How to Research Qualitatively: Tips for Scientific Working

By Martin Gertler

This book in course format is designed to give you a deep understanding of qualitative research methods and how to effectively use qualitative analysis tools to enhance your research efforts.

Whether you're a student, researcher, or otherwise engaged, this course will equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to conduct qualitative research, analyze data, and derive meaningful insights.

Through 12 chapters and engaging lessons, you'll explore a wide range of qualitative research techniques, ethical considerations, and software tools to streamline your research process.

Finally, you will learn how to best prepare for the final defense of your thesis or dissertation.

This book can give you a lot of inspiration for your upcoming qualitative social science research.

Please note

The information in this book is intended to be studied independently and on your own initiative. We have deliberately refrained from providing in-depth resources because the terms and phrases that appear here can be used to quickly delve into resources of your own choosing.

In each chapter, you may find that some terms are redefined so that you can understand them in their context without having to read and understand everything from the beginning of this book. This allows you to jump into a chapter or lesson that interests you without having to search for definitions.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookRix
• Release date: Aug 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9783755450900

Book preview

Prologue

Welcome to this textbook – welcome to your course!

This book is structured like a self-study course and can be used as such. My aim is to provide you with an understanding and knowledge of qualitative research methods and to show you how to use qualitative analysis tools effectively to improve your research work.

Whether you are a student, researcher, or otherwise engaged, I hope to provide you with the basic skills and knowledge you need to conduct qualitative research, analyze data, and produce meaningful findings.

Through twelve chapters and their lessons, you will learn a wide range of qualitative research techniques, ethical considerations, and software tools to streamline your research process.

Finally, you will learn how to best prepare for your dissertation defense.

I hope this course will give you a lot of inspiration for your upcoming qualitative research with social science methods.

I wish you and your research projects all the best!

Yours sincerely

Martin Gertler

Please note:

The information in this book is intended for independent and self-directed learning. I have deliberately refrained from providing in-depth resources, as the terms and phrases used here can help you to quickly delve deeper with resources of your choice.

Some terms that appear at the beginning of the course are mentioned again later, sometimes in similar detail. This is because I have structured the course on a meta-level. Whether it is data analysis or reflexivity or whatever, it may happen that such terms are described again in several chapters, so that you can understand them in their context without having to read, understand, and remember everything from the beginning of this book.

This way, whenever you are interested in a chapter or lesson, you can jump right in without having to search for definitions, because the terms used are usually explained as they occur.

On the other hand, if you are used to working through courses and books from beginning to end, you will benefit from the deepening effect of repetition and multiple meanings in context.

Tip: If you want to read or print your eBook as a PDF file, free Calibre software can help! For example, you can use it to export your book as a PDF file for further use.

1. INTRODUCTION TO QUALITATIVE RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS

Lessons in this chapter:

1.1 Understanding Qualitative Research

1.2 Research Design and Methods in Qualitative Research

1.3 Data Collection Methods in Qualitative Research

1.4 Ethical Considerations in Qualitative Research

1.1 Understanding Qualitative Research

In this chapter, we take a comprehensive journey into the world of qualitative research and analysis. It lays the foundation for the entire course and helps you understand the basic concepts, methods, and approaches that underlie qualitative research.

By the end of the chapter, you will have a solid understanding of what qualitative research entails and how it differs from quantitative methods.

Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research

Qualitative and quantitative research are two different approaches to studying the world around us.

Qualitative research is characterized by its focus on understanding the depth and nuance of human experiences, behaviors, and perspectives.

Unlike quantitative research, which focuses on measurable data and numerical analysis, qualitative research seeks to explore the meaning and context behind phenomena.

Key Characteristics of Qualitative Research

Qualitative research has the following key characteristics that distinguish it from other research methods:

Subjectivity: Qualitative research recognizes the role of the researcher's perspective and subjectivity in shaping the research process and interpreting the results.

Rich description: Qualitative research emphasizes detailed and rich descriptions of phenomena to capture the complexity of human experience.

Contextual understanding: Qualitative researchers are interested in the context in which phenomena occur and recognize that context plays a critical role in shaping behavior and meaning.

Flexible and emergent design: Qualitative studies often have a flexible and emergent research design that allows researchers to adapt their methods based on new insights gained during the research process.

Inductive analysis: Qualitative analysis is usually inductive, meaning that researchers derive patterns, themes, and theories from the data itself rather than testing pre-defined hypotheses.

Data Collection Methods in Qualitative Research

Qualitative researchers use a variety of methods to collect data, including

Interviews: Conducting individual or group interviews to capture participants' perspectives, stories, and insights.

Observation: observing and recording behaviors, interactions, and activities in natural settings.

Focus groups: Facilitation of group discussions to explore participants' shared experiences and perspectives.

Document analysis: analysis of written or visual material such as text, photographs, or video to uncover underlying meanings.

Field research: immersion in the research setting to gain a deep understanding of the culture, context, and interactions.

The Role of Software in Qualitative Analysis

Qualitative analysis involves systematically organizing, coding, and interpreting data to uncover patterns and themes.

