Research Methodology Qualitative Research Taught by Dr Sng

Research Methodology Qualitative Research Taught by Dr. Sng Bee • Singapore Bible College Files in many languages for free download at Bible. Study. Downloads. org

Qualitative Research Involves people Social Issues Important to consider he views of people Affects People

Qualitative Research Interviews Focus Group Discussion

Advantages of Interviews Source: Gray, D. E. (2009), Doing Research in the Real World (2 nd ed. ). London: Sage Where you try to find out deeper issues on your topic by interviewing people. You can ask for clarification Where people enjoy talking about their experiences You can gather data about people’s knowledge, values, preferences and attitudes You can identify variables and their relationships

Interviews or Surveys Gray, D. E. (2009), Doing Research in the Real World (2 nd ed. ). London: Sage Interviews are preferable to surveys where: Ø There is a need to attain very personalized data. Ø Opportunities for probing are required Ø Respondents are not fluent in the native language of the country, or they have problems with the written language

Interviews or Surveys are preferable when: Ø Large numbers of respondents are needed Ø Better reliability of data is desired

Categories of Interviews Structured interviews Semi-structured interviews Non-directive interviews Focused interviews Informal conversational interviews

Video on Interview Homeless People, a program hosted by Diana Ser http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=El mgsdfv 2 G 0&feature=player_embedd ed http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=v 34 GCQwcx. IU– Illegal downloading of videos http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=b. F M 29 Sh 3 m. Rw&feature=related

Discussion on the Videos Evaluate what you watch based on the handout on analyzing interview data

Evaluation of your own views To what extent could I test the truth of this claim by direct experience? To what extent is this belief consistent with what I know to be true or in which I have justified confidence? How do you support your claim?

Evaluation of your own views Is there a system or procedure for assessing claims of this sort? Does the acceptance of this information advance your vested interest or group asserting it? Are you uncomfortable to have your views attested?

Factors Influencing Your Beliefs 1. One belief I have been taught by my culture about why people should behave in certain ways is …… ü Such belief is rational/irrational because…. . 2. One belief I have been taught by my religion/philosophy is…. ü Such belief is rational/irrational because…. .

Factors Influencing Your Beliefs 3. One belief I have been taught by my parents is…. üSuch belief is rational/irrational because…. . 4. One belief I have been taught by my peer group is? üSuch belief is rational/irrational because…. .

Factors Influencing Your Beliefs 5. One belief I have been taught by teachers is… üSuch belief is rational/irrational because…. .

Evaluating Implications Discuss the following implications of the issues contained in the stories in the videos: 1. Sociological 2. Ethical 3. Economic 4. Psychological 5. Legal

Stages in the Conduct of Interviews 1. Conduct of interviews 2. Analysis of interview data 3. Description of interview data

Stages in the Conduct of Interviews 1. Set the interview time and location with the person (or people) you will be interviewing 2. Write your interview questions: Open and/or Closed-ended questions 3. Decide how to record the interview 4. Request for subjects to record the interview

Considerations in the Conduct of Interviews Choice of Setting Choice of interviewees Sample size Relationship between interviewer and interviewee • Attitude of the interviewer

Considerations in using interviews as a research method Choice of Setting Affects the interviewees: Ø Comfort level Ø Openness to disclose Information Ø Degree to which they feel they’re in control of interview situation

Considerations in using interviews as a research method Choice of interviewees Ø How are they involved in the issue you’re investigating: as experts; participants in the issue or observers Ø Gender; age group; race and nationality

Considerations in using interviews as a research method Sample size Ø Are you seeking a fair representation of the population you’re examining? Ø Are you doing an in-depth study? BREADTH DEPTH

Considerations in using interviews as a research method Relationship between interviewer and interviewee Issues: Ø Imposes obligation on both parties Ø How tightly the interviewer controls the interview Ø To what extent does the interviewer make the interviewee feel comfortable in disclosing information

Considerations in using interviews as a research method Attitude of the interviewer Ø Does the interviewer ask open or closed ended questions? Ø What kinds of questions are asked? Are they bias? Are they leading questions? Ø What is his/her non verbal language, i. e eye contact, posture, tone of voice? Ø What attitude does s/he convey about the subject matter of the interview?

Examples of Open-ended and Close-ended Questions Parsigian, E. K. (1992), Mass Media Writing. New Jersey, Hove and London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers Open-ended question What is your opinion about youths’ addiction to computer gaming? Closed-ended question When did you lose your job? How many incidents of product tampering were reported? Have you gone to the movies lately?

Types of Questions (for both Interviews and Surveys) List Question Category Question

Types of Questions Ranking Question Scale Question

Types of Questions Continuum Scale

Evaluate your Interview Questions Parsigian, E. K. (1992), Mass Media Writing. New Jersey, Hove and London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers What exactly do I want the interviewee to tell me? What are the facts and/or details I need to know about this issue or event from this interviewee? Would this interviewee have the answer? What answer might this interviewee give?

Evaluate your Interview Questions Parsigian, E. K. (1992), Mass Media Writing. New Jersey, Hove and London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers Do I use simple, precise, unbiased words to achieve the question’s objective? What words may be unfamiliar, too general or ambiguous, or imply something that defeats the purpose of the question? What word adjustments and clarifications are needed to improve the contextual meaning of the question?

