A guide to preparing Research Reports/Dissertations in Qualitative Psychology. The Structure, format and features of a report are underlined. Simple language

1. Writing a Qualitative Research
Report
Research Methods in
Qualitative Psychology
Chinchu C
Psychologist, Trainer & Research Consultant
Association for Social Change, Evolution and Transformation
(ASCENT)
Courtesy: Nick Fox, Hon. Professor of Sociology, University of Sheffield

2. What is so Different with
Qualitative Reports?
• Tend to be longer than quantitative
reports
• Uses (mostly) post-positivist
epistemology
• Rarely tests hypotheses
• Tend to use complex terminology
Uses terms like ‘post-positivist epistemology’
• No rigid structures are imposed

3. Structure of a Paper
• Introduction: Rationale and justification
• Contexts: Literature, Theoretical
Perspectives, Current Scenario
• Research Design and Methods
• Findings/Insights
• Discussion: Comparing findings with
issues raised earlier
• Conclusion (Not a must)

4. A Format Suggestion
Abstract
Introduction
Literature Review and Contexts
Research Design and Methods
Findings
Discussion and Conclusion
References

5. Title and Abstract
• Title should be crisp and self-explanatory
Refer APA Publication Manual
• Prepare the abstract. This will act as the
outline of the paper
• After writing full paper, revise the abstract
and the title

6. Introduction
• A broad opening, outlining the need and
significance of the study.
• Include relevant literature too
• Highlight current issues or events
• Theoretical Perspectives and debates
• Policy issues
• Tells a reader what to expect from the
report

7. Literature Review
• Tells the status of current research on the
topic
• Do not just list out studies; make a story
• Substantiate every claim with evidence
• Discuss only relevant information
• DO NOT just copy and paste
• Try to mention theories too

8. Design and Methods
• The Epistemological stand
• Research Design and Methodology
• Methods employed
• Sample/Participants/Units of Analysis
• Setting ( Who/Where/When)
• Procedure (How)
• Data Analysis

9. Findings
• The largest part of the report
• Tell a Story
• Specify the themes as sub-headings
• This chapter should be able to stand by its
own, with an introduction and summary
• This gives an analytical structure to your
data

10. Using Quotations
• Quotations help increase credibility of
findings
• Give appropriate outline
• Quotations are best used to illustrate a
finding
• Not all findings need a quotation though

11. Discussion and Conclusion
• Refer to the contexts and background;
how they connect with the data?
• Implications – Practice/Policy/Theory
• Shortcomings and Limitations
• Future Directions/Needs
• A response to the Research Question
• This is the binding element between the
parts of your report

12. References
• Use APA style
• Make sure every citation is linked to a
reference
• Use reference management softwares
• Is it okay to add Wikipedia as a reference?

13. Using Theory
• Gives perspective to your work
• Provides a structure
• Can place your findings
• Adds Value to your work

14. To Remember
• Be sure of your theoretical perspective
before analyzing data
• Know your conclusions before you start
writing the introduction
• Use simple language
• Keep Reflexivity in mind at all stages

15. “Either write something worth
reading or Do something
worth writing”
Benjamin Franklin