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The Soft Cells: Qualitative approaches to research

Delve into the qualitative and quantitative research paradigms, their differences, and how to choose the right one. Explore a focus group example from health librarianship and thematic analysis insights.

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The Soft Cells: Qualitative approaches to research

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  1. The Soft Cells:Qualitative approaches to research HLG Conference: Parallel Session 4 20th July 2010 Dr.Janet Harrison, Loughborough University Hannah Spring, York St. John University

  2. The Research Paradigm • Two overarching research paradigms • Qualitative • Quantitative • The two paradigms take opposing views in terms of how the world around us should be explored through research

  3. Research Paradigm • How to make the right choice of paradigm? • Difficult and complex decision • Takes discussion, understanding and time to get it right

  4. What will my research look like?

  5. What will my research look like?

  6. What will my research sound like? • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSr32dY8ApA • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx8l5l1g0wA

  7. Quantitative and Qualitative Research: differences Table from: Bryman, A (2004) Social research methods (2nd ed) Oxford: OUP, p287

  8. As applied to data collection first phase (focus group) Table taken from: Bryman, A (2004) Social research methods (2nded) Oxford: OUP, p287

  9. As applied to data collection second phase (survey) Table taken from: Bryman, A (2004) Social research methods (2nded) Oxford: OUP, p287

  10. Focus Group: example from a live research project • Sample group (7 areas of health librarianship) • Clinical librarians • Health library service managers and professionally qualified librarians • Senior strategic health librarians/managers • Academic health librarians • Research librarians • Independent health librarians • Academics (added later at survey stage) • Interested in exploring the issues from different perspectives

  11. Phase 2: Focus Group • Results • Barriers • Time • Fragmentation • Research skills • Marketing • Prioritisation • Funding • Networking

  12. Phase 2: Focus Group • Results • Priorities • Networking • Training of users • Marketing of services • Service delivery • Delivery of evidence • Identifying research questions • Research skills • Management of research • Research impact

  13. Thematic Analysis Codes Theme

  14. Summary • Qualitative research is not a soft option • Requires ability to want to explore the worlds and words of “ others” • Values the non conformist and unusual • Acceptance that an definitive answer may not exist

  15. Questions ? J.Harrison@lboro.ac.uk H.Spring@yorksj.ac.uk

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