1. Qualitative Research

2. What is Qualitative Research?

Quality of a particular activity (in detail)

Complete picture

3. Outline

General Characteristics

Philosophical Assumptions

Steps in Qualitative Research

Approaches to Qualitative Research

Generalization in Qualitative Research

4. What is Qualitative Research?

Quality of a particular activity (in detail)

Complete picture

5. General Characteristics

The natural setting's data source

Whole phenomena

Data: mostly - form of words

Concerning of How?

Inductive analysis

Focusing on the subjects: perspectives

Flexible design

6. Philosophical Assumptions

World-views or Paradigms
− Positivism: Quantitative
− Theoretical Framework: Qualitative

Postmodernism??

7. Some Assumptions of Qualitative Researchers

Realities - multiple mental constructions

Alternative visions

Facts and values cannot be separated
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Educational purpose

understanding of what things mean to others

8. Postmodernism??

Postmodernists

Deny underlying structure: social behavior

Nonmathemetical languages – unverified

Truth – Product of history, power, and social
interests

9. Steps in Qualitative Research

Identify the phenomena
– Foreshadowed problems

Identify the participants (purposive sample)
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Generation of hypotheses/propositions

Data collection (description)
– Observing/ interviewing

Data analysis: description

Interpretations and conclusions: continuously

10. Approaches to Qualitative Research

Narrative research

Phenomenology

Grounded theory

Case studies

Ethnographic and historical research

Sampling in Qualitative research

11. Narrative research

Biographical study – life experiences

Autobiography: the subject written

Life history: entire life

Oral history: surrounding people

12. Phenomenology

Particular phenomenon
– Ex: specific time and place

13. Grounded theory

Focus to generate theory: grounded
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Data: participants experienced the process

Process theory

15. Case studies

Intrinsic case study
− Understanding of individual

Instrumental case study
− Understanding of case

Multiple (Collective) case study
− Several case in same time

16. Sampling in Qualitative research

Typical sampling: representative

Critical sampling: unusual

Homogenous sample

Extreme case sample: not general

Theoretical sample

Opportunistic sample: in arisen situation

Confirming sample: validate finding
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Maximal variation sample: diversity of characteristics
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Snowball sample: during the conduct of study

17. Generalization in Qualitative Research

Images - prototype

18. Ethical issues
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Identities of subjects should be protected

Treat with respect

No harmful effects

19. Recap about this!

Qualitative and Quantitative often are used
together: mixed-methods studies

Depending on researcher focuses