Overview of Research Designs

Qualitative

Outline

• Comparison of Qualitative and Quantitative Research

• Types of Qualitative Research• Data Collection in Qualitative Studies• Sample Size in Qualitative Studies• Reliability and Validity of data• Analysis• Critiquing

Comparison of Qualitative and Quantitative Research• Quantitative--based on manipulation

and control, results verified by sense data (by the researcher)

• Qualitative--based on insights and understandings about individual perception of events (by the subjects)

• Quantitative research--rich, real and valid data , hard, replicable and reliable data, deductive, theory testing approach, whereas:

Qualitative research• in-depth descriptions of people or events• researcher focuses on patterns and

themes, rather than the testing of hypotheses

• Inductive approach--open to new ideas and theories

• not as well circumscribed as quantitative and more difficult for novice

Types of Qualitative Research

• Phenomenological Studies• Ethnographic Studies• Grounded Theory Studies• Historical Studies• Case Studies

Phenomenological Studies

Examine human experiences through the descriptions of the people involved-- “lived experiences”

Involves the qualities of humanness, e.g.:• individualism• self determination• wholeness• uniqueness• open system

Bracketing

• In order to understand other’s lived experiences the researcher must first determine what she expects and deliberately put this aside.

• Example, bereft mother of SIDs infant--researcher says what would I feel and then put that feeling aside

Phenomenological Research

• No preconceived notions• Researchers must “dwell with the

subjects’ descriptions”• Grounded in philosophy

Ethnographic Studies originally used by anthropologists

• Collection of data and analysis about cultural groups

• Explaining how actions in one world make sense from the point of view of another world

• The systematic process of observing, detailing, documenting, the lifeways of one culture in order to understand our own.

Ethnography• Researcher “goes native” and lives

with and adopts the culture of another.

• Interview key “informants” about the meaning of cultural rites and rituals.– Participant observation– interviews– genealogy– demography– life histories

New questions emerge as data is analyzed.

Ethnography in Nursing Research

• The nurse can explore health care from the point of view of health care consumers.

Grounded Theory

• Developed by Glaser and Strauss

• Data are collected and analyzed and then a theory is developed that is “grounded” in the data.

• A major source of theory development

Grd. Thry--Constant comparison• The process by which data collection and

analysis occur simultaneously--new data is compared to that which has already been gathered. Pertinent concepts are assigned codes which are reviewed with new data and interpretations.(soothing, placating, asserting)

• Literature consulted to determine if these codes have been identified before--no preliminary review avoids “premature closure”.(problem with early ROL)

Historical Studies

• Identification, Location, Evaluation and Synthesis of data from the past to connect past happenings to the present and future.– Problem identified– Literature reviewed– Research questions formulated– Data collected and analyzed.

• The researcher becomes a detective

Data are different

• Documents (newspapers, journals, legal documents, diaries)

• relics• artifacts• photographs• oral history

Primary Sources Preferred

• Oral histories• Written records• Diaries• Eyewitnesses• Photographs• Physical evidence

External vs. Internal Criticism of the data

• External Criticism--authenticity of the data

• Internal Criticism--accuracy of the data

Case Studies• In-depth examinations of people

or groups of people. Organizations, services or experiences may be the focus.

• May be qualitative or quantitative• Content Analysis used to examine

“themes”• Selection bias and attrition may be

difficulties.

Data collection in qualitative research

• No specified time or end pointMethods• semistructured interviews• participant observation• focus groups, etc.Saturation• Data become redundant, no new

information generated

Sample size

• No set sample size (N)• Usually smaller than quantitative• Most qualitative samples range

from 6-30

Reliability and Validity

• No rigor, objectivity, nor replicability• Relevance of findings more important• Triangulation of data sought for

reliability• Saturation used for both reliability and

validity

Analysis

• Compared by the grading of multiple choice (quantitative) to essay (qualitative) exams

• word analysis• content analysis• identification of themes• on going and circular