Qualitative Research Lecture 1

Study Notes

Introduction to Qualitative Research

Qualitative research is about understanding the subjective experiences of research participants. It's concerned with exploring meanings and the 'why' behind social and psychological behaviours, rather than just quantifying them.
There are three types of knowledge underpinning qualitative research: realism, phenomenology, and social constructionism.

Key Terms

Epistemology/Epistemological Position: The branch of philosophy concerned with the theory of knowledge, exploring how and what can be known. Students need a clear sense of the objectives of their research to adopt an epistemological position.
Realism: The idea that an independent, knowable, and intelligible world exists, and research aims to discover/uncover this reality. Assumptions/features include, a researcher as a detective, discovering and uncovering reality, and that the world is rule-bound and intelligible. Realist knowledge aims to accurately reflect real-world events, independent of researcher/participant views.
Phenomenology: Focused on understanding the subjective experiences of participants, assuming the world is experientially diverse. Researchers want to understand what things are like 'for' a participant. The researcher acts as a counselor trying to understand the experience. Phenomenological knowledge aims to capture participants' lived experiences, thoughts, feelings, and perceptions.
Social Constructionism: A skeptical viewpoint on knowledge claim that knowledge is socially constructed through interactions and agreed meanings. In this view, the world is socially constructed, and researchers act as architects, deconstructing existing meanings and understanding how their social group creates versions of reality. Social constructionist knowledge focuses on how people talk about the world and construct versions of reality through language.

Data Collection Methods

Interviews: A conversation with a purpose, involving a sampling approach, schedule, recording followed by transcription. Reflexivity and ethical issues are critical. Advantages include reconstructing events, collecting detailed data, facilitating longitudinal research and having a clear focus. Disadvantages include the potential for less naturalistic interaction and focus.
Focus Groups: Recorded interviews with 6-10 participants in a social context, under moderation. A focus group aims to study the interactions between participants on specific issues. Focus groups are good for observing and studying social interactions. Advantages include capturing naturalistic social interaction and empowering participants. Disadvantages include a tendency for more agreement, potential for participant discomfort, and the difficulty of transcription.
Diaries: Records of experiences over time, with clear instructions and intervals. Advantages include capturing events as they occur and creating a personal account. Disadvantages include potential issues with true reflection and variations in completion.
Web-based Data: Data collection using online platforms. Advantages include large amounts of data and anonymity. Disadvantages include the potential for unrepresentative samples and issues with trustworthiness and consent.
Archival Data: Examples are media and text-based sources that can be analyzed for information. Advantages include less researcher bias and a variety of sources. Disadvantages can include a need for specific research questions and a longer process to understand the data.