Qualitative Research Design (Part 2)

Qualitative Research Design (Part 2)

Data gathering techniques

​There are THREE main types of data collection methods in qualitative research:

1. Documents

2. Interview

3. Observation

Documents

• Focuses on all types of written communications

• Data sources can be published and unpublished documents, company reports, memoranda, agendas, administrative documents, letters, reports, e-mails, faxes, newspaper articles etc.

Multiple Choice

Which of the below is not an example of a written document?

• Journal article

• Report

• Radio programme

• Newspaper article

Observation

• A systematic process of recording the behavioural patterns of participants, objects and occurrences without necessarily questioning

• An everyday activity whereby we use our senses (seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, tasting) – but also intuition to gather bits of data

Observation

• As a qualitative data gathering technique, observation is used to gain greater insight and understanding of the phenomenon observed

• The focus is only a selective area and not the entire situation

• Researcher should handle own biases

Observation

There are FOUR types of observations commonly used in qualitative research:

a. Complete observer
b. Observer as participant
c. Participant as observer
d. Complete participant

Observation

There are FOUR types of observations commonly used in qualitative research:

1. Complete observer

2. Observer as participant

3. Participant as observer

4. Complete participant

Observation

a. COMPLETE OBSERVER

• Non-participant observer looking at the situation from outside

• Least obtrusive form of observation

• Limitation - observer does not  become immersed (etic/outsider perspective)

Observation

b. OBSERVER AS PARTICIPANT

• Non-participant observer looking at the situation from outside

• Least obtrusive form of observation

• Limitation - observer does not  become immersed (etic/outsider perspective)

Observation

c. PARTICIPANT AS OBSERVER

• A typical action research project where the researcher becomes part of the research projects

• Researcher works with the participants to design and develop the strategies

• Researcher immerses with the group to gain an insider perspective (known as an emic perspective)

Observation

d. COMPLETE PARTICIPANT

• Researcher gets completely immersed in the setting

• Subjects do not know that they are being observed

• Often used in ethnographic studies

• Seldom used as it raises serious ethical issues – those being observed have not granted consent to being observed or they are not aware of being observed

Multiple Choice

Mark is a researcher studying students' social skills. He often observes how a group of students from a class interact during recess time. He does not speak or have a meal with them throughout his observations.

What type of observation is Mark conducting?

• Complete observer

• Observer as participant

• Participant as observer

• Complete participant

Multiple Choice

Jimmy is conducting a research in a school. He was invited by the school as they had problems with student behaviour in a few classes. Together with the school teachers, Jimmy comes up with strategies to understand what is causing students to behave negatively. He teaches the classes himself, observes students and uses the planned strategies to solve the issue the school is having with these students. He eventually evaluates how effective the strategies used are.

What kind of observation has been described above?

• Complete observer

• Observer as participant

• Participant as observer

• Complete participant

Interview

• A two way conversation between researcher and participant/s

• Objective is to see the world through the eyes of the participant & obtain descriptive questions

Interview

a. Open-ended interview

• to explore the participant's views, ideas, beliefs, attitude

• normally seen on TV, sometimes with surprising results

Interview

b. Semi-structured interview

• interviewer attempts to ask a core of prepared questions and expands to other questions

Interview

c. Structured interview

• questions and some possible answers are specified before the interview

• reduces the risk of interviewer bias - fixed with alternative questions, they are based on questionnaires

Interview

Keys to successful interviews:

• Find the right person who is best qualified

• Inform the aim of the research to the interviewee

• Use appropriate questioning technique

• Be a good listener and do not argue

• Observe the respondents’ non-verbal communication

Multiple Choice

An open-ended interview allows researchers to find out participants' opinions and beliefs as the participants are allowed to elaborate on their responses.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

This type of interview has very minimal interviewer bias.

• Open-ended interview

• Semi-structured interview

• Structured interview

Multiple Choice

It is not necessary to inform the interviewee the aim of the interview and research.

• True

• False

Differences - Quantitative & Qualitative Research

Quantitative & Qualitative Research - YouTube

End of Part 2