Qualitative analysis software such as NVivo, ATLAS.ti, and MAXQDA provide tools to facilitate this process. These software platforms allow researchers to efficiently manage large amounts of data, code text segments, and visualize connections between themes.

Ethical Considerations

Ethical considerations are paramount in qualitative research because researchers are working with human subjects and studying personal experiences. 

Researchers must obtain consent from participants, ensure confidentiality, and be transparent about their intentions and potential risks.

In Conclusion

In this introductory lesson, we have looked at the basic concepts of qualitative research.

Qualitative research focuses on understanding the depth and context of human experiences, behaviors, and perspectives. It involves subjectivity, rich description, context, flexibility, and inductive analysis.

Qualitative research uses a variety of data collection methods, and qualitative analysis software plays a critical role in managing and interpreting the data.

In this course, you will learn methods, techniques, and practical applications of qualitative analysis software for your research and dissertation writing.

1.2 Research Design and Methods in Qualitative Research

In this lesson, we look at the world of research design and qualitative research methods.

Research design serves as a roadmap for your qualitative study and defines how you will collect, analyze, and interpret data. 

Understanding the different research methods will help you choose the most appropriate approach for your research goals and how qualitative analysis software can enhance your methodology.

Research Design in Qualitative Research

Research design is the overall plan and structure of your qualitative study. It describes the steps you will take to answer your research questions and achieve your goals.

A well-designed research design increases the validity and reliability of your findings.

Types of Qualitative Research Methods

There are several qualitative research methods, each appropriate for different research goals and contexts.

Some of the most common methods are described below:

Phenomenology: Phenomenological research aims to explore the nature and meaning of human experiences as described by participants. Researchers seek to understand how people interpret and make sense of their experiences.

Grounded Theory: Grounded Theory focuses on developing theories from the data itself. Researchers analyze the data to identify patterns and concepts that are then used to construct a theoretical framework.

Ethnography: in ethnography, the researcher is immersed in the natural environment of the participants to gain a deep understanding of their culture, behaviors, and interactions.

Case Study: Case study involves an in-depth examination of a particular case, often using multiple data sources to gain a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon.

Narrative analysis: Narrative analysis examines participants' stories and narratives to uncover underlying themes and meanings.

Choosing the right method

Choosing the appropriate method depends on your research questions, objectives, and the nature of your study. Consider the following factors:

Research goals: Clarify the goals of your study and the specific insights you hope to gain.

Type of data: Consider the type of data you will collect - interviews, observations, documents - and how you will analyze it.

Participant perspective: Consider whether you want to explore participants' lived experiences (phenomenology), develop theories (grounded theory), or understand cultural contexts (ethnography).

Improve your methods with qualitative analysis software

Qualitative analysis software improves the research process across multiple methodologies:

Data management: the software helps organize and manage large amounts of data efficiently, and facilitates data access and retrieval.

Coding and categorization: the software allows you to code text, image, or audio segments to systematically categorize and analyze the data.

Visualization: software tools allow you to create visual representations of data relationships and patterns that facilitate the interpretation of results.

Ethical considerations in methodology

Ethical considerations continue to play an important role in qualitative research methods. 

Researchers must ensure privacy, informed consent, and confidentiality of participants.

Ethical guidelines protect the rights and welfare of participants throughout the research process.

In Conclusion

In this lesson, we have looked at the importance of research design and methodology in qualitative research.

Different methods offer unique approaches to studying human experience and behavior. When choosing the appropriate method, you must balance your research goals with the nature of your study.

Qualitative analysis software complements these methods by enhancing data management, coding, categorization, and visualization.

During the course, you will gain practical insight into how to effectively apply these methods and software tools to conduct rigorous and efficient qualitative research.

1.3 Data Collection Methods in Qualitative Research

In this lesson, we will take a closer look at the different data collection methods commonly used in qualitative research.

Data collection is a critical stage of your research journey, as it involves gathering the raw material that will form the basis of your analysis.

By understanding the different data collection methods and their application, you will be better able to design and conduct effective qualitative research studies.

Interviewing

Interviews are a widely used data collection method in qualitative research. They involve structured or unstructured conversations with participants to capture their perspectives, experiences, and insights.

There are several types of interviews:

Structured interviews: These follow a predetermined set of questions to ensure consistency and comparability of participants' responses.

Semi-structured interviews: These provide a framework of questions while allowing participants to explain and share their views.

Unstructured interviews: These encourage open-ended discussions that allow participants to describe their experiences in their own words.

Observation

Observation is the systematic observation and recording of behavior, interactions, and events in a natural setting.

Researchers immerse themselves in the research context and take detailed notes about what they observe.

There are two main types of observation:

Participant observation: the researcher actively participates in the activities of the participants, gaining an insider's perspective.

Non-participant observation: the researcher remains a passive observer, documenting behaviors without actively participating.

Focus Groups

Focus groups bring together a small group of participants for group discussions facilitated by the researcher.

This method encourages participants to share their opinions, perspectives, and experiences and to interact with each other.

Document Analysis

Document