Qualitative Research

Approaches
Mc. Monrey C. Bayot
Teacher
Objective
• Describe qualitative research approaches
• Select appropriate qualitative research approach for your study
Qualitative Research Approaches
• Ethnography
• Historical Research
• Case Study
Ethnography
Ethnography
• Ethnography aims to get a holistic picture of a specific group,
society, institution or any situation.

• Ethnography uses in-depth interviews and continuous

participant observation to document everyday experiences of
the people involved.
Research topics suited for ethnography
• Voting behavior of people in one barangay
• Science-related practices of one tribe in Luzon
• Waste management practices of one school
What you must know about ethnography;
• Culture is the totality of the groups’ ideas, beliefs,
customs and behavior.
• An ethnographer must study the holistic perspective of
the culture of the group.
• The data gathered must be contextualized.
What you must know about ethnography;
• Emic perspective refers to the insider’s perspective of what is
being studied. Etic perspective refers to the outsider’s
perspective on what is being studied.
• Thick description means describing what the researcher saw,
heard and observed in great detail.
• Nonjudgmental observation means being completely
neutral to what the researcher is studying.
Advantages and Disadvantages of
ethnography
Advantages Disadvantages
Dependent on researcher’s
More comprehensive
observation and interpretations
Gains deeper and richer
understanding of one’s behavior Bias is difficult to eliminate.
through natural setting
Suited in studying group
Close supervision is needed.
behavior over time
Historical Research
Historical Research
Historical research is a systematic collection and
evaluation of data to describe, explain and understand
events that occurred in the past.
Examples of Historical Research
Specific Problems:
a. What science activities were performed inside the
classroom during the last decade?
b. What competitions were won by the students in
your school since its establishment?
Advantages and Disadvantages of
Historical Research
Advantages
Permits investigation of topics
and questions
Can study evidence from the
past
Can use wide range of evidences
Provides rich source of info
Disadvantages
Threats to validity are
impossible to control
Documents are limited
Sampling cannot be ensured
Probable bias in data
Case study
Case study
Case study is a documented study on a particular
person, group, institution or event. It is done to analyze
constructs and themes which leads to the identification
of variable.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Case
Study
Advantages Disadvantages
In-depth investigation and
concentration on one particular Difficulty in getting cooperation
case