week 7

Study Notes

Qualitative research aims to understand social life from participants' perspectives, focusing on words, images, and social interactions rather than numerical data.
It uses an inductive approach, starting with broad questions and refining them through data collection.
Methods like ethnography, interviews, focus groups, and document analysis are commonly used.
Participatory action research emphasizes collaboration with those affected by a social issue.
Qualitative research evaluation uses criteria like credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability, which differ from traditional reliability and generalizability.
The goal is to understand social life as a dynamic process, capturing nuances and participants' meanings.
Despite subjectivity and replication challenges, qualitative research provides in-depth, context-specific insights into lived realities.

Content analysis is a method that combines qualitative and quantitative approaches to interpret texts or communication.
Coding is crucial for organizing data into meaningful categories.
Quantitative coding uses pre-defined frameworks to ensure consistency.
Qualitative coding evolves as the research progresses to capture emerging themes.
Examples of techniques include ethnographic content analysis, which emphasizes iterative code refinement, semiotics (examining signs), and hermeneutics (interpreting texts within context).
Critical discourse analysis explores how language reflects and shapes social power dynamics.
Evaluating content analysis involves assessing factors like authenticity, credibility, representativeness, and meaning to ensure robust findings.
Content analysis is vital for examining how communication reflects and shapes society.

The lecture emphasizes the rigor required in qualitative research.
A strong theoretical framework supported by evidence is crucial.
Concepts need to be adaptable to various contexts.
Qualitative research aims to develop new theories and offer insightful perspectives on social issues.

Coding is the process of breaking down data into smaller parts for easier analysis.
Open coding involves creating initial labels for data.
Axial coding groups these labels into larger, more abstract themes.
Selective coding refines these themes, drawing connections between the larger concepts.
Coding is an ongoing process throughout the research, ensuring consistency.
Researchers use existing concepts and codebooks to maintain consistency.
Coding helps develop clear and evidence-based explanations of social phenomena.