Qualitative Research in Social Sciences

Qualitative Research

• Qualitative research is a type of study in social or behavioral sciences that explores why people do what they do.
• It uses methods like interviews, surveys, case studies, and other personal techniques to explore behaviors.

Research Sources

• Primary sources: original materials from the time being studied, such as artifacts, documents, interviews, and oral histories.
• Secondary sources: one step removed from the original events, such as summaries, lists of primary sources, and newspaper columns.

Documentation

• Documentation can provide a lot of useful information, such as an organization's goals and policies.
• Documents can confirm or challenge other information gathered.

Archival Records

• Archival records give detailed information about how an organization is structured.
• Examples of archival records include organizational charts and budgets.

Physical Artifacts

• Physical artifacts are objects that can be interpreted, such as a dark, gloomy space that might indicate low morale.
• Physical artifacts can provide information about the organization and its culture.

Direct Observation

• Direct observation involves watching what happens in the environment being studied without getting involved.
• It allows researchers to see how people interact and understand the setting.

Participant Observation

• Participant observation involves the researcher becoming part of the group being studied.
• It can provide personal insights that are hard to get through other methods, but it requires the researcher to be objective and accepted by the group.

Focus Groups

• A focus group is a meeting of people moderated by a researcher to discuss specific topics.
• The environment should encourage open communication, and the moderator should avoid influencing the group's opinions.

Case Studies

• A case study is a detailed and in-depth examination of one person or place in a special situation.
• It focuses on the specific conditions surrounding the person or place, as well as the person or place themselves.
• Case studies can take a long time to complete but can provide rich and detailed information.

advantages of Case Study Method

• Allows researchers to look closely and collect detailed information.
• Uses multiple methods to gather information.
• Provides a rich understanding of what is happening.

Disadvantages of Case Study Method

• Can be time-consuming.
• Researcher's biases may affect data collection and interpretation.
• Not suitable for establishing cause-and-effect relationships.
• Findings cannot be easily generalized.

Ethnographies

• Ethnographies aim to understand a culture.
• Uses similar methods to case studies, but with a broader focus on the culture as a whole.
• Characteristics of ethnographic studies include:
  • Holistic perspective
  • Naturalistic orientation
  • Prolonged field activity
  • Preconceived ideas

Historical Research

• Historical research, also known as historiography, involves studying the past to understand the present.
• Conducting historical research involves:
  1. Defining a topic or problem
  2. Formulating a hypothesis
  3. Gathering data from various sources
  4. Evaluating evidence
  5. Synthesizing data
  6. Interpreting results
• Historical research uses primary and secondary sources, including artifacts, documents, and interviews.

Sources of Historical Data

• Primary sources: original materials from the time being studied, such as artifacts, documents, and interviews.
• Secondary sources: one step removed from the original events, such as summaries, lists of primary sources, and newspaper columns.

Authenticity and Accuracy

• Authenticity (external criticism) focuses on the authenticity of historical data.
• Accuracy (internal criticism) focuses on the accuracy of historical data.
• Evaluating data involves checking for authenticity and accuracy.

Limitations of Historical Research

• Limited availability of data
• Data from others' observations may be questioned
• Time-consuming and difficult
• Less rigorous criteria for evaluating measurement tools

Qualitative Research Tools

• Software packages such as N6 (formerly NUD*IST), NVivo, and HyperRESEARCH are available to help manage and analyze large, complex data sets.
• These tools allow users to import, code, and analyze data, as well as search for patterns and relationships.

This quiz explores the methods and sources of information used in qualitative research, including interviews, surveys, and case studies, to understand human behavior.