Qualitative Research Overview and Designs

A qualitative research method that describes human social phenomena through fieldwork. It focuses on the whole group and their culture, studying them in their natural environment over a long period.

Explaining patterns or findings in data; showing readers patterns exist and providing evidence. Include contradicting data for unbiased results.

Explaining how a case study adds to our understanding of the human experience. It relates to existing research or theories.

Research focusing on descriptions of experiences, rather than exact measurements.

Considering all parts of a system when studying it. The parts depend on each other—understanding one requires understanding the whole.

To understand a group's culture by studying their behaviors, language, and rituals.

Observing and interacting with a group to understand their cultural norms and patterns.

Ethnographic research demands a lot of patience and tolerance.

Be wary of 'going native' and losing objectivity while studying a group.

Gaining entry to a research site, often needing a 'gatekeeper' to facilitate access.

Developing rapport and building trust with the group being studied.

Observing, interviewing, and listening to gather data about the group's culture.

Organizing and describing observed events in chronological order.

To understand a culture from the inside out, by immersing yourself in the group and observing their everyday lives.

Personal and engaging, like a story, using quotes and details to bring the culture to life.

Identify patterns and themes in behavior, language, beliefs, and rituals.

Relate findings to your research question and existing theories, avoiding judgment and highlighting the voices of the participants.

Understanding how people experience and make sense of events in their own individual way.

To explore individual perceptions, understandings, and perspectives of a specific situation.

Using your own knowledge and understanding to analyze data, but being careful to be as objective as possible.

Using theoretical models from your field to help organize and make sense of your findings.

A qualitative research method that explores the lived experiences of individuals to understand a specific phenomenon.

Primarily involves in-depth interviews with a small sample of participants who have direct experience with the phenomenon being studied.

Interviews in a phenomenological study typically last 1-2 hours.

Interviews are unstructured, allowing the researcher and participants to collaboratively explore the phenomenon’s meaning.

Involves identifying relevant statements from interviews, grouping them into 'meaning units,' and constructing a composite description of the phenomenon.

To understand the essence of a phenomenon as experienced by individuals, aiming for a description that reflects diverse perspectives.

The researcher must suspend their own biases and experiences to fully understand the participants' perspectives.

Examines how individuals experience a specific phenomenon, emphasizing common themes despite differences in individuals and settings.

A qualitative research method that aims to develop a theory by systematically analyzing data, identifying patterns, and constructing a model that explains a phenomenon.

A research approach where the theory emerges from the analysis of data, rather than being imposed beforehand. It emphasizes the inductive and iterative nature of the research process.

In grounded theory, the theory is rooted in the data itself, reflecting the experiences and perspectives of participants.

Grounded theory involves a cyclical process where data collection and analysis are intertwined. The analysis of initial data leads to further data collection, refining the theory as the research progresses.

Grounded theory aims to identify categories and subcategories within the data, representing concepts and their relationships.

A technique used to analyze the content of communication, such as texts, images, or videos, to identify patterns, themes, or biases.

Content analysis can be used to study various forms of communication, including books, newspapers, films, social media, and advertising.

Content analysis aims to be objective, meaning the analysis should be free from personal biases and interpretations.

To gather detailed descriptions, perspectives, and experiences from people being studied.

Observations, interviews, documents, past records, and audiovisual materials like photographs, videotapes, and audiotapes.

The process of breaking down data into smaller segments and identifying themes or categories that emerge.

Connecting categories and subcategories to understand their relationships and the context in which they occur.

Building a story by weaving together categories and their interrelationships to explain a phenomenon.

Continually comparing new data with existing categories, revising them as needed, and gathering enough data to reach 'saturation'.

Data is collected and analyzed iteratively, with initial analysis informing further data collection and refining the theory.