SWRK 171

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SWRK 171

• Qualitative Research in Social Work

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What is qualitative research?
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Definition of Qualitative Research

• Rossman Rallis (2003) define qualitative
  research as
• Naturalistic and interpretive, and it draws on
  multiple methods of inquiry (p. 6).

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In research there are two distinct types of
research or worldviews/paradigms.

• Qualitative (inductive method incorporates
  values and perspectives of both researcher and
  participants).
• Quantitative (deductive reasoning from general
  theories to specific instances. Researchers are
  supposed to be objective.)

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Common characteristics of qualitative research

• Takes place in the natural world (rather than a
  laboratory).
• Uses multiple methods.
• Focuses on context (surroundings in which in
  occurs).
• Is emergent rather than tightly prefigured
  (meaning not everything is structured or planned)
• Is fundamentally interpretive (meaning that the
  researchers own perspective and experiences will
  influence how he or she interprets the data).

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Other characteristics of qualitative research

• It is done for a purpose rather than just to
  develop new knowledge.
• It is conducted to improve services,
  organizations, and communities or to achieve
  social justice!
• The researcher also conducts studies to increase
  his or her understanding of the world.
• Research is a process that involves developing
  research questions, designing and conducting
  studies, and writing up what youve learned.

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Qualitative research

• Involves interpretation of a situation, set of
  behaviors, or a setting.
• Analysis must take place within a context
  different findings may be found in different
  settings or situations.
• Different researchers may view the same situation
  and obtain different results.
• Assumes there is no one right or wrong answer.
• Comes from a particular set of assumptions or
  theories about how research should take place.

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Two important differences between qualitative
quantitative research

• In quantitative research, the researcher is
  supposed to be value-free or objective. In
  qualitative research, researchers are expected to
  have a point of view and their own values or
  perspectives influence how they analyze and
  present their findings. This is called subjective
  research.
• Research is also conducted differently.
  Quantitative researchers use a theory to guide
  their research. Research involves hypothesis
  testing. Hypothesis are tested as to whether the
  theory is true. This is called deductive
  reasoning. Qualitative researchers may use a
  framework or approach to guide their studies.
  However, the theory does not determine what they
  find. Instead they use what they observe to
  develop new theories about how the world works.
  This is called inductive reasoning.

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Three main types of data collection

• Interviews
• Observation
• Content analysis

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There are different approaches and types of
qualitative research

• Text focuses on 3 types of qualitative research
• Descriptive studies
• Evaluations or policy studies
• Action research
• Fictional Characters in the Learning in the
  field book conduct each type of study

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We will also discuss a number of other approaches
to qualitative research in this class
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Expectations for this Class

• Purchase Rossman Rallis rather than Shaw
  Gould text.
• Class will be taught using lectures and
  exercises.
• Course material is on instructors website
  http//zimmer.csufresno.edu/!donnah and
  Blackboard.
• Additional readings can be downloaded from the
  Internet and the librarys electronic reserve
  system.

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Assignments

• Observation.
• Interviews and Analysis of Interview Data
• Field study/group project.
• Midterm (short answer essay)
• Final Exam (essay)
• Attendance

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Exercises for today

• Need two groups of volunteers to conduct
  observations either in the Free Speech Area or
  the Subway.
• Take 5 minutes to write 4-6 sentences to write a
  description of an object (in your room,
  apartment, or office). Share your description
  with at least one other person in the class and
  compare the degree of detail used in the
  description.