Topic 4: Overview of Qualitative Methods

Question 1

What are the aims of qualitative research?

Answer 1

• To develop an in-depth understanding of:
  o Human ‘lived experience’ and behaviour
  o Phenomena of interest from individual perspective
  o Nuances of meaning
  o Influences of the context
• To offer interpretations and develop theory for social and psychological phenomena
• This is NOT about BIG sets of data or generalisability

Question 2

Background: How did qualitative approaches arise in psychology?

Answer 2

1980s - methods arose
–> Emergence reflected a rejection of an observable independent reality
–> Instead, person theorised as operating within a subjective world
–> A fluid and reciprocal relationship between person and context

We have EMOTIONAL REACTIONS to context and who we are with
–> People have SUBJECTIVE WORLDS

Question 3

Explain the ‘Non-positivist qualitative research paradigm’

Answer 3

a) There is no one correct version of reality or knowledge

b) Argues there are multiple versions of reality (even for the same person)

c) These are bound by the context in which they happen or are created

d) you MUST NOT consider knowledge OUTSIDE THE CONTEXT IN WHICH IT WAS GENERATED (never divorce the data from the context)

Question 4

What are the key elements of a qualitative research paradigm (Silverman, 2000)

Answer 4

• Analysis of words not reducible to numbers
• Use of more naturally occuring data collection methods
• Interest in meanings rather than reports and measures of behaviour
• Use of inductive theory-generating research
• Rejection of the natural sciences as a model of research (rejecting the unbiased scientist)
• The recognition that researchers bring their subjectivity into the process
• Should closely resemble real life

Question 5

Compare Quantitative and Qualitative Research Approaches

Answer 5

Quantitative
- Numbers
- Seeks to identify relationships
- Generates ‘shallow but broad data’
- Seeks consensus
- Tends to be theory-testing and deductive
- Values impartiality
- Has a fixed quick method

Qualitative
- Words
- Seeks to understand meaning and context
- Generates ‘narrow but rich’ data
- Tends to seek patterns but accommodates divergence
- Tends to be theory generating and inductive
- Values reflexivity
- Methods is less fixed and longer

Question 6

What are the key ways of collecting qualitative data?

Answer 6

• Naturally occuring
• Interviews: structured, semi-structured, and unstructured
• Focus groups
• Analysis of secondary sources
• Observational techniques

Question 7

What are the characteristics of the INDUCTIVE approach

Answer 7

Inductive
- “Bottom-up”
- Moving from data to theory
- Understanding the meanings humans attach to events
- Close understanding of the research context
- Collection of quali data
- Flexible research structure
- Researcher is part of the process

Question 8

What is reflexive practice?

Answer 8

Researchers increasingly need to focus on self-knowledge and sensitivity
- carefully monitoring their biases
- Researchers should be mindful of the power dynamics, position as an in/out group member, shared experiences