Podcast
Questions and Answers
What does 'big Q' stand for in the context of qualitative research?
What does 'big Q' stand for in the context of qualitative research?
Big Q refers to open-ended, participant-led, bottom-up research methodologies concerned with theory generation and exploration of meanings.
Epistemology focuses on the nature of knowledge and how we acquire it.
Epistemology focuses on the nature of knowledge and how we acquire it.
True (A)
Which of the following is NOT a type of knowledge production discussed in the lecture?
Which of the following is NOT a type of knowledge production discussed in the lecture?
- Positivism (correct)
- Realism
- Social Constructionism
- Phenomenology
What is the key difference between realist and phenomenological knowledge?
What is the key difference between realist and phenomenological knowledge?
Which of the following data collection methods is NOT mentioned in the lecture?
Which of the following data collection methods is NOT mentioned in the lecture?
What is the main purpose of conducting focus groups?
What is the main purpose of conducting focus groups?
What is a key consideration when evaluating the trustworthiness of web-based data?
What is a key consideration when evaluating the trustworthiness of web-based data?
What is one advantage of using archival data in qualitative research?
What is one advantage of using archival data in qualitative research?
The lecture emphasizes that qualitative research aims to identify the 'truth' about the world.
The lecture emphasizes that qualitative research aims to identify the 'truth' about the world.
What is one key learning outcome from this lecture?
What is one key learning outcome from this lecture?
Flashcards
Epistemology
Epistemology
The branch of philosophy that studies knowledge; it explores how we know what we know and the nature of truth.
Quantitative Research
Quantitative Research
Quantitative research uses numbers and statistics to analyze data, aiming to quantify and measure phenomena.
Qualitative Research
Qualitative Research
Qualitative research explores meanings, interpretations, and lived experiences through non-numerical data like interviews and observations.
Realism
Realism
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Phenomenology
Phenomenology
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Social Constructionism
Social Constructionism
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Epistemological Position
Epistemological Position
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Qualitative Data Collection
Qualitative Data Collection
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Interview
Interview
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Focus Group
Focus Group
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Diary
Diary
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Web-based Data
Web-based Data
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Archival Data
Archival Data
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Qualitative Data Analysis
Qualitative Data Analysis
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Reflexivity
Reflexivity
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Narrative Research
Narrative Research
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Little q
Little q
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Big Q
Big Q
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Sampling
Sampling
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Interview Schedule
Interview Schedule
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Ethical Issues
Ethical Issues
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Transcription
Transcription
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Qualitative Analysis
Qualitative Analysis
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Hypothetico-Deductive Research
Hypothetico-Deductive Research
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Researcher Bias
Researcher Bias
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Ethnographic Research
Ethnographic Research
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Interplay
Interplay
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Trustworthiness
Trustworthiness
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Observation
Observation
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Discourse Analysis
Discourse Analysis
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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.
Lecture Notes
- Qualitative Analysis & Design Lecture 1 (Dr. Katie McArthur)
Further Resources
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Willig (2013)
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Madill, Jordan & Shirley (2000)
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Kidder & Fine (1987)
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Brady & Guerin (2010)
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Paterson (2007)
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Whitlock et al (2013)
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Marcus et al (2012)
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Frith (2000)
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Description
This quiz explores the fundamental concepts of qualitative research, focusing on its underlying philosophies and types of knowledge. Participants will learn about epistemology, realism, phenomenology, and social constructionism, and how these concepts affect qualitative research methods.