Introduction to Qualitative Research in Psychology

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Questions and Answers

What does qualitative research emphasize?

Observable behaviors

Descriptive, interpretive data (correct)

Hypothesis testing

Quantification of data

What are three common methodologies used in qualitative research?

Ethnography, grounded theory, phenomenology

Qualitative methods gained prominence in psychology from the 1980s.

True

Which of the following is a key focus of qualitative research?

Understanding how behaviors occur Signup and view all the answers

Match the following theories with their characteristics:

Positivism = Promoted observable, empirical data Behaviorism = Focused on external behaviors Cognitive Psychology = Emphasized internal processes and cognition Social Constructionism = Reality shaped through social interactions Signup and view all the answers

Qualitative research questions objective reality and embraces multiple _____ .

truths Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of qualitative research?

To access participants' thoughts and feelings Signup and view all the answers

What are the defining features of qualitative research?

Rejection of Positivism Signup and view all the answers

Qualitative research aims to generalize findings to a broader population.

False Signup and view all the answers

What methodologies are commonly used in qualitative research?

Ethnography, grounded theory, and phenomenology Signup and view all the answers

Qualitative research focuses on understanding how and why _____ occur.

behaviors Signup and view all the answers

Which of these perspectives do qualitative researchers embrace?

Multiple Truths Signup and view all the answers

Match the following historical contexts with their descriptions:

Quantitative Tradition = Emphasizes quantification and measurable outcomes Positivism = Promoted empirical, observable data Behaviorism = Focused on external behaviors over internal thoughts Cognitive Psychology = Emphasized internal processes as behaviorism declined Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the researcher in qualitative studies?

Accessing participant perspectives and safeguarding confidentiality Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introduction to Qualitative Research in Psychology

Qualitative research gained prominence in the 1980s, emphasizing descriptive and interpretive data over hypothesis testing.
It focuses on rich, descriptive data, individual perspectives, and rejects objective reality.
Emphasizes close connections between researchers and participants in real-life contexts, understanding how behaviors occur.
Provides insights into participants' thoughts and feelings, especially regarding medication use.
Findings are not meant to be generalized to a broader population but provide insights that may not be obtainable through quantitative approaches.

Historical Context and Dominant Theories

Quantitative Tradition: Early psychology was influenced by physics, emphasizing measurable outcomes.
Positivism: Emphasized empirical, observable data (Auguste Comte).
Behaviorism: Focused on external behaviors rather than inner thoughts. Influenced by logical positivism, and practitioners like Watson and Skinner applied principles of measurement to psychology.
Shift to Cognitive Psychology: Emerged in the 1960s when behaviorism declined, focusing on internal processes and cognition.

Core Approaches in Qualitative Research

Social Constructionism: Reality is constructed through social interactions, language, and discourse.
Realism vs. Relativism: Quantitative research assumes a single reality, while qualitative embraces multiple socially constructed realities.
Agency vs. Determinism: Qualitative researchers view individuals as active agents while quantitative approaches often see behavior as determined by external factors.

Participant’s Viewpoint

Qualitative research aims to convey participants' thoughts and feelings that influence their behaviors.

Historical Methods in Psychology

Introspectionism: Early approach involving self-observation, later replaced by behaviorism.
Phenomenology: Examining subjective experiences, distinct from introspection.

Emergence and Importance of Qualitative Research

Qualitative methods gained traction in psychology during the 1980s, emphasizing rich descriptions and interpretive analysis.
Prioritized descriptive data over hypothesis testing, providing a different perspective on psychological phenomena.

Defining Features of Qualitative Research

Rich Descriptions: Focuses on in-depth, detailed observations.
Individual Perspectives: Prioritizes understanding subjective experiences and viewpoints.
Rejection of Positivism: Questions the existence of one objective truth.
Postmodern Sensibility: Emphasizes close relationships with participants and real-life situations.
Everyday Context: Accounts for participants' environment and daily lives.

Purpose of Qualitative Research

To understand individuals' thoughts and feelings, providing insights into their experiences.

Difference from Quantitative Research

Qualitative research explores how and why behaviors occur, while quantitative research measures the frequency of behaviors.

Methodologies in Qualitative Research

Ethnography, grounded theory, and phenomenology are frequently employed.

Participant's Viewpoint

Qualitative research focuses on conveying participants' thoughts and feelings that influence behaviors.
Findings are not intended to generalize to a broader population, instead aimed at gaining insights for future research.

Mixed Methods

Qualitative research can be combined with quantitative methods to provide a comprehensive understanding.

Role of the Researcher

Qualitative researchers engage in discussions about sensitive personal topics.
Ethics approval is crucial to ensure participant confidentiality and data security.

Historical Context and Dominant Theories

Quantitative Tradition: Stemmed from early psychological practices influenced by physics, prioritizing measurable outcomes.
Positivism and Behaviorism: Comte advocated for empirical, observable data, leading to logical positivism.
Behaviorism (Watson, Skinner) emphasized external behaviors, applying observable measurement principles to psychology.
Shift to Cognitive Psychology: Emerged in the 1960s as behaviorism declined, focusing on internal mental processes and cognition.

Core Approaches in Qualitative Research

Social Constructionism:
- Interactional: Reality is shaped through social interactions, language, and discourse.
- Societal: Emphasizes the influence of social structures and power dynamics (e.g., Foucault).
Realism vs. Relativism:
- Quantitative psychology assumes one objective reality, while qualitative research recognizes multiple, socially constructed realities.
Agency vs. Determinism:
- Qualitative researchers view individuals as active agents capable of making choices, while quantitative approaches often view individuals as products of their environment.

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Description

Explore the significance of qualitative research in psychology, which rose to prominence in the 1980s. This quiz highlights the key differences between qualitative and quantitative approaches, emphasizing the importance of subjective experiences and context in understanding human behavior.