1 Theoretical Paradigms

2 Theoretical Orientation  Also called paradigms and approaches  A paradigm is a “loose collection of logically related assumptions, concepts, or propositions that orient thinking and research”  These paradigms have each had contributions to the characteristics of qualitative research  People can have a blended philosophy of qualitative research  Good researchers are aware of their theoretical base and use it

3 Hermeneutics  Emphasis on the context in which a phenomenon occurs  Focuses on interpreting text, history and theology  Interpretations of data are based on the context of the researcher

4 Social Construction and Constructivism  Believe that individuals seek understanding of the world in which they live and work  Knowing where individuals come from when researching them is key  Differentiation Constructivism – unique experience of each of us Social construction – the hold our culture has on us in shaping how we see things

5 Critical Race Theory  Race a normal part of American life, a part of the context of educational problems  Often study storytelling

6 Pragmatism  Use what works attitude to research  Mixed methods movement

7 Feminist Theory and Methods  The purpose is to use a feminist perspective in conducting research  Feminist theory emphasizes power disparities and inequalities among genders  Considers researcher impact with regard to gender  Example: What was it like to study to be a teacher in the mid 1900’s? What are the experiences of female superintendents? What is it like to be a feminist researcher?

8 Postpositivism  Science is not so “black and white”  Still value the scientific approach (empirical data collection, cause-and- effect, a priori theories)  Methods display logical order and rigor  Analysis may include statistical techniques, use of computers  Reports are more formal and resemble quantitative reports

9 Postmodernism  Feel it is wrong to say there is one truth  Knowledge claims must be framed and set within the conditions of the world today  Consider class, race, gender, and other group affiliations  Consider the characteristics of our culture – mass media, technology  Often study written documents and discourse analysis

10 Critical Theory  Critical of social organization that privileges some at the expense of others  Research is an ethical and political act that benefits some group  Try to benefit a marginalized group by empowering them and transforming social inequity and injustice

11 Ecological Psychology  Focus on the relationship between human behavior and the environment

12 Systems Theory  Looking at how something functions as a whole  Elephant story

13 Advocacy/Participatory  Believes research should contain an action agenda for reform  Sometimes collaborate with participants in designing research study  The voice of the participants can be heard throughout the study

14 Most Common Approaches to Qualitative Research  Why do we need to think about this? You don’t have to pick one before conducting a qualitative study You do need to know what these are, which you relate to, and those you do not If anything, to give you different perspectives and angles to approach when conducting a qualitative study These can overlap and one may find he/she is using multiple approaches in a study The four bullets above describe the “generic approach”

15 Phenomenology  The purpose is to study how people put meaning around their experiences  Want to know what is the essence of experiencing a particular phenomenon  Researcher has to decide how to determine meaning and how much his/her presence distorts the meaning  Examples: What is it like to be a first-year teacher? What is it like to be a teacher displaced by a natural disaster? What is it like to be a dropout in a rural area?

16 Phenomenology  Specializations Heuristics – researcher personally experienced phenomenon Ethnomethodology – focus on ordinary, daily lives Symbolic Interaction – focus on common symbols and understandings

17 Ethnography  The purpose is to describe the culture and social interactions of a particular group  Some conduct auto-ethnographies where the individual examines his or her own beliefs, values and traditions  Examples: A study of peer groups in a high school A study on bilingual learners

18 Grounded Theory  The purpose is to generate theory that comes from data collected in the field  Examples: A study on faculty accepting ownership of a new program implemented in their school A study on parental involvement in a rural school

19 Case Study  To study some thing in depth because it has unique characteristics  Examples: A study on an ineffective school A study on an innovative alternative school A study on the Recovery School District

20 Narrative Analysis  The purpose is to tell a story through written or spoken word  Also referred to as biography and life history  Look for themes within the stories  Example: What are the main themes in the stories told by a retired teacher of 30 years?

21 Standpoint Epistemology Where you stand impacts what you see