Selecting methods 2 july 24

VB

QU

23

4 U

nd

erta

ke A

ca

dem

ic R

esea

rch

Thinking Methodology 2

Worldview of knowledge

Research Approach• Social /

Hermeneutical• Critical / Action

• Feminist• Marxist

Methodological Design• Post-positive• Interpretative• Mixed methods

Qualitative•Phenomenology

•Ethnography• Grounded Theory• Discourse

Analysis

Quantitative• Statistics• Behaviour

Coding• Content Coding

Research techniques / Actions in the Field• Observation• Cases• Text analysis• Interviews• Focus group• Survey• Participant

Observation• Conversation

Analysis

Findings• Description• Analysis• Action• Critique

Thinking Phenomenologically

QuantitativeNumberPoint of View:

ResearcherDistantStaticStructuredGeneralised ReliableBehaviourArtificialMacro

WordPoint of View:

ParticipantCloseProcessFlexibleContextualDeepMeaningNaturalMicro

Comparison of Research Approaches

Qualitative

Qual research focuses on VARIETY of the concept, how it ‘really is’ in the social world, how it is used to create meaning for people.

NUANCESIndicators are seen as ‘straitjackets’

Charisma / leadership / enthusiasm / concentration / learning / anger / sensitivity / disbelief

How would a qual researcher find these? Would they be so ‘one-dimensional’?

Read Research in focus 16.1

An inductive approach to theories and concepts

Validity means the integrity of the conclusions reached by your research

Internal Validity: Congruence between data and theory and AnalysisSeen as a strength of Qual. Participation ensures

empathy

External Validity: Can the results be generalised?Seen as a weakness of Qual. Case studies and

personalisation / subjectivity

Credibility: TrustworthinessRespondent validationGood practice - triangulation

Validity in Qualitative Research

Validity means the integrity of the conclusions reached by your research

Transferable – thick descriptionSeen as a weakness – do the findings hold in the

same context elsewhere? THICK DESCRIPTIONS Read 16.3 / p. 387

Dependable and transparent Making transcripts available and peer reviewedAll data is appendicle

Make a Qualitative Quality Checklist: see pp 380-381The checklist will be your RR criteria for assessment

Validity in Qualitative Research 2

Preoccupation # 1

Preoccupation # 2

Emerging Concepts – time for the researcher to revise their questions and do more research about things they had not thought of

Process over time – people and change is a focus for ethnographers

Preoccupation # 3

Participant Observer: Access

• Open Closed

• Public / Private /

Networked

• Overt Covert

• SingleOngoing

• Going Native

• Read Figure 17.1

Jotted Notes

Visual / photographic field notes

Full Field notes

Recorded Notes

Time and date / code & category / context

See example: pp 421 / 17.7

Field Notes

Conversation Analysis – recordedSet period of time – be flexiblePre-explained – researcher decides how

much to revealGuided by question sheet prepared by

researcherSelection criteria for group members Background for each member of the

groupAge / sex / occupation / postcode /

education etcCode each participant by voiceTranscribe as group and as participant (2

types of transcription)

Intra – group observations: the participants’ interaction with each other

 Focus Groups

Read chapter 18 to cover all practical aspects of interviews.

Write up 5 questions in the styles shown in the reading that are relevant to your line of enquiry. To whom would you ask these?

Life Histories & Interviews

In pairs, hold a discussion about each Report back to the class.

1. What is your research project about?

2. What is the context you are looking at?

3. What quantitative data collection would you

choose? Why? What are you looking for?

4. What qualitative data method would you

choose?

Talking Methods

Identify possible Qualitative Methods for your project stating advantages

Read up on interview techniques: chapter 18 in Bryman

Download and begin your presentation preparation

REVIEW RESEARCH QUESTION

Homework

Presentation Prep: presenting well in academic contexts

&

Method statements

Next Week: Workshop