B 203: QUALITATIVE RESEARCH THECHNIQUES

DEFINING RESEARCH DESIGN

Research design is generally defined as “…a plan or protocol for carrying out or accomplishing something”

Design, according to the definition is a series of stages or tasks in planning or conducting a study (essentially linear)

Defining the aforesaid model as traditional, Martin (1982) introduced ‘garbage can’ model’

“Four elements swirl around in the garbage can”- Theories, Methods, Resources and Solutions

DEFINING RESEARCH DESIGN

The extension of ‘Garbage Can’ model is ‘Garbage Can II’ which adds additional element- problems, phenomena, personal concern (Grady and Wilson 1988)

Now differentiate between quantitative and qualitative research based on this

COMPONENTS OF RESEARCH DESIGN

1. Purposes The ultimate goal of the study Issues to illuminate and practices to

influence The reason Why is the study worth doing?

2. Conceptual Context The existing state of knowledge Identification of related theories, findings,

literature and conceptual framework to guide the study

3. Research Questions What specifically do we want to

understand? What do we not know about the

phenomena we are studying? What questions shall we attempt to

answer? How are these questions interrelated

4. Methods/Design/Technique What shall we exactly do? What

approaches/techniques shall we use? Four main parts- research relationship with

the people to study, site selection, data collection methods, data analysis techniques

5. Validity How might we be wrong? How shall we deal with the plausible

alternative conclusions? How could we support our ideas? Why should our research results be

believed?

PRE-RESEARCH QUESTION STAGE

Purposes Personal Practical Research

Conceptual Context/Theoretical Framework What do you understand and how do you

understand Generate some concepts Find out how these are interrelated Writing down a narrative

RESEARCH QUESTION

Two vital functions of research design To focus the study To provide guidance for the study

Research questions and other questions- Research issues vs. Practical issues Research question vs. Interview question

Problems with too-diffused and too-focused research question

Problems with unexamined assumptions Find out the problems of the following

research questions- In the Union Parishad of Bangladesh, how do the

women members carry out their responsibilities in standing committee?

Evaluation of local government performance in Bangladesh

How do the char inhabitants deal with the construction of Jamuna Bridge?

THE ROLE OF RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Organize the research, give it direction

Define the project, show its boundaries

Keep the researcher focused

Provide a framework

Point to data that will be needed

DEVELOPING RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Remember the research question before conceptual framework

Generate questions from conceptual framework

Compare (with which) Compare (relate) with the purposes Focus Connect questions with methods Validity (unexamined assumption)

DEVELOPING RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Identifying the research area- What are we trying to find out?

Questions should generate possibilities (?) Identifying the general questions Sub-division of general questions Disentangling and Ordering Bringing the project down to size-

Manageable Most important

HYPOTHESIS IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

Hypothesis is predicted answer to a research question

Hypothesis and theory: “Theories can not be proved”

Developing hypothesis is important if we have a prior explanation

What answer do expect from this question?     Know Do Not Know   Why do we predict this?     Other Reasons Some other researcher found     Formulate Hypothesis Do not formulate

Hypothesis

GOOD RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Clear

Specific

Answerable

Interconnected

Substantively relevant

A SIMPLIFIED MODEL

R. A. Problem Questions (What data are required)

Design

Data Collection

Data Analysis

Answer Question

QUESTION-METHOD RELATION

1. What do I need to know

2. Why do we need this

3. What kind of data is required

4. Where can I find it

5. Whom do I contact

6. Time lines

QUALITATIVE GENRE AND OVERALL STRATEGY

Genre Strategy Focus of Inquiry

Individual Experience

In-depth interview Individual

Society and Culture Case Study Groups or Organization

Language and Communication

Microanalysis Speech events and Interactions