understanding Qual + Quant Research

Question 1

Characteristics of Qualitative Research

Answer 1

• natural setting (collected in field)
• gathered with multiple forms of data (interviews, observations, documents)
• researcher is key (self-collects data, self-designed)
• patterns/themes built from bottom-up
• focuses on participants
• holistic
• interpretive

Question 2

Use of Qualitative Research

Answer 2

to understand people’s beliefs, experiences, attitudes, behaviour, and interactions

Question 3

Methods used in Qualitative Research

Answer 3

• observations
• interviews
• focus groups
• other (life history, pile sort ect.)

Question 4

What is Ontology

Answer 4

explores the nature of reality, existence and being/becoming

Question 5

What is Epistemology

Answer 5

examines the methods, validity, and scope of what we claim to “know.” - how to attain knowledge

Question 6

Ontology - POSITIVISM

Answer 6

person (researcher) and reality are separate

Question 7

Ontology - INTERPRETIVISM

Answer 7

person (researcher) and reality are inseparable (life-world)

Question 8

Epistemology - POSITIVISM

Answer 8

objective reality exists beyond the human mind
-knowledge gain through objective measures
-researcher is removed = truth undisturbed

Question 9

Epistemology - INTERPRETIVISM

Answer 9

knowledge of the world is intentionally constituted through a person’s lived experience
- subjective approach
- interact with people to discover truth