This document discusses several qualitative research methods including observational studies, narrative inquiry, archival research, library research, ethnography, and content analysis. Observational studies involve observing subjects in their natural environment and recording observations. Narrative inquiry tells stories of subjects' experiences through collected data. Archival research uses archives to find and interpret primary sources. Library research involves reading and interpreting secondary sources and searching databases. Ethnography involves living with and like subjects to gain personal insights. Content analysis examines texts to look for repeating words, phrases or concepts to analyze people or cultures. Coding is used to engage in content analysis by deciding concepts and words to code for and developing rules to analyze results.

1. Qualitative Research Methods

2. Research Methods Review
Observational Study: The researcher observes a
place, group, or activity in its natural setting; records
the observations; and interprets the observations.
Narrative Inquiry: The researcher gathers data and
constructs a narrative of the study. She/he collects
data to tell a story about the ways the subjects
experience the world.

3. New Method: Archival Research
An archive is a collection of artifacts preserved by a
library, historical society, or other institution.
Researchers use archives to find and interpret new
primary sources, such as historical records, letters,
and photos
Related data collection methods:
Going to a physical archive to find, study, and interpret primary
sources
Using digital archives to find, study, and interpret primary
sources

4. New Method: Library Research
Researchers often complete library research by reading and
interpreting secondary sources and searching databases for
primary sources such as news articles
Related data collections methods:
Physically going to the library to find books, films, etc. to study and
interpret.
Searching online databases for scholarly articles, news articles, etc.

5. New Method: Ethnography
The researcher “lives with and like” the subjects of
the research project in order to get a first-hand,
personalized look into the subjects’ experiences..
Related data collection methods
Participant observation
Informant Interviews
Studying daily artifacts

6. New Method: Content Analysis
The researcher examines a “text”/“texts” to look for
particular repeating words, phrases, or concepts that
will help the researcher analyze a person, people, or
culture. Texts to examine include speeches, websites,
conversations, interview transcripts, essays, news
articles, etc.

7. Content Analysis
Coding project
To engage in content analysis, one must “code” a text or texts
1. Decide how many concepts to code for.
2. Decide on the specific words or phrases to code for.
3. Develop rules for coding.
4. Code the texts.
5. Analyze the results.
Related data collection methods:
You might use many of the above methods (archival or library
research, observational study, ethnography) to begin a coding project
Interviews and surveys are also important

8. Remainder of class:
Begin analyzing the report genre:
1) Review the two reports posted online
2) Use the handout to guide your analysis of the reports
3) Email a copy of your analysis to Justin before the end of
class (justin.jory@slcc.edu)