Basics of Qualitative

Research Design
Berg Ch. 2
Leedy and Ormrod Ch. 3 - 5
 Three General Approaches to
Research
APPROACH POSITIVISM CRITICAL
INTERPRETIVE
USUAL TYPE experiment, historical- field research,
OF RESEARCH survey, comparative interviews
cont. anal.

PERSPECTIVE technocratic transcendent transcendent

TYPE OF LOGICreconstructed logic-in-practice logic-in-practice

PATH linear non-linear non-linear

/cyclical /cyclical
Qualitative methodology
 Data in words rather than numbers
 Non-positivistic orientation
 Includes:
 Fieldresearch and ethnography
 Observation, case studies
 Qualitative interviewing
 Action research
 Historical comparative analysis
Characteristics of Qualitative
Research
 Context is critical
 In depth, detailed
 Researcher immerses self in data (non-
objective)
 Researcher integrity
 Bias recognized
 Use of grounded theory
 Can detect process and sequence
 Data are interpreted rather than analyzed
 Ideas and Theory
The Deductive The Inductive
(Quantitative) (Qualitative)
Process Process
 Ideas and theory o Research leads to
come before theory development
empirical research o Research initiates,
 Ideas lead to reformulates, deflects
refutation through and clarifies theory
research
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What is Theory?
 “a statement of relationships between
concepts”

 “a roadmap for organizing ideas and

knowledge about the social world”
Theory Parts
 Concepts
 Concept clusters
 Classification concepts (ideal types)

 Assumptions

 Typology or Taxonomy

 Relationships
The Measurement Process
 Quantitative = deductive

 Qualitative = inductive

 Both involve conceptualization and

operationalization
Concepts
 Symbolic elements
 Foundation of communication and
thought
 Two distinct parts
Symbolic elements (word, symbol, term)
Definitional element

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Operationalization of a
Concept
 Conceptualize
 Providinga working definition of a concept
 Use theory and research

 Operationalize
 providingthe criteria for measuring a concept
 What, specifically, will you be observing?
 Often continues throughout the research process

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Process of Qualitative
Operationalization:
Empirical Observations

Working Ideas

Concepts

Generalizations/Theories
Berg’s Blended Model
 The Spiraling Research Approach
 Begin with a rough idea
 Gather theoretical information

 Reconsider and redefine

Process: Idea
-- Lit. Review (involves Theory)
-- Design
-- Data Collection/Organization
-- Analysis/Findings
--Dissemination
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Choosing a Research Problem

 Where do problems come from?

Practical problems in the field

The literature in the field
Personal interest
Examples of Problems:
 The purpose of this study is to examine
the effect of body image and PPF
(perceived physical fitness) for different
exercise settings
 The purpose of this study is to examine
the type of talk during a writing activity to
determine if there is a difference between
off topic and on topic talk on the quality of
students’ writing samples
Reviewing the Literature
 Recommended Sources:
 Journal articles
 Books
 Conference proceedings
 Government / corporate reports
 Library Databases

 Other Sources (not recommended)

 Newspapers and Magazines
 Internet esp. sites like Wikipedia
The Annotated Bibliography
 A very useful first step…

 Consists of a bibliographic citation and a

descriptive and evaluative annotation of a
selection of your most useful sources
Reviewing the Literature
 Formulate a rough question
 Visit the Library
Conduct both online and in-print
searches
 Make a list of search terms
 Evaluate the results

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Evaluating Web Sites
 Information to check on every website
 URL
 Domain
 Date of last update
 Corroborating information

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Writing The Literature Review
 Concentrates on the scientific research

 Provides the context for your research

 Justifies the proposed study

 Summarizes and evaluates the literature in

the field
 Questions to be answered in a
literature review:
 1. What do we already know in the immediate area concerned?
 2. What are the characteristics of the key concepts (or the main
factors or variables)?
 3. What are the relationships between these key concepts, factors
or variables?
 4. What are the existing generalizations or theories?
 5. Where are the inconsistencies/shortcomings in our knowledge
and understanding?
 6. What views need to be (further) explored?
 7. What information or evidence is lacking, inconclusive,
contradictory or too limited?
 8. Why study (further) the research problem?
 9. What contribution can the present study be expected to make?
 10. What research designs or methods seem unsatisfactory?
Tips:
 Remember the purpose
 Read with a purpose
 Write with a purpose

 Always put citations into your writing

immediately
 Keep a bibliographic file
Berg’s Two-Card Method
Author Card o Topic Card
 Fullcitation o Author’s name
 Library call o Date of
number publication
o Brief topical label
o Verbatim excerpt

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Janesick (1994) in Berg….

“design is the choreography

that establishes the
research dance”
 What are the implications of this
statement?
The Research Design
 The plan for conducting a study
 Foresee possible glitches
 Consider appropriate pacing
 Appraise ethical proprieties

 Feasibility is contingent on many factors:

 Length of time to do the study
 Ethical constraints
 Cooperation of others
 Cost of conducting the research
 Researcher’s own skills
Setting
 Identification of a data-collection site
Practical
 entry or access - gatekeepers
 availability

Reasonable in size and complexity

Appropriateness

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Sampling Strategies
 Probability Sampling
 Mathematically representative of the larger
population
 Relies on random sampling
 Non-Probability Sampling
 Doesn’trequire a list of the population elements
 Can be used with difficult or sensitive populations

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Probability Sampling
 Simple Random Sampling
 Every unit has the same chance of inclusion
 Systematic Random Sampling
 Every nth unit is selected from the list
 Stratified Random Sampling
 Independent samples from subgroups of the sample
 Cluster Sampling
 Clusters are randomly and elements within are
randomly selected

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Non-probability Sampling
 Convenience Samples
 Relies on available subjects
 Purposive Samples
 Researcher knowledge or expertise
 Snowball Samples
 Respondent-driven
 Quota Samples
 Proportional matrix
Data Analysis
 Data Reduction
Reduce and transform the data
 Data Display
Organize and assemble the data
 Conclusions and Verification
Confirm initial conclusions through double
checking and independent examination

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Dissemination
 Writing the final report on your research
for publication or presentation to a funding
agency
 Integral part of the research process