Qualitative Research: What’s in YOUR Toolkit?

1. Qualitative Research:What’s in YOUR Toolkit? Kim E. Dooley, PhD Texas A&M University

2. QUALITATIVE Ethnographic Fieldwork Naturalistic Phenomenological QUANTITATIVE Experimental Empirical Positivistic Statistical Terms/Phrases Associated

3. QUALITATIVE Process Social construction Grounded theory Meaning QUANTITATIVE Variables Reliability Hypothesis Validity Significance Replication Key Concepts

4. QUALITATIVE Evolving Flexible General Proceed as go through process QUANTITATIVE Structured Predetermined Formal Specific Design

5. QUALITATIVE Descriptive Documents Field notes Photographs People’s own words QUANTITATIVE Counts, measures Variables Statistical Data

6. QUALITATIVE Small Purposive Theoretical QUANTITATIVE Large Control groups Random selection Sample

7. QUALITATIVE Observation Document Analysis Open-ended interviews QUANTITATIVE Experiments Surveys Data sets Structured interviews and observations Techniques/Methods

8. QUALITATIVE Models, themes, concepts Ongoing Inductive Constant comparative QUANTITATIVE Deductive Conclusion of data collection Statistical Data Analysis Bogdan, R. C. & Biklen, S. K. (1992). Qualitative research for education. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon.

9. QUALITATIVE Multiple realities Knower and known are inseparable Context-bound Value-bound QUANTITATIVE Single reality Knower and known are independent Context-free Value-free Contrasting Views Lincoln, Y. S. & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

10. Natural setting Human instrument Tacit knowledge Qualitative methods Purposive sampling Inductive data analysis Grounded theory Emergent design Negotiated outcomes Case study reporting Naturalist Paradigm

11. QUALITATIVE Credibility Transferability Dependability Confirmability QUANTITATIVE Internal validity External validity Reliability Objectivity Establishing Trustworthiness

12. The Process of Inquiry Some Basic Considerations

13. Constructing & Communicating Reality • Building Trustworthiness • Selection of Methods • Data Collection and Analysis • Reporting the Inquiry

14. Building Trustworthiness • Credibility: accuracy with which the researcher has represented the views of the subject in their conclusion • Prolonged Engagement • Persistent Observation • Triangulation • Referential Adequacy Materials • Peer Debriefing • Member Checks

15. Building Trustworthiness • Transferability: the applicability of the results to similar things • Thick Description • Purposive Sampling

16. Building Trustworthiness • Dependability: the extent to which people not involved in the study can track the research process and determine which raw data were used to reach corresponding conclusions • Dependability audit

17. Building Trustworthiness • Confirmability: the process of checking the researcher’s interpretations and conclusions for plausibility • Confirmability audit

18. Selection of Methods • Conventional Research Method • Quantitative paradigm • Naturalistic Research Method • Qualitative paradigm

19. Data Collection and Analysis • Conventional • Knows what information will be collected, stored, and how it will be retrieved • Naturalistic • Allows for collection and recording without becoming aware of the results

20. Getting Started on a Naturalistic Study “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” -Chinese proverb

21. Broad Introduction Literature Review Theoretical Constructs Problem Purpose Research ?s

22. Interrelated ideas or concepts relationships processes Theory events concepts Various patterns

23. Identifying the Problem • What are the researcher’s interests? • Relevance • Timeliness • Feasibility

24. A Problem: • Begs for additional understanding • Leads to the purpose • Literature is the key

25. Stating Research Problems & Questions • Once a general problem is found, specifics can be identified • Problem statement should be broad and lead to the statement of purpose and research objectives

26. Research Questions • Exploratory/Predictive • Who • What • Where • Explanatory • How • Why

27. Selecting a Site • Critical in naturalistic research to record and observe day-to-day operations

28. Ideal Site • Entry is possible • Rich mix of processes, people, programs, interactions, and/or structures • Maintain continuity of presence • Data quality and credibility are assured

29. Working Hypothesis Formulating of the research problem, focusing questions, and designating an appropriate site. Must be transient and tentative.

30. An Interactive Process • The process is seldom straightforward • Steps in formulation are interactive • Keep a reflexive journal

31. Key Components of a Design • Introduction • Theoretical perspective • Purpose & research questions • Methodological design • Results • Conclusions

32. Planning in Advance • Negotiating and developing the conditions of entry • Planning for purposive sample selection • Planning for data collection • Planning for data analysis

33. Planning in Advance • Planning for quality in the study • Planning for dissemination of the study’s findings • Developing a logistical plan for the study • Reviewing the tentative design

34. Emergent Design Giving order to the phenomena that will arise so that it can be communicated to others in an understandable fashion

35. Gathering Data

36. Overview • Purposive sampling • Data-gathering sources • Human & non-human sources • Recording data

37. Purposive Sampling • Makes Two Decisions • Who and What to study • Who and What Not to study • There are no specific rules on sample size

38. Sampling extreme or deviant cases Intensity sampling Maximum variation sampling Homogeneous sampling Critical case sampling Criterion sampling Opportunistic sampling Random purposeful sampling Sampling politically important cases Convenience sampling Strategies for Selection

39. Data Gathering Sources • Interviews • Observations • Documents • Artifacts

40. Interviews • A conversation with a purpose • Forms • Focused • Open-ended To record or not record…that is the question?

41. Stages of an Interview • Determining respondents • Preparing for the interview • Beginning the interview • Maintaining productivity during the interview

42. Observations • Systematic description of events behaviors, and artifacts • Forms • Focused • Unstructured

43. Observations • Continuum of Observation • Complete participant • Complete observer • It is impossible to record everything

44. Documents • Range of written and symbolic records • In existent prior to and during the investigation

45. Historical accounts Journalistic accounts Works of art Photographs Memos Accreditation records Television transcripts Newspapers Brochures Meeting agendas Budget/accounting statements Notes from teachers/ students Speeches Other case studies Documents may include:

46. Artifacts • Give insight into the culture’s • Technology • Social interaction • Physical environment • Artifacts can be any physical evidence

47. Recording Data • Try to use most accurate method • Tape recorder • Taking notes observations interview notes

48. Data Analysis

49. Constant Comparative Method • Data reduction • Data display • Conclusion drawing/verification Interactive process of collection and analysis as well as forming the gestalt.

50. Twofold Approach • At the research site during data collection • Away from the site following data collection