PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1

Module 2: QUALITATIVE RESEARCH AND ITS IMPORTANCE IN DAILY LIFE

LESSON The Value of Qualitative Research, Its Characteristics, Strengths,

1
Weaknesses and Kinds

Time Frame: Week 6, September 28 – October 2, 2020

Learning Outcome:

After studying this lesson, the students are expected to describe the characteristics,
strengths and weaknesses and kinds of qualitative research

I. The Value of Qualitative Research

Qualitative data provides context and meaning. If an organization wants to assess the behavior of their clients,
they can easily collect and analyze information about top-selling items, buying trends in various geographic locations,
and overall sales figures by month. This will give a sense of the who, what, when, and where of the study. Qualitative
research can complete the picture by delving into the why and the how. If quantitative research represents the skeleton,
the qualitative research represents the flesh. It can explore narrowly-defined issues in greater depth, explaining the
setting in which behavior can take place. It gives the complete picture of the issue being studied.

The value of qualitative study comes from its focus on the lived experience of the participants, which enabled
development of a greater understanding concerning the outcomes that are important, relevant, and meaningful to the
people involved.

II. Purpose of Qualitative Research

Qualitative Research promotes a deep, holistic understanding of a particular phenomenon.

III. Characteristics of Qualitative Research

1. Human understanding and interpretation in data analysis

2. Active, powerful and forceful in data gathering and rephrasing interview questions
3. Multiple research approaches and methods that allows you to plan your study and being multi-method
research
4. Specificity to generalization on specific ideas will lead to generalizations or conclusions.
5. Contextualization - context or situation of individual’s life
6. Diversified data in real-life situations on collecting data in a natural setting
7. Abounds with words and visuals that presents people’s view in a picture, video, drawing or graphs.
8. Internal analysis on examining the data yielded by the internal traits of the subject persons.

IV. Strengths of Qualitative Research

1. It adopts a naturalistic approach to its subject matter.

2. Promotes a full understanding of human behavior/personality traits in their natural setting.
3. It is instrumental for positive societal changes.
4. It engenders respect for people’s individuality.
5. it’s a way of understanding & interpreting social interactions.
6. Increases researcher’s interests in the study.
7. Offers multiple ways of acquiring and examining knowledge about something.

V. Weaknesses of Qualitative Research

1. It involves a lot of researcher’s subjectivity in data analysis.
2. It is hard to know the validity/reliability of the data.
3. It is open-ended questions yield “data overload” that requires long-time analysis.
4. It is time-consuming.
5. It involves several processes; whose results greatly depend on the researcher’s views or interpretations.
VI. Kinds of Qualitative Research

1. Case Study - Long time study of a person, group, organization or situation and an empirical inquiry that
investigates current phenomenon.
Example: “Teenage Pregnancy in the Public High Schools”

2. Ethnography- a study of a particular cultural group.

Example: “Cultural Awareness and Integration of Peace Education in the Indigenous Peoples (IP)
Communities”

3. Phenomenology- “live-experienced” of a phenomenon.

Example: “Life without Gadget”

4. Content and Discourse Analysis-

 Content Analysis- is a research technique that analyzes the modes of communication such as
letters, e-mails etc.
 Discourse Analysis- is the study of social life, understood through analysis of language it includes
face-to-face talk, non-verbal interaction, images and symbols.
Materials for Discourse Analysis include books, newspapers, periodicals, brochures and advertisements.
Example: “A Discourse Analysis on the Impact of Modern Technologies on Communication”

5. Historical Analysis- is a qualitative method where there is an examining of past events to draw conclusions
and make predictions about the future.
Example: “The Impact of Ferdinand Marcos’ Speech”

6. Grounded Theory- takes place when there is a discovery of new theory which underlies your study at the time
of data collection and analysis.
Example: “The Story Behind the Migration of Christians from Visayas and Luzon to Mindanao”

7. Narrative Report - designed to present things or events that have happened in the past through a logical
progression of the relevant information. The main purpose of a narrative report is to present a factual
depiction of what has occurred.
Example: “Vocabulary Building of Students through Proper Solid Waste Management”

8. Biography- is the study of an individual’s life and struggles and how they reflect cultural themes of the
society.
It deals with an interesting story found in documents and archival materials. It is concerned with the
reconstruction of life histories and the constitution of meaning based on biographical narratives and
documents.
 Five common types of biography are
(1) Scholarly Chronicles -focus on the historical portrayal of an individual life.
e.g. “Biography of Gloria M. Arroyo, the First Woman President of the Philippines”
(2) Intellectual Biography- narrative of a life through the conceptual analysis of the subject’s motives and
beliefs within the world of ideas.
e.g. “Life and Works of Dr. Jose Rizal”
(3) Life History Writing- recording of life memories, experiences, whether one’s or another’s.
e.g. “The Hardships of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW’s)”.
(4) Memoir Biography- stylistic presentation of the biographer’s reflections and insights in relation to the
factual account of life.
e.g. “The Experiences of Stranded Students in the COVID-19 Pandemic”
(5) Narrative Biography-a nonfiction account of life experiences of a person.

9. Action Research- is a classroom-based or school-based research which seeks transformative change through
the process of taking action and doing research, which are linked together by critical reflection. This type
of research is commonly conducted by the teachers to give solutions to the existing problems to
improve students’ academic performance and positive attitudes.

_______________________
For more information on these kinds of qualitative research, see Palasan, E.B (2018). Qualitative Research: Importance in Daily Life
[PowerPoint] available online with http://www.slideshare.net.ppt
 Module 2: QUALITATIVE RESEARCH AND ITS IMPORTANCE IN DAILY LIFE
LESSON The Importance of Qualitative Research Across Fields of Inquiry

2 Time Frame: Week 6, September 28 – October 2, 2020

Learning Outcome:

After studying this lesson, the students are expected to illustrate the importance of qualitative
research across fields

Research in Different Areas of Knowledge

Research studies happen in any field of knowledge: Anthropology, Business, Communication, Education,
Engineering, Law and Nursing.

A. Basic Research Approaches in a Specific Area of Discipline

1. Scientific or Positive Approach
- Deals with empirical data instead of personal views, feelings or attitudes.
- Allows control of variables or factors affecting the study (Laursen 2010).
- Express and records findings quantitatively.
- Presents structured interviews, questionnaires and observational checklists.

2. Naturalistic Approach
- A people-oriented approach focusing on discovering the real concept or meaning behind people’s
lifestyles and social relations.
- Present things qualitatively through verbal language. Using words as unit of analysis.
-Bases determining universal social values to define ethical and unethical that society ought to know,
not only for the benefit of individual and community but also for the satisfaction of man’s
quest for knowledge.” (Sarandakos 2013; Ransome 2013)

Example: Talking to ethnic groups or people with other culture in a natural setting. In this case, the
researcher uses unstructured interviews and the participants’ answer/response is not scripted.

3. Triangulation/ Mixed Method

- Allows a combination or a mixture of research designs, data collection and data analysis
techniques.
- Enhance the validity and reliability of qualitative research design.
- Enhances accuracy of interpretation.
- Has an opportunity to view every angle of the research from different perspectives.

(3) Main Methods of Data Collection

a. Interactive interviewing- people asked to verbally described their experiences of phenomenon.

b. Written descriptions by participant- people asked to write descriptions of their experiences of

phenomenon.

c. Observation- descriptive observations of verbal and non-verbal behavior.

In the field of Humanities, researchers ought to focus not to man’s social life but instead studies its
meanings, significance and visualizations of man’s experiences in the field of Fine Arts, Literature,
Music, Drama, Dance and other artistically inclined subjects.

Humanistic Categories

1. Literature and Art Criticism - Focus on language depends on interpretative and reflective thinking.

2. Philosophical Research - The focus of inquiry is on knowledge and principles of being and on the
manner human beings conduct themselves on Earth.

3. Historical Research - Investigation centers on events and ideas that took place in man’s life at
a particular period.
REFERENCES
Abdullah, S.N. (2018) .Practical Research 1: Qualitative Research [PowerPoint slides].Retrieved from http://www.academia.edu./ppt
Baraceros, E.L. (2016).Practical Research 1. Ist ed. Rex Book Store. Manila
Buenseco, D.B, Dacanay, D.E., Manalo, G.A. (2016).Department of Education Practical Research 1. Teachers Guide .Ist ed. Lexicon Press, Inc. Pasig City.
Calmorin, L.P. (2016).Research and Thesis Writing with Statistics and Computer Application. Rev.ed.Rex Book Store
Cristobal, A.P., Jr, & Cristobal, M.D. (2016). Practical Research 1 for Senior High School. Ist ed.C & E Publishing Inc. Quezon City.
Hollway, W. (2013).Doing Qualitative Research Differently. (2 nd ed.).SAGE Pub.USA
Letherby, G. (2013).Methodological Innovations. (1st ed) SAGE Journals.USA
Palasan, E.B (2018). Qualitative Research: Importance in Daily Life [PowerPoint] available online with http://www.slideshare.net.ppt
Rancome, P (2013).Ethics and Values in Social Research. https://www.macmillanihe.com/page/detail/