Qualitative Research

ANBONY D. CUANICO, PH.D.

GRADUATE SCHOOL
How does Qualitative Research differ
from Quantitative?
•A systematic, subjective approach used to describe life experiences
and give them meaning
•Useful in understanding human experiences such as pain, caring,
powerlessness, and comfort
•Focuses on understanding the whole
What are the Frameworks for
Qualitative studies?
•The goal of qualitative research is not hypothesis testing.
•Frameworks are used in a different sense in qualitative research.
•Each type of qualitative research is guided by a particular
philosophical stance.
Quantitative vs. Qualitative
How does the Data in Qualitative
research look different?
•Data is subjective, systematic
•Describes life experiences and gives them meaning
•Data in qualitative research are typically words versus numbers in
quantitative research
•Focus on the whole, holistic
•Data incorporate perceptions and beliefs of researcher and
participants
Why qualitative? Some criticisms of
quantitative methods
• It can involve little or no contact with people or field settings
• Statistical correlations may be based upon ‘variables’ that are
arbitrarily defined by the researchers themselves
• After-the-fact analysis about the meaning of correlations may
involve some very common-sense reasoning or even speculation
that science claims to avoid
• The pursuit of ‘measurable’ phenomena mean that difficult
concepts such as ‘criminality’ or ‘intelligence’ are treated
unproblematically
Qualitative Research Purpose

Describe Understand Explain

Identify Develop Generate

Qualitative Research Methods
•Multiple realities
•Natural setting for data collection
•Researchers and participants interact
•Results are rich descriptions
Approaches to Qualitative Research
Phenomenological

Grounded Theory

Ethnography

Exploratory-descriptive-qualitative

Historical
Approaches to Qualitative Research
•Based on the philosophical orientation and intended outcome

•The type of qualitative approach taken is often dependent on the

research question(s) asked and the purpose of the research study
PHENOMENOLOGY

❑Phenomenology is both philosophy

and a research method
❑Purpose of this research method is to
describe experiences as they are lived
– to capture the “lived experience”
❑Developed by Husserl & Heidegger –
an approach to thinking about
people’s life experiences.
A phenomenological researcher asks the question:
“What is the essence of this phenomena as experienced by these
people and what does it mean?”

Assumption: there is an “essence” ---- an essential variant structure

▪Investigates subjective phenomena
▪Belief that truths about reality are grounded in peoples’ lived
experiences
 Methodological Interpretations Used:

BRACKETING : requires researcher to acknowledge any previous

knowledge, ideas, or beliefs about phenomenon under investigation.
This is bracketed or separated out in order for the researcher to
remain impartial about phenomenon.
INTUITING: means researcher is immersed in description of lived
experience.
Phenomenology
Grounded Theory
•“Grounded” – means the theory developed from the research is
grounded or has it roots in the data from which is was derived
•Symbolic Interaction Theory
•Meaning is attached to things or actions which form our reality
•Often result in theory development
Philosophical Orientation:

• Based on symbolic interaction theory

• Explores how people define reality and how their beliefs are
related to their actions
• Meaning is expressed through – symbols – such as words,
religious objects, and clothing
• Symbolic meanings are different for each of us
• In social life - meanings are shared by groups – socialization
process
• Group life is based on consensus and shared meanings
“Victimising of School Bullying: a Grounded Theory” by Robert
Thornberg, Karolina Halldin, Natalie Bolmsjö & Annelie Petersson
This study analyses the experiences and perceptions of victims of bullying
in elementary schools (K-9) in Sweden. The study’s initial goal was to
“investigate how individuals, who had been victims of school bullying
perceived their bullying experiences and how these had affected them, as
well as to generate a grounded theory of being a victim of bullying at
school” (Thornberg et al., 2011, p. 311).
Ethnography
• Ethnography is a Greek term derived from ethnos meaning
“people” and graphein meaning “writing.”
•Based in anthropology
•Focus: the culture of a group of people
•Assumption: every human group evolves a culture that guides
members view of the world and the way they structure their
experiences
 • Aim: to learn from rather than study members of a cultural group

• Two perspectives:
(1) Emic – insider’s view, the way the members of a culture envision their world
(2) Etic - outsiders’ interpretation of the experiences of that culture – strive to
get at cultural experiences that members do not talk about or may not even
be consciously aware
•Extensive field work
•Typically labor intensive
•Time consuming

•Researcher as instrument - to study a culture it requires a certain level of

intimacy – needs to be developed – become one within the culture
 Three types of information:
(1) Cultural behavoir
(2) Cultural artifacts
(3) Cultural speech

Sources of information – in-depth interviews, records, charts,

observations and other types of physical evidence are
used
Natural mentors and youth
drinking: a qualitative study of
Mexican youths 
Exploratory-Descriptive
•No specific approach described except for naturalistic inquiry,
descriptive, or qualitative
•Addresses the research purpose and question from a qualitative
method
Historical •Examination and description of events or other
factors that influence what you are interested in
Qualitative Research Process
•Select topic and problem
•Justify the significance of the study
•Design study
•Identify and gain access to subjects
•Select study subjects and data
•Interpret results
 Check Your Understanding: Question
Which of the following is true about qualitative research?

