Designing a Qualitative Study WEEK 6 September 29, 2005

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Designing a Qualitative StudyWEEK 6 September
29, 2005

• Discussion of Maxwells Qualitative Research
  Design Chapters 6 7 -- validity issues and
  writing a research proposal.
• And review from last week -- METHODS chapter
  Dr. Helms
• Writing a Research Proposal-- What have you
  thought about so far? Collaborative work in
  pairs describe to each other what you have in
  mind. The other person takes an inquiry approach
  to the research. What does she need to do now?
  What are the strengths/weaknesses? Report to
  class.
• Lab 4 DUE Each student presents work
  Participant Observation
• Reminder --- Research Proposal Due next week
  October 6.Download from webpage.

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Validity How might you be wrong?

• validity threats and what you can do to answer
  the question
• Why should we believe you?

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validity threats

• a way you might be wrong
• rival hypotheses
• alternative explanations

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validity is a goal rather than a product

• validity threats are made implausible by EVIDENCE
  not methods methods are only a way of getting
  evidence that can help you rule out these threats
• ALL fieldwork by a SINGLE fieldworker invites the
  question, Why should we believe it?
• you only have to get to a turtle you can stand on
  securely

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types of validity threats for each type of
understanding

• description inaccurate and incomplete data
• interpretation imposing ones own framework
• theory not paying attention to discrepant data
  or not considering alternative explanations or
  understandings of the phenomena you are studying

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TWO SPECIFIC types of validity threats

• researcher bias select only data that fits your
  theory or select data that stands out to the
  researcher
• reactivity influence of researcher on the
  setting or individuals

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validity tests a checklist

• triangulation collect data from a diverse range
  of individuals and settings using a variety of
  methods
• feedback get feedback from a variety of people
  ESPECIALLY, member checks
• rich data collect data in a detailed and
  complete manner--audiotape and videotape for
  later transcription and analysis
• quasi-statistics amount of evidence that bears
  on particular threat
• comparison with other research, with previous
  experience

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generalization in qualitative research INTERNAL
GENERALIZABILITY refers to the generalizability
within the setting or group studied. EXTERNAL
GENERALIZABILITY refers to face
generalizability--there is no obvious reason not
to believe that the results apply more generally
but qualitative research is not BY DESIGN the
most useful approach for external
generalizability probability sampling is much
more precise.
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Research Proposal

• your research design will evolve as you conduct
  your study, and therefore a proposal for a
  qualitative study cant present an EXACT
  specification of what you will do...

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Research Proposal

• Explain
• Justify
• Your Proposed Study
• Non-experts
• The proposal is an argument for your study
• Needs to explain the logic behind the proposed
  study
• Not simply describe or summarize the study

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Research Proposal

• What are we going to learn as the result of the
  proposed study that we dont already know?
• Why is it worth knowing?
• How will we know that the conclusions are valid?

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Sample Research Questions
YOURS..
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data collection and data analysis
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Research Proposal Structure

• Abstract
• Introduction
• Research Context
• Research Questions
• Research Methods
• Validity
• Preliminary Results
• Implications(or Conclusions)
• References
• Appendices

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informed consent
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Collaborative work

• Writing a Research Proposal-- What have you
  thought about so far?
• In pairs describe to each other what you have in
  mind.
• The other person takes an inquiry approach to the
  research.
• What does she need to do now?
• What are the strengths/weaknesses?
• Report to class.

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LAB 4 PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION