Chapter 6 Both qualitative and quantitative processes are

Chapter 6 • Both qualitative and quantitative processes are necessary to fully answer a conceptual question © 2017 Taylor & Francis

Empirical Qualitative Research Approaches to Empirical Qualitative Research • • Natural observation Participant observation In person interviews (in-depth and focused) Group interviews © 2017 Taylor & Francis

Empirical Qualitative Research Concepts in Empirical Qualitative Research • • • The approach The data The design Data evaluation Conclusions © 2017 Taylor & Francis

The Approach • Qualitative research techniques often entail a researcher’s immersion in the group or activity under study • Going native: the researcher achieves a high level of intimate familiarity with the field through immersion, to obtain the insider’s view © 2017 Taylor & Francis

The Data • • Logs of journal descriptions Photographs Interviews Recorded observations • Thick description: rich, detailed, and multidimensional understanding of a research site that captures the local meaning © 2017 Taylor & Francis

The Design • Qualitative approaches are emergent designs; quantitative approaches are static designs • Qualitative methods, unlike quantitative methodologies, are easily adaptive to change • Qualitative researchers evaluate the extent to which their procedures accommodate emergent situations (dependability) © 2017 Taylor & Francis

The Design • Emergent design: the dynamic nature of qualitative research; emerging issues of a research site demand that appropriate strategies are applied accordingly • Static design: quantitative research procedures are designed in advance and followed consistently © 2017 Taylor & Francis

Data Evaluation • Data are evaluated in terms of plausibility and credibility • Plausibility and credibility address the same issues as validity and reliability © 2017 Taylor & Francis

Conclusions • Are the findings transferable? • Transferable: the extent that the findings, descriptions, and conclusions can be applied in other similar contexts based on the detailed contextual description. How generalizable are the observations? © 2017 Taylor & Francis

Approaches to Qualitative Research • • Natural observation Participant observation In person interviews (in-depth and focused) Group interviews © 2017 Taylor & Francis

Natural Observation • Understanding a social phenomenon through the actors’ eyes • The social process is viewed from the outside © 2017 Taylor & Francis

Participant Observation • Researchers take part in the activity they are observing • Researchers do not intentionally try to manipulate or change the process, but learn about it from the inside • The social process is viewed from the inside © 2017 Taylor & Francis

In Person Interviews • Actors are asked how they view the activity or process (their perceptions) • Individual’s perspective © 2017 Taylor & Francis

Group Interviews • Individual perspectives are seen relative to the group • Focus groups • The discussion leader must be sufficiently trained © 2017 Taylor & Francis