A.Categories are established for analysis purposes.

B.Data are usually collected in a laboratory setting.
C.Focus is on studying the “whole.”
D.Intuition and abstraction are suppressed.
Which methods are unique to
Qualitative Research?
•Selection of subjects
•Researcher-participant relationship
•Data collection methods
•Data management
•Data analysis
•Interpretation
How are subjects selected?
•Subjects are referred to as participants.
•May volunteer to be involved in study
•May be selected by researcher because of their particular
knowledge, experience, or views related to study
What is purposive sampling?
•May select individuals typical in relation to the phenomenon under
study
•May seek out individuals different in some way from other
participants to get diverse perspectives
•Snowballing technique is commonly used.
How do sample sizes differ from
quantitative studies?
•Decisions regarding sample size differ
◦ Based on needs related to study purpose
◦ Number of subjects is usually smaller
◦ Case studies with only one subject may be used
◦ Six to 10 subjects not unusual
What are the characteristics of
researcher-participant relationships?
•Participants are treated as colleagues rather than subjects.
•The researcher must have the support and confidence of participants
to complete the study.
•Maintaining relationships is of utmost importance.
What does Observation Include?
•A process of understanding ‘What is going on here?’
•Look and listen carefully.
•Note routine activities.
•Focus on details.
•Note processes as well as discrete events.
•Note unexpected events.
What is Included in Interviewing?
•Open-ended format
•Researcher defines focus.
•No fixed sequence of questions
•Questions tend to change as researcher gains insights from previous
interviews and/or observations.
•Respondents are encouraged to raise issues not addressed by
researcher.
 Check Your Understanding: Question
Data for qualitative studies are:

A. Based on words rather than numbers.

B. Easy and straightforward to interpret.
C. Gathered quickly from large numbers of people.
D. Precisely analyzed on a computer.
Check Your Understanding: Answer
•ANSWER: A
•In each approach to qualitative research, the purpose is to examine meaning, and the
unit of analysis is a word or phrase instead of a numerical value.
•Data are neither easy nor straightforward to interpret. In each approach to qualitative
research, the purpose is to examine meaning, and the unit of analysis is a word or phrase
instead of a numerical value.
•Qualitative data collection often takes a long time and must be conducted individually. In
each approach to qualitative research, the purpose is to examine meaning, and the unit
of analysis is a word or phrase instead of a numerical value.
•Although computer programs are available to assist with analysis, many researchers still
find them cumbersome and incomplete. In each approach to qualitative research, the
purpose is to examine meaning, and the unit of analysis is a word or phrase instead of a
numerical value.
How is text collected?
•May be written by participants on a particular topic at request of
researcher
•Narratives may be solicited by mail rather than in person.
•Text developed for other purposes, such as patient records or
procedure manuals, can be accessed for qualitative analysis.
•Published text (books, newspapers, etc.)
 Check Your Understanding: Question
Which of the following is not a common data collection method in
qualitative research?

A. Examining written text

B. Interviewing participants
C. Observing participants
D. Obtaining written surveys
Check Your Understanding: Answer
•ANSWER: D
•Survey research is a type of quantitative research. Data collection methods in qualitative
research include observing participants, interviewing participants, and examining written
text.
•Examining written data is a method of data collection used in qualitative research. Survey
research is a type of quantitative research. Data collection methods in qualitative research
include observing participants, interviewing participants, and examining written text.
•Interviewing participants is a method of data collection used in qualitative research. Survey
research is a type of quantitative research. Data collection methods in qualitative research
include observing participants, interviewing participants, and examining written text.
•Observing participants is a method of data collection used in qualitative research. Survey
research is a type of quantitative research. Data collection methods in qualitative research
include observing participants, interviewing participants, and examining written text.
How are Qualitative research results
interpreted?
•The researcher offers his or her interpretation of what is going on.
•The focus is on understanding and explaining beyond that which can
be stated with certainty.
•May focus on usefulness of findings for clinical practice
•Researcher develops hunches about relationships that can be used
to formulate tentative propositions.
Rigor
•Openness
•Adherence to a philosophical perspective
•Data saturation
•Multiple sources of data
Rigor
•Rigor is impacted by all of the following negative factors:
◦ Inconsistency in adhering to method or philosophy
◦ Poorly developed methods
◦ Lack of data collection time
◦ Poor data collection methods
◦ Failure to consider multiple sources of data
Questions? Comments?
THE END!