Understanding Ways to Collect Data
Qualitative Research Methods
1. Case Study
A case study examines a single person or a group over time, focusing on contextual details. It is not necessarily generalizable but provides in-depth insights.
- Requires clear boundaries to define the case.
- Uses various data collection methods like interviews, observation, and archival materials.
- Analysis can be holistic (entire case) or focused on specific aspects.
- Can involve single or multiple cases for a broader perspective.
Key Responsibilities (Stake, 2005):
- Define the case and research focus.
- Identify themes and patterns.
- Use triangulation for interpretation.
- Consider alternative perspectives.
- Develop insights or generalizations about the case.
2. Observation Research
Observation is the systematic study of human behavior in natural settings, valuable for understanding behaviors that are hard to assess through other methods.
- Can be short or long-term.
- Helps validate conclusions from controlled studies.
- Classified into:
- Systematic Observation (structured and time/event-based).
- Controlled Observation (experimental settings).
- Informal Observation (anecdotal and sociometric methods).
3. Hermeneutics
Hermeneutics is the study of interpretation, aiming to understand various human contexts, including cultural, religious, and social.
- Used in fields like biblical studies, education, and anthropology.
- Focuses on grammatical (linguistic) and psychological (author’s intent) analysis.
- Encourages seeing perspectives from other viewpoints.
- Involves interpreting texts, artifacts, and cultural symbols.
4. Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA)
IPA explores how individuals make sense of their experiences.
- Focuses on subjective perceptions rather than objective reality.
- Common in psychology and nursing.
- Uses coding to identify themes and connections in participant narratives.
- Often combined with constant comparison methods and content analysis.
5. Discourse Analysis
Discourse analysis examines language as a social practice, analyzing how words create meaning and persuasion.
- Studies how texts and speech shape worldviews.
- Looks at linguistic repertoires (word choice) and rhetorical strategies (how language is used persuasively).
- Can analyze spoken conversations, written documents, and media texts.
6. Basic Interpretive Research
Defined by Merriam (2002) as research that seeks to understand how people make sense of their experiences without fitting into other qualitative strategies.
7. Conversation Analysis
Focuses on the structure of social interactions through detailed analysis of conversation patterns.
- Studies turn-taking, pauses, and inflections in speech.
- Examines only naturally occurring conversations (not interviews).
8. Content Analysis
A research method that analyzes text-based data by counting occurrences of words, phrases, or themes.
- More quantitative than other qualitative methods.
- Suitable for analyzing newspapers, policy documents, and survey responses.
- Uses specialized coding systems, often assisted by computers.
9. Narrative Analysis
Narrative analysis examines personal stories to understand broader social issues.
Types of Narrative Approaches (Merriam, 2002):
- Biographical: Focuses on significant life events.
- Psychological: Examines thoughts, emotions, and motivations.
- Linguistic: Analyzes language use within narratives.
Steps in Narrative Analysis (Creswell, 2007):
- Gather multiple sources of personal stories.
- Collect contextual information.
- Structure the narrative into a framework.
- Interpret the meaning with input from participants.
10. Participatory Action Research (PAR)
PAR is both a research method and a social change approach, where individuals investigate their own experiences.
- Participants reflect on their values, realities, and collective goals.
- Empowers communities through collaborative research.
- Requires negotiation between researchers and participants, which can be time-consuming.
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