qualitative research methods (w5) Flashcards
what is epistemology
assumptions you make about the best way of investigating the world and about reality
- how we know what we know, what is valid knowledge, how can we obtain it
what is theoretical perspective
how you, the researcher, view the world and assumptions you make about the nature of the world and reality
- what is there, what is reality, how can we understand existence
what is world view of realist ontology
the world is real and science proceeds by examining and observing it, there is a single truth, facts exist and can be revealed through experiments
what is world view of relativist ontology
whole truth is constructed, scientific laws are created by people to fit their view of reality, there are many truths, facts depend on viewpoint of observer
what is methodology
the strategy, plan of action, way you group together research techniques to make a coherent picture
what are methods
what you actually do, techniques and procedures used to gather and analyse data/evidence related to a specific research Q or hypothesis
what are 2 main schools of epistemology
positivism and social constructionism
what do positivists believe, which ontology does it fit with, what type of data do they tend to gather
best way to investigate is through objective methods such as observations
realist
quantitative
what do social constructionists believe, which ontology does it fit with, what type of data do they tend to gather
reality does not exist by itself, it is constructed and given meaning by people, focus is on feelings, beliefs, thoughts and how people communicate these
relativist
qualitative
is a qualitative approach more inductive or deductive, why
inductive rather than deductive, develop theory rather than start with one
what does a quantitative approach use randomisation
to reduce subjective bias
what is the focus on for qualitative data collection
focus on collection of rich data to explore how and why things happened
what do you need to be careful of in qualitative data collection
do respondents give accurate info or do they say what they think researcher wants to hear; can researcher be objective; what ways are there to ensure data is trustworthy
what are some types of qualitative data
interviews (structured, semi-structured or unstructured), focus groups, questionnaires, surveys, diaries, field notes
qualitative and quantitative: purpose in regards to social life
qual - understand social life
quant - explain social life
