Lecture 7 Sep' 21, 2005

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Lecture 7Sep. 21, 2005

• Qualitative Research Method

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Three Paradigms for Research (p. 113-114)

• Positive Paradigm quantification, hypotheses,
  objective measures -gt Quantitative Research
• Interpretive Paradigm tries to understand how
  people in everyday natural settings create
  meaning and interpret the events of their world
• -gt Qualitative Research
• Critical Paradigm distribution of power in
  society, political ideology

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• Positive
• Reality is objective.
• All human beings are basically similar
• Positivists aim to generate general laws of
  behavior and explain many things across many
  settings, and strive for breadth

• Interpretive
• Reality is subjective. (There is no single
  reality)
• Human beings are fundamentally different and
  cannot be pigeonholed
• Interpretive scholars attempt to produce a unique
  explanation about a given situation, and strive
  for depth

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Differences in Research Process Quantitative vs.
Qualitative (p. 114)

• Role of the researcher
• Design
• Setting
• Measurement instruments
• Theory building

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Data Analysis in Qualitative Research (p. 116)

• Forms of data notes made while observing in the
  field, interview transcripts, documents, diaries,
  journals
• Inductive method (cf. quati deductive)
• Data are collected relevant to some topic
• Data are grouped into appropriate and meaningful
  categories
• Explanations emerge/ arise from the data
  themselves

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Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Research
(pp.119-120)

• The concepts of reliability and validity have
  different connotations for qualitative data
• credibility (as an analogue to internal
  validity), transferability (external validity),
  dependability (reliability), and confirmability
  (objectivity)
• 4 factors that help build credibility,
  transferability, dependability, confirmability
  multiple methods of data collection
  (triangulation), audit trial, member checks,
  research team

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Types of Qualitative Research

• Field observations
• Focus groups
• Interviews
• Case studies
• Ethnography anthropology, sociology
• Advantages and disadvantages of each method