Interviews Face-to-face Interviews Data is more rich and detailed. Interviewer can clarify responses and doubts. S/he can also probe into responses. Responses can also be verified by observing interviewees’ non-verbal language. B. Telephone Interviews These are more appropriate for questions which require more neutral, direct and factual answers A.

Online Interviews Email, instant message or through social networking sites like Facebook Describe your purpose clearly, i. e, that you are conducting a piece of research for one of your courses. Request permission from your participants to write about their responses and promise them you will maintain anonymity Give a time period for your participants to respond, e. g one or two weeks

Online Interviews If you are using social networking sites like Facebook, you may want to create a special account for your research group so that the rest of your friends will not get to see the responses Make sure you save their responses and print hard copies to attach in the Appendix of your report

Focus Group Discussion Watch a video of a focus group discussion. Observe and evaluate the effectiveness of: Ø Setting of interview Ø Interviewees – profile? Relationship between interviewer and interviewee? Ø Types of questions asked: open/closed ended questions; bias/leading questions? Ø Attitude of interviewer – non verbal language; how the interviewer puts the interviewee at ease

Focus Group Discussion Watch the Video http: //www. fridae. com/newsfeatures/articl e. php? articleid=2309&viewarticle=1 Note the types of questions asked Note the approach the facilitators adopt in asking the questions. Were they obtrusive or non obtrusive? Was there even turn-taking in the group? Did any member dominate the discussion? What benefits can you observe of using FG in research? Would you be able to use FG for your topic?

Focus Group Discussion Watch the Video –who’s my MP? https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Wff 4 s Ueuvm. U Note the types of questions asked Note the approach the facilitators adopt in asking the questions. Were they obtrusive or non obtrusive? Was there even turn-taking in the group? Did any member dominate the discussion? What benefits can you observe of using FG in research? Would you be able to use FG for your

Benefits of Using Focus Group as a Research Method 1. 2. 3. 4. Unobtrusive Spontaneous Able to stimulate discussion Can observe interaction between group members 5. Group members encourage one another to contribute input 6. Able to gather rich data on the topic 7. Generate more genuine responses

ANALYSIS OF INTERVIEW AND FOCUS GROUP DATA

Analysis of Interview Data Importance of stories - Stories teach us lessons which are drawn from life - Narrative Analysis Case studies - Analyzing cases

Onwuegbuzie, Anthony J. ; Leech, Nancy L. ; Slate, John R. ; Stark, Marcella ; Sharma, Bipin ; Frels, Rebecca ; Harris, Kristin ; Combs, Julie P. Qualitative Report, v 17 n 1 p 16 -77 Jan 2012. 62 pp.

Onwuegbuzie, Anthony J. ; Leech, Nancy L. ; Slate, John R. ; Stark, Marcella ; Sharma, Bipin ; Frels, Rebecca ; Harris, Kristin ; Combs, Julie P. Qualitative Report, v 17 n 1 p 16 -77 Jan 2012. 62 pp. The data analysis involves: 1. Synthesis 2. Evaluation 3. Interpretation 4. Categorization 5. Hypothesizing 6. Comparison 7. Pattern Finding

BENEFITS OF USING INTERVIEWS AS RESEARCH METHODS Rich insights could be gained about people’s perspectives, attitude, feelings, experiences and opinions about a certain topic (May, 1997)

Attitude towards research people’s views and experiences to be important and respected a subjective depth and mutual understanding can be achieved be aware of the danger of interpreting what we hear according to our own bias and framing

Factors to consider when analyzing interview data CLAIMS 1. What claim does the speaker make? 2. Is it a claim about: i. present reality ii. Value iii. Recommendation for a course of action? 3. What facts does the speaker produce? 4. What are the beliefs the speaker subscribe to? 5. Do you recognize prejudices in the speaker?

EVIDENCE 1. What evidence does the speaker give to support his/her claim? Facts Examples: personal examples, events etc. Expert opinions Appeals to the reliability of evidence 2. What assumptions does the speaker make? 3. Are the assumptions reasonable?

III. Relationship between interviewer and interviewee 1. What is the relationship between interviewer and interviewee: Friends, acquaintances, colleagues? 2. What is the power relation between the interviewer and interviewee? 3. What is the background of the interviewee? Ethnic group, religion, special interest group etc. Age, Gender, Nationality

IV. Analysis of themes emerging in the interviews 1. What are the dominant views relating to each theme? 2. Why is there an agreement in certain areas? 3. Why does contradiction in views exist? 4. What does the agreement or contradiction show me regarding theme? 5. What do these show me about my research question?

Onwuegbuzie, Anthony J. ; Leech, Nancy L. ; Slate, John R. ; Stark, Marcella ; Sharma, Bipin ; Frels, Rebecca ; Harris, Kristin ; Combs, Julie P. Qualitative Report, v 17 n 1 p 16 -77 Jan 2012. 62 pp.

Validity Ensure that questions asked in interviews focus on research objectives. Give time for subjects to explore in depth. Use interview techniques to build rapport and trust, thus give respondents the chance to express themselves. Construct questions that are drawn from literature and pilot study. Prompt respondents to elaborate on their responses.