Qualitative Research
Qualitative research is a generic term for investigative methodologies described as ethnographic, naturalistic, anthropological, field, or participant observer research.
It emphasizes the importance of looking at variables in the natural setting in which they are found.
Interaction between variables is important.
Detailed data is gathered through open ended questions.
The interviewer is an integral part of the investigation (Jacob 1988).
This differs from quantitative research which attempts to gather data by objective methods to provide information about relations, comparisons, and predictions and attempts to remove the investigator from the investigation (Smith 1983).
Characteristics
Purpose: Understanding - Seeks to understand people’s interpretations.
Reality: Dynamic - Reality changes with changes in people’s perceptions.
Viewpoint: Insider - Reality is what people perceive it to be.
Values: Value bound - Values will have an impact and should be understood and taken into account when conducting and reporting research.
Focus: Holistic - A total or complete picture is sought.
Orientation: Discovery - Theories and hypotheses are evolved from data as collected.
Data: Subjective - Data are perceptions of the people in the environment.
Instrumentation: Human - The human person is the primary collection instrument.
Conditions: Naturalistic - Investigations are conducted under natural conditions.
Results: Valid - The focus is on design and procedures to gain "real," "rich," and "deep" data.
Advantages
• Produces more in-depth, comprehensive information.
• Uses subjective information and participant observation to describe the context, or natural setting, of the variables under consideration, as well as the interactions of the different variables in the context.
• It seeks a wide understanding of the entire situation. Disadvantages
• The very subjectivity of the inquiry leads to difficulties in establishing the reliability and
It emphasizes the importance of looking at variables in the natural setting in which they are found.
Interaction between variables is important.
Detailed data is gathered through open ended questions.
The interviewer is an integral part of the investigation (Jacob 1988).
This differs from quantitative research which attempts to gather data by objective methods to provide information about relations, comparisons, and predictions and attempts to remove the investigator from the investigation (Smith 1983).
Characteristics
Purpose: Understanding - Seeks to understand people’s interpretations.
Reality: Dynamic - Reality changes with changes in people’s perceptions.
Viewpoint: Insider - Reality is what people perceive it to be.
Values: Value bound - Values will have an impact and should be understood and taken into account when conducting and reporting research.
Focus: Holistic - A total or complete picture is sought.
Orientation: Discovery - Theories and hypotheses are evolved from data as collected.
Data: Subjective - Data are perceptions of the people in the environment.
Instrumentation: Human - The human person is the primary collection instrument.
Conditions: Naturalistic - Investigations are conducted under natural conditions.
Results: Valid - The focus is on design and procedures to gain "real," "rich," and "deep" data.
Advantages
• Produces more in-depth, comprehensive information.
• Uses subjective information and participant observation to describe the context, or natural setting, of the variables under consideration, as well as the interactions of the different variables in the context.
• It seeks a wide understanding of the entire situation. Disadvantages
• The very subjectivity of the inquiry leads to difficulties in establishing the reliability and