Qualitative research process Research Methodology

 Qualitative research involves collecting and analyzing non-numerical data (e.g., text, video, or audio) to understand concepts, opinions, or experiences. It can be used to gather in-depth insights into a problem or generate new ideas for research.

Qualitative research is the opposite of quantitative research, which involves collecting and analyzing numerical data for statistical analysis.

Qualitative research is commonly used in the humanities and social sciences, in subjects such as anthropology, sociology, education, health sciences, history, etc.

Qualitative research is a research strategy that usually emphasizes words rather than quantifi cation in the
collection and analysis of data. As a research strategy it is inductivist, constructionist, and interpretivist,
but qualitative researchers do not always subscribe to all three of these methods.

 

1. General research questions: This step involves developing broad research questions that guide the entire research process.
2. Selecting relevant site(s) and subjects: This step involves identifying the appropriate research setting and participants.
3. Collection of relevant data: This step involves collecting data using a variety of qualitative methods, such as interviews, focus groups, observations, and document analysis.
4. Interpretation of data: This step involves transcribing and organizing the data, identifying patterns and themes, and developing a theoretical framework to explain the findings.
5. Conceptual and theoretical work: This step involves developing a conceptual or theoretical framework to explain the findings and situating the research within the broader body of knowledge.
6. Writing up findings/conclusions: This step involves writing a research report that presents the findings, conclusions, and implications of the research.

The two additional steps:

• 5a. Tighter specification of the research question(s): This step involves refining the research questions based on the initial data analysis.
• 5b. Collection of further data: This step involves collecting additional data to clarify or expand on the findings.

These two steps are not always necessary, but they can be helpful in ensuring the rigor and completeness of the research.

Explanation of each step

1. General research questions

The first step in qualitative research is to develop broad research questions that guide the entire research process. The research questions should be specific enough to focus the research, but broad enough to allow for exploration and discovery. Examples of general research questions include:

• What are the experiences of people living in poverty?
• What are the factors that contribute to student success?
• How does organizational culture impact employee engagement?

2. Selecting relevant site(s) and subjects

Once the research questions have been developed, the next step is to identify the appropriate research setting and participants. This involves considering the following factors:

• Research setting: Where is the best place to collect data to answer the research questions? For example, if you are interested in studying the experiences of people living in poverty, you might conduct research in a low-income neighborhood or community center.
• Participants: Who are the best people to provide data to answer the research questions? For example, if you are interested in studying student success, you might recruit participants from a variety of academic backgrounds and disciplines.

3. Collection of relevant data

The third step in qualitative research is to collect data using a variety of qualitative methods. Some common qualitative methods include:

• Interviews: Interviews involve one-on-one conversations with participants. Interviews can be structured (with pre-determined questions) or unstructured (with open-ended questions).
• Focus groups: Focus groups involve group discussions with participants. Focus groups are often used to explore a specific topic or to generate ideas.
• Observations: Observations involve watching and recording participants' behavior in a natural setting. Observations can be overt (where the participants are aware of the researcher's presence) or covert (where the participants are unaware of the researcher's presence).
• Document analysis: Document analysis involves analyzing existing documents, such as diaries, letters, news articles, or government reports. Document analysis can be used to learn about participants' experiences or to understand the social and cultural context of a research topic.

4. Interpretation of data

The fourth step in qualitative research is to interpret and analyze the data. This step involves transcribing and organizing the data, identifying patterns and themes, and developing a theoretical framework to explain the findings.

Data transcription involves converting audio or video data into text. Once the data is transcribed, it can be organized and coded in order to identify patterns and themes. Coding is the process of assigning labels or categories to pieces of data. For example, if you are interviewing participants about their experiences with poverty, you might code the data with labels such as "income," "housing," and "food security."

Once the data has been coded, you can begin to identify patterns and themes. Patterns are regularities in the data, while themes are broader concepts or ideas that emerge from the data. For example, you might identify a pattern of participants describing difficulty affording food and housing, and a theme of poverty being a barrier to opportunity.

Once you have identified patterns and themes, you can begin to develop a theoretical framework to explain the findings. A theoretical framework is a set of concepts and relationships that helps to explain a phenomenon. For example, you might use a theoretical framework such as social class theory to explain how poverty can lead to barriers to opportunity.

5. Conceptual and theoretical work

The fifth step in qualitative research is to develop a conceptual or theoretical framework to explain the findings and situating the research within the broader body of knowledge. This involves:

• Conceptual framework: A conceptual framework is a set of concepts