Research methodology

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Research methodology

• Qualitative Methods

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Overview of Qualitative Research Design

• Historical routes in anthropology
• Generates new understanding by naming and
  framing concepts and themes
• Removes bias by questioning preconceived
  assumptions of the social group under study
• Promotes neutrality through adoption by the
  researcher of naïve stance or critical
  discussion, challenges pre-conceived assumptions
  of both the researcher and the social group under
  study
• Produces new understanding about the world,
  changes the way power, culture and social
  interaction are understood

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Data Collection in Qualitative Research

• Observation (Videoed, non-participant,
  semi-participant and participant observation,
  field notes)
• Interviews (individual and group - known as focus
  groups, tape recorded and transcribed, field
  notes)
• Secondary data analysis (using written material
  collected for purposes other than research)
• Questionnaires (unstructured, postal, interviews)
• A mixture of all four

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Questions in Qualitative Research
In qualitative research questions are open-ended.
Sometimes a check list or topic guide will be
used by the researcher to ensure all the relevant
areas are covered. This is known as
semi-structured data collection. It is used in
all four methods of data collection Sometimes the
only guide is the topic itself and the researcher
collects verbatim or naturally occurring data.
This is known as unstructured data collection. It
is used in all four methods of data collection
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Sampling in Qualitative Research
The sampling method of choice is theoretical
sampling (queuing behaviour) However, often this
is not possible and people resort to convenience
sampling (students) and snowball sampling
(mental health in black and ethnic minority
communities) Neither of the latter two methods
are considered strong but maybe all that can be
achieved. Research must be viable.
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Data Analysis in Qualitative Research

• Read and re-read data, become engrossed in it.
• Identify themes common, conflicting, minority
• Test themes across the data set, where are they
  common, under what circumstances are they found,
  not found. This sets the parameters on the
  interpretation and generalisation of data
• Get more than one person to analyse the data
  independently then together
• Demonstrate trustworthiness in data analysis
• Examples
• Biographical continuity
• Nursing routines as a method of managing a
  transient workforce

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Qualitative research

• Interpretative research
• Process orientated
• Researcher(s) are the primary data collection
  instrument
• Descriptive research
• Outputs are an inductive process

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References

• MSc project web pages
• http//www.comp.glam.ac.uk/gis/start.asp?whatfile
  gis/gisrc/msc-proj.htm
• Creswell, J. W. (1994) Research design
  qualitative and quantitative approaches. -
  Thousand Oaks, Calif. London Sage
  Publications, ISBN 0803952546