Archive for 2012 Feb

1. Understand Qualitative Research
Nan Yang
Doctoral School in Psychological Sciences and Education
Nan.yang@unitn.it
2015/9/11 1

2. Outline
• What’s qualitative research?
• Why we use it?
• How to use it?
• How to evaluate it?
• Qualitative VS Quantitative
2015/9/11 2

3. What is it?
• Definition
– Qualitative research is an umbrella term for an array of
attitudes toward and strategies for conducting inquiry that
are aimed at discerning how human beings understand,
experience, interpret, and produce the social
world (Mason, 1996)
• Specific qualitative research methodologies
– Phenomenology
– Ethnography
– Grounded Theory
– Narrative Research
(Research mode: Case Study, Participatory Action Research)
2015/9/11 3

4. Why we use
• If the purpose is to explore an area where
little is known or a new gaze is required
• To make sense of complex situations
• To understand the meanings participants put
on a setting or the way they experience it
• To construct a theory or a theoretical
framework that reflects reality
• To understand phenomena deeply and in
detail
2015/9/11 4

5. How to use
• Procedures on conducting qualitative research
– Find a research question(topic)
– Choose the proper methodology, techniques
to study the question
– Making data
– Analysis (coding, reflecting… )
– Summary on the discoveries and report
Iteration
2015/9/11 5

6. How to evaluate
• Methodological Congruence
– Fit between question, method, data, the way of
handling data
• Ensuring Rigor in every step of research
– Preparation
– Literature study
– Research design
– Sampling techniques
– Pacing of project
– Coding
– Legitimacy
Write research diary and
memos to record all the
valuable information during
the research
2015/9/11 6

7. Qualitative VS Quantitative
• Research purpose
– Why, how VS what, how many, causal relationship
• Research conducting process
– Make data VS collect data
– What kinds of information are “DATA”
– Sensitivity VS Bias
• Research Outcomes
– Multiple styles VS United form
2015/9/11 7

8. Thank you
2015/9/11 8