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Wk11/Chap 14 & 20 - Qualitative studes

Terms in this set (31)

What is the difference in the Qualitative method in regards to topic, hypothesis, data analysis?
Topic - literature is not as central, topics are not narrowed until some research has been done
Hypothesis - may not use it at all, might come up with it during the study
Data collection - dont usually involve constructs or variables, participant focused
Comparing results - not common to compare to hypothesis, emergent, inductive and situation results.
How is data collected in a qualitative study?
Several ways
- observations (participant and non participant)
- interviews (structured, unstructured, semi-structures)
- questionnaires
- documents
What kind of information do qualitative studies collect?
More objective info
- not from participants perspective but more about what they do vs what they say.
- can be objective or involved completely in data collection.
What is the emphasis during participant observation?
That the observer becomes a part of and a participant in the situation being observed
- researcher participants in the situation while collecting data on the activities, people and physical aspects of participant observation
What is the advantages of observation over other techniques? Vs asking questions.
- it allows the researcher to gain insight and develop relationships with participants that would not be possible if the researcher observation didnt take place
- if you are asking questions to teachers on how they do certain things in the classroom, they may not remember everything or only give you the most beneficial information that works for them
What is participant observation? Benefits and drawbacks.
The researcher is directly involved in the situation being observed.
- it allows researcher to gain insight and develop relationships
- but could end up being emotionally involved with participants or have difficulty collecting data at the same time.
What is nonparticipant observation? Benefits and drawbacks.
When the observer is not directly involved in the situation
- observes and records behaviours but does not interact or participant in life of the setting
- they are less intrusive and less likely to become emotionally involved with participant observers
- may also be best if researcher does not have background needed to act as a participant
What are field notes?
Qualitative research materials gathered, recorded and compiled during the course of a study
- describe as accurately and as comprehensively as possible all relevant aspects of the situation
What are the two basic types of field notes?
1. Descriptive information - about what the observer has directly seen or heard on site through the course of the study
2. Reflective information - that captures the researchers personal reactions to the observation, experiences and sessions.
What is the protocol when gathering field notes?
- start slowly do not assume you know what youre looking for until time spent with participants
- enter the field with no preconceptions - recognize and dismiss your own assumptions and biases, remain open to what you see
- write the notes asap, dont discuss observations until notes are written
- include date, site, time topic on every set of notes. Leave wide margins to write your impressions, also pace for coding and analysis.
- list key words related to your observation then outline what you saw and heard
- keep descriptive and reflective sections of field notes separate even though collecting together
- write down hunches, questions and insights after each observation
- number lines or paragraphs of field notes to help you find a particular section needed
- enter field notes into a computer program for future examination and data analysis
What are some things interviews permit that observations cannot?
- theyre a purposeful interactions in which one person obtains info from another
- permits researchers to obtain important data they cannot acquire from observations, observations + interviews are a valuable way to collect data
- observation cannot provide information about past events or way thing were before, interviews can.
What some some things interviews can explain?
- can ask follow up questions
- can help examine attitudes , interests, feelings and concerns/values more easily than through observation
What is an unstructured interview?
A little more than a casual conversation that allows the qualitative researcher to inquire into something that has presented its self as an opportunity to learn about something that research setting cannot tell.
What is a structured interview?
The researcher has a specific set of questions that elicits the same information from the respondents
What are some key ways to improve and facilitate the collection of interview data?
- listen more talk less
- don't interrupt, learn how to wait
- tolerate silence
- avoid leading questions, dont ask open ended questions
- keep participants focused and ask for concrete details
- follow up on what participants say, ask questions when you dont understand
- dont be judgemental about participants views or beliefs, keep a neutral demeanour.
- dont debate with participants over responses.
What are some ways to collect data during an interview?
- taking notes during
- taking notes after
- video taping
What is a questionnaire?
- a written collection of self-reported questions to be answered by a selected group of research participants
- participants wrote answers on the form provided
What are the advantages of a questionnaire?
Allows the researcher to collect large amounts of data in a relative short amount of time
- often researchers administer questionnaires then conduct follow up interviews with research participants who provided written feedback that warrants further investigation
What are some good guidelines for developing questionnaires?
- avoid sloppy presentation, make sure the questionnaire is attractive and consider big print if necessary
- carefully proofread the questionnaire before sending it out
- avoid a lengthy questionnaire, pilot testing will provide a realistic sense of how long respondents will take to complete it.
- dont ask unnecessary questions
- use structures items with a variety of possible responses - indicate what you mean by words like often and frequently.
What are the basic parks of data analysis in qualitative research?
1. summarising data - no set techniques or procedures, words cannot be summarised quickly and easily like numbers can
2. Interpreting data - no set techniques, researcher looking at what perspectives and meanings emerge from the data
What is the "analytic tool" in qualitative data analysis?
The researcher - must be immersed in that data and know it well.
- developed by reading, re-reading and spending significant amounts of time engaged with the data.
What are two common analytic techniques often used to help analyze qualitative data
1. Coding
2. Identifying themes
What is coding?
Open and Axial - process of marking and labelling data to try to highlight meaningful patters
- Axial codes are made by joining open codes.
- applies to texts and documents
- high level codes might also be themes
What is the concept of Identifying Themes?
Researchers look at the "big picture" to identify "themes"
- this is in contrast to the coding process, which also starts at the text level
- identifying themes can also help create codes
- asks himself what "kinds of things" keep coming up.
- by using themes one can begin to start thinking of ways of organising and looking at the data
How is data analysis different in qualitative research than quantitative?
It requires the researcher be patient and reflective in a process that strives to make sense of multiple data sources
- including field notes from observations and interviews, questionnaires, maps, pictures ect.
When is data analysis conducted in a qualitative study vs in a quantitative study?
In qualitative its not left until data collection is done, where it is with quantitative
- researcher begins data analysis from the initial interaction with participants and continues throughout the same day
What are some standard approaches to analyzing qualitative data?
The researcher will have carefully managed notes, records and artifacts as they were collected.
- the importance of attention to detail in managing data sometimes becomes all too clear when it is time to write the research
- a lot of lables, notes, dates pictures ect.
What are four questions researchers might ask themselves in qualitative data interpretation?
1. What is important
2. why is it important
3. what can be learned
4. so what?
Why is it important to contextualize findings in literature?
For the importance of interpretating noting that the interpretations made by qualitative researchers matter to the lives of those we study
- the process of interpretation is important because it can challenge qualitative researchers taken for granted assumptions and beliefs about the education process
Why is it important to turn to theory?
It provides a way for qualitative researchers to link their work to broader issues
- also allows them to search for increased levels of abstract and move beyond a purely descriptive account
What are 6 questions to help ensure credibility and trustworthiness of a qualitative research study?
Generally trustworthiness is considered instead of validity and reliability (quantitative)
1. is the data based on ones own observations
2. are the observations given support by others
3. what circumstances was an observation made or reported
4. how reliable are those providing the data
5. what motivation may have influenced a participants report
6. what biases may have influenced how an observation was made or reported
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