Qualitative Research
Training Overview
Section 1: Section 2: Section 3: Section 4:
Section 5: Philosophical Orientation: Getting in
Enhancing the Validity of Qualitative Research Enhancing the Reliability of Qualitative Research Applications of Qualitative Research Design Group Work to Apply Learning
Section 1
Philosophical Orientation
The philosophical underpinnings of qualitative research (as contrasted against quantitative research) Implications for sampling
Philosophically and methodologically built or designed around the ability to interpret (comprehend/understand) a phenomenon from an emic (insider), as well as an etic (outsider) perspective
This inter-subjective (i.e., shared) understanding serves as a proxy for objectivity
Section 2
Validity
Validity is not a commodity that can be
Validity
In general, validity concerns the degree to which an account is accurate or truthful
In qualitative research, validity concerns the degree to which a finding is judged to have been interpreted in a correct way
Descriptive Validity
Concerned with the factual accuracy of an account (that is, making sure one is not making up or distorting the things one hears and sees)
All subsequent types of validity are dependent on the existence of this fundamental aspect of validity
Descriptive Validity
Behavior must be attended to, and with
Interpretive Validity
Interpretive accounts are grounded in the language of the people studied and rely, as much as possible, on their own words and concepts
At issue, then, is the accuracy of the concepts as applied to the perspective of the individuals included in the account
Theoretical Validity
Theoretical understanding goes beyond concrete description and interpretation; its value is derived based on its ability to explain succinctly the most amount of data A theory articulates/formulates a model of relationships as they are postulated to exist between salient variables or concepts Theoretical validity is thus concerned, not only with the validity of the concepts, but also their postulated relationships to one another, and thus its goodness of fit as an explanation
Heterogeneity may be obtained by creating a sampling frame that maximizes the variation inherent in the sample, specifically in terms of potentially theoretically important dimensions
Section 3
Reliability
Reliability concerns the ability of different researchers to make the same observations of a given phenomenon if and when the observation is conducted using the same method(s) and procedure(s)
Again, documenting, documenting, documenting (e.g., time day and place observations made)
Inter-rater reliability (a consideration during the analysis phase of the research process)
Section 4
In-depth Interviews
Guiding Principles
Qualitative research designs consider ways to foster:
Reflexivity (an ongoing process of reflecting on
the researchers subjective experience, ways to broaden and enhance this source of knowing, & examining how it informs research)
repetitive steps in examining preliminary findings for the purposes of guiding additional data collection and analysis) shared/ objective agreement about how to assign meaning to a social experience - with insiders and outsiders)
Analysis
Data Collection
Reflection
Section 5
What More Do You Need to Know? Initial Methodological Approach and Justification
Qualitative Data Analysis (Miles & Huberman, 1994) The Quality of Qualitative Research (Seale, 1999) Focus Groups, Theory and Practice (Stewart &
Shamdasani, 1990)
Sage, Applied Social Research Methods Series