W1 - Intro to Qualitative Research

Question 1

What are the goals of Qualitative research? (DUCAN)

Answer 1

• Concern with meaning (how people make sense of their experience)
• Understand the experience of a condition
• Describing/explaining/interpreting
• Naturally occurring studies
• Ask questions about processes (solution, context)

Question 2

What is Ontology?

Answer 2

• To understand the nature of reality
• 2 ends of the spectrum: realism vs. relativism
  -> Qualitative analysis is based on subtle realism (middle-ground): acknowledge existence of an independent reality, but denies that there can be direct access to that reality

Question 3

What is Epistemology?

Answer 3

• Researching how knowledge is created
• 2 ends of the spectrum: positivist vs. constructionist
  -> Qualitative analysis is based on constructionist: all knowledge is socially constructed, an interpretation

Question 4

Comparison between quantitative vs. qualitative research?

Answer 4

1. Research question:
   - Quanti: hypotheses, cause/relationship between defined variable
   - Quali: explanatory, focus on individual experiences
2. Data collection:
   - Quanti: numeric data , in controlled/ experimental conditions
   - Quali: non-numeric, rich & detailed data, in context or in natural settings
3. Data analysis:
   - Quanti: statistical tests
   - Quali: defining theme
4. Interpretation:
   - Quanti: objective “fact”, generalisable
   - Quali: subjective, transferrable role between participants & researchers

Question 5

How to phrase qualitative research questions?

Answer 5

Criteria:
- exploratory
- identify a specific context
- identify a specific group
- focus on individual meaning & understanding

Avoid:
- quantification
- assumptions about causality
- generalisable observation

Question 6

What are the unobtrusive methods?

Answer 6

1. Published narratives
2. Archival documents
3. Simple observation
4. Visual images/media
5. Audio
6. Self-reports diary (NOT questionnaire)

Question 7

Pros and cons for structured interview?

Answer 7

How:
- interviewer follows the interview schedule, asking closed questions with same order and setting
- interviewee plays a passive role

Pros:
- Standardised - consistency & low bias
- Reliable & replicable
- Quick & doesn’t require strong interview skills

Cons:
- NOT qualitative
- Limited range of response
- Difficult to capture complexity

Question 8

Pros and cons for semi-structured interview?

Answer 8

How:
- flexibility in schedule, follow up on interviewee responses, can change order of questions
- guided convo/’focussed interview’
- important to build rapport at the start

Pros:
- Flexibility -> richer detail & deeper understanding of responses
- Some standardisation possible
- Useful for exploring sensitive topics

Cons:
- Non-natural conversation

Question 9

Pros and cons for unstructured interview?

Answer 9

How:
- allow interviewee leads interview (stick to topic guide)
- adapt questions and follow-up probes to interviewee’s responses

Pros:
- Useful when little is known about a research & target group hard to reach
- Rich, detailed data
- Empowers interviewees

Cons:
- Need good interview skills
- Little standardisation
- Complex to analyse
- Potential bias

Question 10

Pros and cons for focus group interview?

Answer 10

How:
- participants interact with each other & moderator -> recorded using video
- can challenge/extend/develop statements
- group can be homogenous or heterogenous
- requires skilled moderator

Pros:
- Higher ecological validity, more naturalistic
- Different perspectives on topic
- Large amount of data in short time
- Relatively inexpensive

Cons:
- Not suitable for sensitive topics
- Video recordings can reduce quality
- Social desirability bias
- Group dynamics
- Ethical issues

Question 11

What are the features of a good interview schedule?

Answer 11

1. Start by building rapport (friendly)
2. Logical order (e.g. general -> specific)
3. Group related questions
4. Mostly open questions
5. Includes probes to elicit details
6. Save questions on sensitive topics later on
7. Clear and easy-to-understand language (e.g. no jargon, double-barrelled questions)

Question 12

How to facilitate good interviews?

Answer 12

• Safe environment
• Address ethical issues
• Care for interviewees wellbeing
• Avoid conveying judgement
• Interview skills: use probes and prompts to extract details + encouragement phrases + open questions + silence
• Be flexible and self-aware (e.g. body language)

Question 13

Why is studying about people’s lives difficult?

Answer 13

1. People experience are complex
2. Multiple interacting causes and influences
3. People are actively involved
4. Individual difference