1. Introduction to Qualitative Research
Methods, Design, & Data Analysis

2. Qualitative Research Starts with general question or problem
Characteristics:
Starts with general question or problem
No pre-defined hypothesis
Uses a purposeful sam-ple, not a random one
Uses a relatively small sample
Data collected with semi-structure & unstructured instruments
Presents results descriptively
Utilizes researcher’s aware-ness of own orientations, biases, experiences that might affect data collection & interpretation

3. Qualitative Research: Funnel Approach
General research questions
Collect data
Narrower research questions
Collect data
Narrower research questions
Conclusions

4. Qualitative Research: Inductive Approach
Specific narrow research question
Collect data
Broader question
Collect data
Broader question
Conclusions

5. Qualitative Research Methods
Historical
Survey
Case Study
Observational
Ethnography

6. Qualitative Research Methods: Historical
Purpose
To learn about causes, effects or trends of past events that may help to explain present events & anticipate future events
Uses primary, secondary & tertiary data sources
Procedure
Define the problem
Formulate hypotheses or questions (contin-ues throughout study)
Systematically collect data
Objectively evaluate data
Confirm or disconfirm hypotheses

7. Qualitative Research Methods: Historical
Potential Problems
Limited to data already available
Excessive reliance on secondary sources
Uncertainty about authenticity & accuracy of sources
Lack of objectivity

8. Qualitative Research Methods: Survey
Purpose
To determine the current status of a population with respect to one or more variables
Can be qualitative or quantitative, depending on data sought

9. Qualitative Research Methods: Survey
Procedure
Define the problem or question
Formulate hypotheses (continues throughout the study)
Develop the instrument (includes validation & field test)
Collect data
Analyze data
Potential Problems
Inadequate response
Inclusion of unrelated items on questionnaire
Poorly worded items
Complex items
Leading questions
Assuming facts not necessarily in evidence

10. Qualitative Research Methods: Case Study
Purpose
To determine the factors, & relationships among the factors, that have resulted in current behavior or status of subject
Focus is on a single subject or unit (could be multiple individuals)
Procedure
Determine the case (individual, group, or environment) to study
Determine data collection strategies & data to be collected
Collect the data
Analyze the data

11. Qualitative Research Methods: Case Study
Potential Problems
Observer (researcher) bias
Lack of generalizability
Requires extensive data collection

12. Qualitative Research Methods: Observational
Purpose
to determine current status of a given phenomenon; to derive specific, test-able hypotheses that explain observed behavior
May be used prior to quantitative study

13. Qualitative Research Methods: Observational
Procedure
Determine phenome-non to be observed
Identify what specific behaviors do & do not match the target phenomenon
Define the observa-tion period
Record observations
Analyze data
Potential Problems
Lack of observer reliability
Untrained observers
Inaccurate recording
Observer bias
Response set
Halo effect

14. Qualitative Research Methods: Ethnography
Purpose
To determine the fac-tors & relationships among the factors that result in a subject’s current status in a setting natural to the subject
Relies on extensive & detailed description
Procedure
Refine the problem & setting of interest
Decide on most appropriate & effective level of participation
Develop “working” hypotheses
Determine initial data collection strategies
Collect data over time

15. Qualitative Research Methods: Ethnography
Potential Problems
Results can be difficult to analyze
Findings are nearly impossible to replicate
Small sample size
Generally fairly costly
Time consuming

16. Qualitative Research Methods: Triangulation
Method to enhance the validity & reliability of qualitative research
Enhances accuracy of interpretation
Confirms that the data collected is not due to chance or circum-stances

17. Qualitative Research Design: Triangulation
For example:
May interview teachers, principals & parents
May interview & observe students
May review student records, interview teachers, observe students
Collect data from multiple sources
Collect data in multiple ways from subjects
Collect different kinds of data in multiple ways from multiple subjects

18. Qualitative Research Design: Triangulation
Multiple data sources
Multiple kinds of data
Multiple data collection strategies
Subjects
(data sources)
Data collection strategies
Kinds of data

19. Qualitative Research Design: Design Elements
Working hypothesis
Working hypothesis
Triangulation
Foreshadowed problems
Phenomenological description
Structural
analysis
Triangulation
Phenomenological
description
Foreshadowed
problems
Structural analysis

20. Qualitative Research: Data Analysis
The Data
Generally collected in the form of…
field notes,
diaries
audio & video tapes,
copies of documents,
narrative descriptions
Analysis
Some form of analysis usually takes place at the same time data is being collected
Researcher seeks to identify patterns or trends

21. Qualitative Research: Data Analysis
Qualitative data may be analyzed by a 3-part strategy:
reducing the data
coding the data
synthesizing the data

22. Homework #9
This assignment will require that you imagine a study of your own that you can apply either the Funnel approach or the Inductive approach to. Once you have completed the assignment according to the instructions on the next slide, post them to the Bulletin Board, Forum HW 9 in the prescribed format (slide #3).

23. See examples on pages 107-110 of the coursepack.
Instructions
Re-state either the re-search problem you be-gan the class with, or one you develop for this assignment, in the form of a question.
Brainstorm the setting, the subjects, & the data collection strategies.
Using one of the two approaches, develop the scenario of your research. Question #1 is the question you begin with, and the final question should be followed by your conclusions.
See examples on pages of the coursepack.

24. Posting Instructions Beginning research question
On Forum HW 9, post your homework in the following form:
Beginning research question
Description of setting, subjects, data collection strategies.
Narrower or broader research question.
Repeat data collection description.
Repeat 3 & 4.
Final research question.