Introduction to Qualitative Research

1. Introduction to Qualitative Research

2. Philosophical Assumptions • Ontology: Metaphysical study of being and the nature of reality • Axiology: Study of nature of values and judgements (overriding goal) • Epistemology: Study of the nature of knowledge, its presuppositions and foundations, and its extent and validity

3. Ontological – nature of reality Objective Single Divisible Nature of social beings Deterministic Reactive Ontological – nature of reality Socially constructed Multiple Holistics/Contextual Nature of social beings Voluntaristic Proactive Positivistic vs. Interpretive

4. Axiological Explanation via subsumption under general laws Axiological “Understanding” based on Verstehen Positivistic Vs. Interpretive

5. Epistemological Knowledge Generation Nomothetic Time-free Context-independent View of Causality Real causes exist Research relationship Dualism, separation Privileged point of observation Epistemological Knowledge Generation Idiographic Time-bound Context-dependent View of Causality Multiple, simultaneous shaping Research relationship Interactive, cooperative No privileged point of observation Positivistic Vs. Interpretive

6. Qualitative Inquiry • Qualitative questions: why or how • Fit of Question and Method • Sampling and Saturation: • Purposeful, convenience, nominated, theoretical • Data saturation

7. Methods • Ethnography • Focused ethnography (decision making) • Critical ethnography (aids emancipation) • Phenomenology • Experience snapshots • Describing the essence of human experience • Grounded theory • Highly inductive • Iterative process – evolving theory

8. Methods • Narrative • Story that reveals person’s experiences • Represents larger social experience • Case Study • Intrinsic (understanding 1 case) • Instrumental (refining theory) • Collective (several instrumental cases, looking for broader context)

9. Methods • Participatory Action Research • Reflects needs of the people • Group ownership of process (involvement of participants from design to results) • Conducted to solve social or community problems

10. Data Collection • Interviews (depth) • Observation • Field Notes • Documents • Video, photographs

11. Triangulation Uses a combination of more than one research strategy in a single investigation. • Data: time, space, person • Investigator: complimenting areas of expertise • Theory: testing and comparison of theories • Methods: simultaneous & sequential implementation (separate analysis)

12. Depth Interviews • Funnel Method • let respondent do all the talking • can be a diagnostic interview • the idea is let the subject direct the interview

13. Inverted Funnel: Specific to general • You want to jog the interviewees memory • You want to motivate a reluctant participant • You want to get specific facts before general impressions

14. Interview Technique • silent probe • encouragement probe • immediate elaboration • immediate clarification • retrospective elaboration • recapitulation probe • retrospective clarification

15. Interview Technique • echo probe • reflective probe • interpretive probe • summary probe • mutation

16. Interview Technique • formulate question before speaking • keep questions simple • no preface • do not give respondent your lit review • note taking controls flow

17. Interview Issues • avoid leading questions • avoid ritual agreement • monitor the universe of discourse

18. Universe of Discourse

19. Interview Issues • avoid leading questions • avoid ritual agreement • monitor the universe of discourse • observe body language • convey expectation of cooperation • avoid unprofessional statements

20. To Tape or Not to Tape • Advantages • more accurate and less distracting • better than relying on your memory • excellent training tool for interviewer • Disadvantage • one thing to tell you, another to go on permanent record • worry about sound of their voice • worry who will hear tape

21. IF Using a Tape Recorder • tell respondent who will have access to tape • erase tape as soon as transcribed • place recorder in obvious place • you can turn off/on; confirm working... • no question of subterfuge

22. IF Using a Tape Recorder • check recorder before you show up • tape blank? • bring extra tape • check batteries • confirm that it is working! • move tape past leader • check volume control • practice with tape recorder

23. Who • does this person have access to information that you want? • approaching interviewees & their organizations

24. When • schedule when no competing demands • approach with attitude that their time is more important than yours • do not schedule too closely together • 45 minutes typical; 90 minutes longest • sequencing

25. Where • respondent’s place of business • respondent’s home • neutral spot

26. What • interview blueprint • list research objective or research question, actual question and sample prompts (listing any specifics you would like to elicit) in table/chart form

27. The interview blueprint should guide you, not confine you

28. Sample Interview Blueprint

30. What • interview guide • questions simply worded • listed in order • key points of introduction & conclusion • leave space for notes

31. Sample Interview Guide

33. The interview blueprint and interview guides should serve as a road map. They can be used when you feel you are getting lost and to keep you focused on your destination….

34. But, remember, that sometimes the scenic route provides surprising discoveries.

35. Interview Procedure • phone ahead to confirm appointment • when you arrive • reintroduce yourself and your study • explain how they were picked for study • confirm use of tape recorder • explain confidentiality and explain that they can end interview at any point • start tape (if using)

36. Interview Procedure • when tape is rolling • say, “I’ve prepared some questions, but if they don’t seem to be hitting at the core of the issue, feel free to correct me” • start questions • if ask tape be turned off for one question, remember to start again after • after last question, always ask “Is there anything else you’d like to add? Anything you think I’m missing?”

37. Interview Procedure • after interview is over • don’t bolt…. • thank them for their participation • say into tape recorder “the foregoing was an interview with Jane Doe (D-o-e) for project 43, date, time, location, by your name • turn off tape, but hang around making small talk — will often get best stuff yet, now that formal interview is over • once out of sight, debrief

38. Interview Procedure • Debrief • check that tape has recorded properly • tape is blank • background noise obscures portions of tape • reconstruct missing data — but distinguish in transcript between verbatim and reconstructed paraphrasing • record details (such as body language) not recorded on tape while still fresh in your memory • note your own preliminary interpretations and ideas