Qualitative Research Lecture 1
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Questions and Answers

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.

True (A)

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?

<p>Realist knowledge aims to uncover objective reality, while phenomenological knowledge focuses on understanding subjective experiences.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following data collection methods is NOT mentioned in the lecture?

<p>Questionnaires (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of conducting focus groups?

<p>Focus groups aim to gather a collective sense-making of a specific issue.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key consideration when evaluating the trustworthiness of web-based data?

<p>The representativeness of the sample is crucial to ensure that the findings can be generalized to the wider population.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one advantage of using archival data in qualitative research?

<p>Archival data collection often requires less researcher bias as you are analyzing existing data without direct interaction with participants.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The lecture emphasizes that qualitative research aims to identify the 'truth' about the world.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one key learning outcome from this lecture?

<p>Understanding the three types of knowledge production in qualitative research, namely realism, phenomenology, and social constructionism</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

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 uses numbers and statistics to analyze data, aiming to quantify and measure phenomena.

Qualitative Research

Qualitative research explores meanings, interpretations, and lived experiences through non-numerical data like interviews and observations.

Realism

A perspective in qualitative research where the researcher seeks to uncover and understand reality as it exists objectively, independent of individual interpretations. It aims to identify patterns and structures underlying phenomena.

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Phenomenology

A perspective in qualitative research that emphasizes the subjective experiences of participants. It aims to understand how individuals perceive and make sense of their worlds.

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Social Constructionism

A perspective in qualitative research that emphasizes the social construction of knowledge and reality. It suggests that meanings and understanding are not inherent but are created and negotiated through social interactions.

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Epistemological Position

In qualitative research, it refers to the assumptions about how knowledge is generated and the nature of truth. Different epistemological positions lead to different approaches to research and data analysis.

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Qualitative Data Collection

The process of gathering information in qualitative research using methods like interviews, focus groups, diaries, and archival data.

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Interview

A type of interview where the researcher asks open-ended questions to gather detailed information about a participant's experiences, beliefs, and perspectives.

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Focus Group

A group interview where participants discuss a specific topic or issue together, allowing researchers to study group dynamics and how opinions are shared and debated.

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Diary

A method of data collection where participants record their experiences, thoughts, and feelings over a period, offering insights into their daily lives and how events unfold.

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Web-based Data

Utilizing online platforms like forums, social media, or websites to collect data, allowing researchers to access a broad range of perspectives and experiences, often anonymously.

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Archival Data

Using existing sources of information like documents, media, and records to gather data, offering insights into historical events, cultural trends, or societal views.

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Qualitative Data Analysis

The process of organizing and analyzing qualitative data to identify patterns, themes, and insights, often involving coding, categorizing, and interpreting the data.

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Reflexivity

It refers to the researcher's awareness of their own biases, perspectives, and how these might influence the research process. It involves reflecting upon how the researcher's background and experiences may shape data collection and interpretation.

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Narrative Research

A type of qualitative research that uses story-based approaches to gather and analyze data, focusing on individuals' narratives and how they construct their own experiences.

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Little q

The use of non-numerical data collection techniques like interviews, focus groups, and observations within a structured research design to collect data that complements quantitative data.

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Big Q

An approach to qualitative research that emphasizes open-ended, participant-led, and bottom-up methodologies. It focuses on theory generation and exploring meanings through deep understanding of individual perspectives and experiences.

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Sampling

The process of selecting a smaller group of participants from a larger population to represent the characteristics of the whole group. In qualitative research, sampling focuses on choosing participants who can provide rich and diverse perspectives.

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Interview Schedule

A guide used in interviews that outlines the key topics or themes to be explored. It provides a framework for the conversation but allows for flexibility and spontaneous questions based on the participant's responses.

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Ethical Issues

Ethical considerations related to research involving human participants. It includes principles like informed consent, privacy, confidentiality, and minimizing harm to participants.

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Transcription

The process of converting audio or video recordings of interviews or focus groups into written text files, often involving transcribing every word spoken.

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Qualitative Analysis

The process of analyzing qualitative data to identify themes, patterns, and insights, often involving coding, categorizing, and summarizing the data.

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Hypothetico-Deductive Research

A research approach that aims to uncover the underlying processes or structures that shape individuals' behavior or thinking. It seeks to identify patterns, common threads, and principles governing human actions.

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Researcher Bias

The process of identifying and understanding the potential biases, limitations, and influences that can arise during the research process. It involves critically examining how the researcher's own perspectives and experiences might shape the findings.

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Ethnographic Research

A type of qualitative research that focuses on exploring the lived experiences of individuals, often through in-depth interviews and narratives. It aims to understand the complexities and nuances of individual perspectives.

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Interplay

The process of collecting and analyzing data in a way that allows researchers to explore and understand how different factors interact and influence each other. It involves identifying relationships, connections, and influences between various aspects of the research topic.

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Trustworthiness

In qualitative research, it refers to the process of ensuring that the findings are grounded in the data and that interpretations are consistent with the information collected. It involves carefully examining the data to ensure that conclusions are supported by evidence.

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Observation

The process of collecting data through observation, recording, and analyzing behavior in natural settings. It aims to understand people's actions, interactions, and cultural norms within their everyday environments.

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Discourse Analysis

A type of qualitative research that focuses on exploring and understanding the meanings and symbolic representations that people use in their communication and interactions. It involves analyzing language, texts, and cultural artifacts to uncover underlying meanings and interpretations.

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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

  • Willig (2013)

  • Madill, Jordan & Shirley (2000)

  • Kidder & Fine (1987)

  • Brady & Guerin (2010)

  • Paterson (2007)

  • Whitlock et al (2013)

  • Marcus et al (2012)

  • 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.

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