QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGNS

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGNS

Comparison of qualitative & quantitative research

	Qualitative	Quantitative
Definitions	a systematic subjective approach used to describe life experiences and give them meaning	a formal, objective, systematic process for obtaining information about the world. A method used to describe, test relationships, and examine cause and effect relationships.
Goals	To gain insight; explore the depth, richness, and complexity inherent in the phenomenon.	To test relationships, describe, examine cause and effect relations
Characteristics	Soft science Focus: complex & broad Holistic Subjective Dialectic, inductive reasoning Basis of knowing: meaning & discovery Develops theory Shared interpretation Communication & observation Basic element of analysis: words Individual interpretation Uniqueness	Hard science Focus: concise & narrow Reductionistic Objective Logistic, deductive reasoning Basis of knowing: cause & effect, relationships Tests theory Control Instruments Basic element of analysis: numbers Statistical analysis Generalization

Specific qualitative approaches

Phenomenology
	Purpose, goal - to describe experiences as they are lived
		examines uniqueness of individual's lived situations each person has own reality; reality is subjective
	Research question development
		What does existence of feeling or experience indicate concerning the phenomenon to be explored What are necessary & sufficient constituents of feeling or experience? What is the nature of the human being?
	Method
		No clearly defined steps to avoid limiting creativity of researcher Sampling & data collection
			Seek persons who understand study & are willing to express inner feelings & experiences Describe experiences of phenomenon Write experiences of phenomenon Direct observation Audio or videotape
	Data analysis
		Classify & rank data Sense of wholeness Examine experiences beyond human awareness/ or cannot be communicated
	Outcomes
		Findings described from subject's point-of-view Researcher identifies themes Structural explanation of findings is developed

Grounded theory
	Purpose - theory development
		Used in discovering what problems exist in a social scene &how persons handle them Involves formulation, testing, & redevelopment of propositions until a theory is developed
	Method - steps occur simultaneously; a constant comparative process
		Data collection - interview, observation, record review, or combination
	Analysis
		Concept formation Concept development - reduction; selective sampling of literature; selective sampling of subjects; emergence of core concepts Concept modification & integration
	Outcomes - theory supported by examples from data

Ethnography
	Purpose - to describe a culture's characteristics
	Method
		Identify culture, variables for study, & review literature Data collection - gain entrance to culture; immerse self in culture; acquire informants; gather data through direct observation & interaction with subjects
	Analysis - describe characteristics of culture
	Outcomes - description of culture

Historical
	Purpose - describe and examine events of the past to understand the present and anticipate potential future effects
	Method
		Formulate idea - select topic after reading related literature Develop research questions Develop an inventory of sources - archives, private libraries, papers Clarify validity & reliability of data - primary sources, authenticity, biases Develop research outline to organize investigative process Collect data
	Analysis - synthesis of all data; accept & reject data; reconcile conflicting evidence
	Outcomes - select means of presentation - biography, chronology, issue paper

Case study
	Purpose - describe in-depth the experience of one person, family, group, community, or institution
	Method
		Direct observation and interaction with subject
	Analysis - synthesis of experience
	Outcomes - in-depth description of the experience

Data collection

Reliability & validity - rigor

Use of researcher's personality

Bracketing

Intuiting

Can use > 1 researcher & compare interpretation and analysis of data

Data analysis