Qualitative Research methods Flashcards
Define research
-creative systematic activity undertaken in order to increase stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society and the use of knowledge to devise application
Merriam -Webster definition of research
studious inquiry or examination, to interpret and rectify accepted theories and laws.
Qualitative research
- interpretation = every presentation is a re-presentation
- reality = subjective
- truth = multiple
- Generalisation = local, particular context
Define qualitative research
- multimethod, interpretive approach to its subject matter.
- study things in their natural settings to interpret them in terms of meanings people bring to them
What is positivist/quantitative paradigm(measuring)?
- numbers are important
- Explains social life
- Aims at testing theory
- believes in objective
- provide clear answer to specific casual questions
What is interpretivist/ qualitative paradigm (meaning)?
- meanings are important
- understands social life
- aims at generating theory
- employs a subjectivity
Qualitative - inductive approach
- observation
- patterns
- themes
- insights
Quantitative data - Deductive
- confirmation
- theory setting
- hypothesis
- theory
Outline the process of scientific inquiry
- What is there to know/explore?
- what procedure should i follow?
- which data to collect and how?
- how to make meaning?
What are some qualitative ways of collecting data?
- interviews
- participant observation
- focus group
- textual analysis
- action research
What are limitations of qualitative research?
- researcher presence bias
- time consuming
- lack of genralizability
- poor replication and validity
