Qualitative Research Design PDF

Determining Qualitative Research Design Research design in Qualitative research is determined by the form or kinds of data , the ways of collecting and organizing data, and the procedures for analyzing data. A qualitative research design is a framework or plan used to guide the colle...

Determining Qualitative Research Design Research design in Qualitative research is determined by the form or kinds of data , the ways of collecting and organizing data, and the procedures for analyzing data. A qualitative research design is a framework or plan used to guide the collection, analysis and interpretation of non-numerical data, typically aimed at understanding complex human behaviors, experiences, or social processes. It focuses on exploring “how and why” questions to gain deeper insights into a subject, rather than measuring or quantifying it. Qualitative designs often use methods such as interviews, observations, or document analysis, and the data is usually analyzed patterns, themes, or narratives. The goal is to capture the meaning, context and nuances of the topic being studied, offering a detailed understanding of the phenomenon rather than generalized results.




















This lesson introduces you to five most common types of qualitative research design.


1. Narrative Research
2. Phenomenology
3. Grounded Theory
4. Ethnographic Design or Ethno ethology
5. Case Study


1. Narrative Research- Narrative research design is essentially about telling a story. A narrative research studies a single person, or several individuals gathers data through the collection of stories, anecdotes, reports the persons or individuals experiences and discusses the meaning of those experiences.


Narrative research focuses on understanding and analyzing stories or personal accounts to explore how people make sense of their experiences. here are some examples:  1. Life Story of a cancer Survivor: A researcher might collect and analyze a cancer survivors life story to understand how they coped with the illness, their emotional journey, and the changes in their outlook on life. The narrative would focus on the survivors personal experiences, struggles, and resilience.
. Perceptions of Online Learning : A study might collect personal narratives from students about their experiences with online education. Through these stories the researchers could explore students perceptions of the effectiveness, challenges and benefits of remote learning, especially during significant transitions like Covid 19 pandemic.
3.Perceptions of School Bullying: This study might involve collecting personal stories from students who have experienced or witnessed bullying. by analyzing their narratives, the researchers could explore how students perceive bullying, its impact on their mental health, and the effectiveness of anti-bullying programs.


2. Phenomenology: The word “phenomenology” may be difficult for many of you to understand, perhaps even pronounce it, but the term itself literary means studying phenomenon.  A phenomenon is any situation, event, concept or fact that is observed but is unusual or difficult to explain. In our daily life, there are various phenomena we may experience such as insomnia, being left out, political rallies, poverty and etc.


Here are some examples of Phenomenological Study
Experience of Test Anxiety: A phenomenological study might explore how students perceive and experience test anxiety before and during exams. The research would aim to understand the emotional, psychological and physical effects of anxiety on their academic performance and general well-being, capturing their lived experiences in these stressful situations  2. Perception of Academic Failure: This study could investigate how students who have experienced academic failure (e.g. failing a class or exam) perceive and make sense of that failure. The focus would be on understanding their feelings of disappointment, frustration, and how the failure impacted their self-esteem and motivation.
Lived Experience of Distance Learning: A phenomenological study might explore how students perceive and experience online or distance learning. Researchers would examine the emotional and academic impact, their sense of isolation or connection and how they adapt to a new learning formats. 3. Ethnography – Ethnographic research or ethnography is the study of the entire cultural group. An entire cultural group could refer to the Kalingas of Norhern Luzon, a group of fisherman in Sulu, a fraternity, a religious group or any group that shares the same values and cultures.


Ethnographic research involves an in depth, immersive study of a particular group or community within their natural setting often focusing on cultural practices and social interactions.
For example:
1. Classroom Culture and Peer Interaction:  An ethnographic study could explore how students perceive classroom culture and peer interactions in a specific school grade. The researchers might observe how student navigate social form of friendships, or manage conflicts, as well as how these dynamics influence their learning and sense of belonging.
Perceptions of school Uniforms and Dress Codes
In this ethnographic research, the study could examine how students perceive school uniforms or dress codes and their impact or individuality, social status, and the group dynamics. By observing students interactions and collecting their narratives the researchers could uncover how dress codes influence students sense of identity and conformity within the school culture. 4. Case study- Many of you are probably familiar already with the word “case”. you may have heard of it in many television series and movies that explore legal aspects or have read it in newspaper. In qualitative research, a case study explains in detail, information of either a person (e.g. teacher, child, adult, parent) or group (e.g. gang, neighborhood, club) regarding a specific phenomenon in real-life context (e.g. autism, fare-hike, puberty, managing funds) and draws conclusion only about that individual or group and only in that particular context. The goal of the case study approach is to offer new perspectives or solutions and questions for further research.  For example:
1. Case study of Students Views on Technology in the classroom: A case study could explore how students in a specific school or grade perceive the use of technology in the learning environment. The researchers could focus on how students view in the integration of digital tools, like tablets, smartboards, or online platforms, and how these tools impact their engagement and academic performance.
ase study of Students Perception of School pline Policies:  This case study research examine how students in a particular school perceive the schools discipline policies, such as detention, suspension, or restorative justice programs. the study could provide insights into how students view fairness, effectiveness, and impact of these policies on their behavior and school culture.

Grounded Theory: In qualitative research it could be opinions, set of actions, perceptions, observations, artifacts, documents, reactions or processes. “Grounded” means to provide a basis for a (theory, for example) or to justify.  For example:
1. Student Perceptions of Academic Success: This study could explore how students define and perceive academic success. Through interviews and data analysis, the researcher could build a theory around the social, psychological, and cultural factors that shape students perception of success, including the influence of family expectations, peer competition, personal goals and institutional pressures. 2. Theory of Social Belonging in High School: A grounded theory study could focus on understanding how high school students perceive and experience social belonging. The research would aim to develop a theory that explains how factors such as peer relationships, extracurricular participation, school culture, and teacher-student interactions contribute to students sense of belonging.