, motives, thoughts
  • also called intentionalism or conservative hermeneutics
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7
Q

Phenomenological Sociology

A

-ask: how do we make human action meaningful?

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8
Q

two concepts that are central to making meaning for phenomenological sociology

A
  • indexicality: the meaning of words is dependent on the context
  • reflexivity: words are not only about something but they also do things
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9
Q

Language games

A
  • popularised by Ludwig Wittgenstein and later Peter Winch
  • we do many things with language and in doing so we play games
  • language games have rules and criteria that form a system of meaning that give meaning to language games (include cultural conventions, beliefs, practices)
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10
Q

shared features of traditional interpretivism (three theorisations)

A
  • human action is meaningful
  • show an ethical commitment in the form of respect for everyday experiences
  • they share a neo-Kantian emphasis on the contribution of human subjectivity to knowledge without sacrificing objective knowledge
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11
Q

qualitative interviewing

A
  • studying individuals in a more naturalistic manner

- interviews are used to find out how people really feel about, understand or experience particular things

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12
Q

types of interviews qualitative uses

A

-semi-structured
-unstructured
NOT highly structured

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13
Q

semi-structured interviews

A
  • most common form of interview
  • focussed but flexible
  • prepare an interview schedule which is used as a guide
  • discussion
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14
Q

unstructured interviews

A
  • little structure, more flexible
  • aim to understand participant’s world-view
  • interviewer introduces broad topic
  • discussion develops on its own
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15
Q

semi-structured interview advantages

A
  • maintain focus
  • obtain specific info
  • less time
  • less experience/training needed
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16
Q

semi-structured interview disadvantages

A
  • limiting meaning
  • controlled
  • finding answers already known
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17
Q

unstructured interview advantages

A
  • greater flexibility
  • unanticipated findings
  • new meanings/theory development
  • participants take back power
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18
Q

unstructured interview disadvantages

A
  • less control
  • more skill/ experience needed
  • more time required
  • data analysis more complex
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19
Q

before the interview: interview schedule

A
  • decide on what questions to ask
  • think about phrasing of your questions
  • decide on sequence of your questions
  • include follow-up questions
  • balance is nb
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20
Q

during the interview: skills and rapport

A
  • build trust
  • establish rapport
  • active listener
  • be empathic
  • facilitate conversation
  • consider effects of social identities of interviewees and your own (race, class, gender, age)
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21
Q

who developed focus groups?

A

Robert Merton and colleagues in 1940s

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22
Q

what is a focus group?

A

a research technique that collects data through group interaction on a topic determined by the researcher

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23
Q

when and why to use FGs

A
  • If you want to elicit a wide range of views, perspectives and understandings of a particular issue.
  • For observing social interaction on your topic and for observing shared understandings/meaning.
  • As an exploratory tool to investigate under-researched areas/topics.
  • Great for accessing the view/voices of underrepresented and/or marginalised social groups.
  • If you have a social change/activist research agenda – have a ‘consciousness-raising’ effect on persons.
24
Q

issues to think about in relation to focus group participants

A
  • how similar or different are they?

- friends or strangers?

25
Q

snowball sampling in fg

A

participants lead you to other participants

26
Q

purposeful sampling in fg

A

look for people who match your criteria

27
Q

convenience sampling in fg

A

find who you can get

28
Q

sampling in fg

A
  • keep group size to 6 max

- over-recruit in case people dont show up

29
Q

conducting focus groups

A

Offer refreshments

  • Introducing group members to each other
  • Small-talk
  • Name tags
  • Location of the bathrooms
  • Audio recording equipment and taking notes (assistant)
  • Ground rules (e.g. cellphones, encouraging open discussion, respect etc.)
30
Q

moderating a focus group

A
  • interview skills
  • group management
  • challenging participants
31
Q

advantages of focus groups

A
  • draws on naturalistic modes of interaction, communication and expression
  • shifts the balance of power btw researcher and participant
  • Direct facilitator interaction with and observation of participants
  • Reduces researcher impact on participants’ responses
32
Q

disadvantages of focus groups

A
  • discussion may be difficult to control
  • individuals may not want to express opinions that vary from group opinion
  • not always suited to exploring sensitive topics
33
Q

what is the purpose of data analysis?

A

Data analysis involves working with your data in an attempt to answer your research question/s

34
Q

thematic analysis

A

Qualitative data analysis approach which identifies and analyses patterns or themes across data sets

35
Q

three central regulating principles

A
  1. ontology
  2. epistemology
  3. methodology
36
Q

ontology

A

the theory of the nature of reality- nature of social reality

37
Q

epistemology

A

a theory of knowledge

38
Q

methodology

A

a theory of the way in which knowledge is acquired

39
Q

paradigm

A

a worldview or point of view derived from ontological, methodological and epistemological assumptions and beliefs

40
Q

PAR stands for

A

Participatory Action Research

41
Q

PAR definition

A

seeks to bring together action and reflection, theory and practice in participation with others in the pursuit of practical solutions to issues of pressing concern to people.

42
Q

PAR origins

A
  • south america 1940s

- Martin Baro and Paulo Freire

43
Q

purpose of PAR

A

to produce practical knowledge that is useful to people in their everyday conduct of their lives

44
Q

Principles of PAR, who

A

originates in communities that have traditionally been exploited or oppressed (bottom-up)

45
Q

Principles of PAR, why

A

works to address the specific concerns of the community as well as the fundamental causes of the oppression, with the goal of achieving positive social change & social justice.

46
Q

Principles of PAR, how

A

PAR is at once a process of research, education and action to which all participants contribute their unique skills and knowledge and through which all participants learn and are transformed.

47
Q

bottom-up approach to social change

A

participation of members of marginalised communities in collective action

48
Q

top-down approaches to social change

A

efforts of powerful leaders, policy-makers, agencies, through instruments of government, politics, law or economics

49
Q

PAR techniques

A
Popular theatre
Mapping
Community seminars
Educational camps/workshops
Intercultural exchange programs
Video productions
Photovoice!
50
Q

PAR theory

A
  • participation
  • critical consciousness
  • empowerment
  • social capital
51
Q

PAR participation

A

It is the symbolic power to construct legitimate social knowledge, norms and identities, and to disregard, marginalise or silence alternative ways of knowing and being.

52
Q

PAR empowerment

A

Psychosocial state in which a group of people feel confident and motivated that they can achieve important goals they set themselves, and where they have the opportunities to do so.

53
Q

PAR critical consciousness

A

A realistic understanding of the obstacles to behaviour change, a belief that such obstacles can be overcome and a vision of alternative behavioural options.

54
Q

PAR social capital

A

Community-level strengths or resources such as trust, mutually supportive relationships, a positive local identity and high levels of participation in informal and formal social networks of various kinds (friends or neighbours, community associations & organizations).

55
Q

PAR- photovoice

A

seeks to bring about social change in marginalised communities by providing photographic training through which project participants can advocate and improve the quality of their lives.

56
Q

Hegemonic narrative

A

development is presented through racialised, gendered and classist narratives of postcoloniality.

57
Q

4 general principles of qualitative research

A
  1. naturalistic data collection
  2. validity
  3. reliability
  4. representativeness