weeks Flashcards
ontology
epistemology
methodology (methods)
what is the nature of the social world?
study of knowledge
instructions on how to collect data
paradigms
sets of views and beliefs; conceptualize the research process
positivism
post-positivism
constructivism
critical theory
one truth
we are flawed so can’t get the truth
socially constructed
how power shapes the research process
how researchers empower participants to become researchers
ethical concerns for research
well being - a trigger, traumatizing
privacy and confidentiality - anonymity
informed consent
justice - confidentiality
4 core features of qualitative research
- insightful - makes sense of how people make sense
- complex - not a simple process
- emancipatory - understand to improve
- iterative - data can change based on research, adjustments made in process
6 steps for planning quali research
- field/topics
- taking a perspective
- developing RQ
- design project
- data collection and analysis
- writing it up
4 principles for qualitative research
- meaning-making - understanding of the world is socially shared
- complexity - observe phemonenon in natural context
- micro insights - not generalizable but goes in depth
- different epistemological, ontological, methodological positions
analogy of a puzzle
- developing RQ - defines the type of puzzle
- theory - key areas to concentrate on - vision
- design - the edges - edges can change - flexibility
- RQ as key to solving puzzle
rq
focuses on experience and perception
1. answerable
2. open-ended
qualitative research
not reducible to the impact of X on Y
how questions
focus on people’s stories
hints towards paradigm, methodology, methods = evidence
ethnography
it’s purpose
telling stories
drawing audiences into lives of the respondents
replicate human experience - produces data about contexts
captures life as experienced by participants
thick descriptions
rich understanding of how people experience life (observation+interpretation)
construction of other people’s construction
3 main points of ethnography
is about telling stories
observe
replicate experience
gatekeepers
sponsors
no official role but some kind of authority
gatekeeper + social political, cultural capital is investred in your research
autoetnography
autobiographical genre of writing and research
displays multiple layers = inward vulnerable self
movement between the system and the experience
autoethnographic characteristics
advantages
disadvantages
- written in first person
- usually single case - focus on the particular might be universal
- more literally than scientific writing
flexible
social process over time
richer and fuller descriptions
great with other methods
unobtrusive
create new ideas
not everything can be directly observed
time consuming
not trasnferable (resonates with particular group from population)
dependent on observer’s abilities
requires an accounting of researcher position
participant observation
experiencing and recording events in social setting
iterative and cyclical process
inductive
deductive
past experiences (there were ducks so there will be ducks)
conclusion based on premises that are generally true (all men are debil, joe is a man so he is debil)
4 types of observation
- complete observer - researcher’s role is hidden and doesn’t affect what’s happening
- observer as participant - primary role = observer, distance and no central role
- participant as observer - researchers role acknowledged, fully integrated, co commitment, complicated role as insider
- complete participant - researchers role is hidden, can affect what happens, creates ethical problems
fieldnotes
evidence: turns into research
creating meaning
code data into key concepts and categories
4 types of interviews
- factual - collect info during an event
- conceptual - understanding an abstract concept
- narrative - how people talk about an event
- discursive - how people select arguments to explain their position
homogenous
heterogenous sample
orgy of 12
data saturation
purposive sampling
no new insights
collecting cases to study topic of interest
3 types of interviews
structured - set in stone, one list of questions
semi-structured - a topic but can deviate and come up with follow up questions
unstructured - interviewee can take discussion in any way, no set of questions or topics
