Скачать или смотреть Depth of Quality Research E2 0

the qualitative research process is often circular, flexible, and iterative. The researcher continually examines data, interprets it, and makes decisions about how to proceed based on what has already been discovered.
The process is categorized into the following phases and steps:
Phase 1: Conceptualizing and Planning
In this initial phase, the researcher identifies the area of inquiry. Unlike quantitative research, hypotheses are generally not formulated at this stage.
1. Identify the Research Problem: The researcher focuses on a phenomenon about which little is known or which is poorly understood. The problem statement usually asks "what," "how," or "why" questions to explore the subjective reality of participants,.
2. Literature Review: Opinions vary on timing. Some researchers conduct a preliminary review to gain guidance, while others (particularly in phenomenology or grounded theory) delay the extensive review until after data collection to prevent prior knowledge from biasing their understanding of the participants' perspectives,.
3. Select and Gain Entry into the Research Setting: The researcher identifies a setting and establishes relationships with "gatekeepers" to gain access. This phase involves building rapport with potential participants, which is crucial for collecting authentic data,,.
4. Address Ethical Considerations: Because qualitative research involves intimate interactions, ethical issues like confidentiality and informed consent are critical. The researcher must plan how to safeguard participants' rights,.
Phase 2: Developing the Research Design
Qualitative design is often described as emergent, meaning it evolves as the study progresses rather than being rigidly fixed before the study begins,.
5. Select the Research Approach: The researcher chooses a specific tradition based on the research question, such as:
◦ Phenomenology: To describe the "lived experience" of individuals,.
◦ Ethnography: To study the culture and behaviors of a specific group,.
◦ Grounded Theory: To generate a theory regarding social processes,.
6. Select the Sample (Sampling): Qualitative research typically uses non-probability sampling. The most common strategy is purposive (purposeful) sampling, where participants are selected because they are "information-rich" cases,,. Other methods include:
◦ Snowball sampling: Existing participants refer others,.
◦ Theoretical sampling: Used in grounded theory to select participants who can help develop emerging concepts,.
7. Determine Sample Size: There is no fixed formula. Sampling continues until data saturation is reached—the point where no new themes or information emerge from the data,,.
Phase 3: The Empirical Phase (Data Collection)
In qualitative research, the researcher is considered the primary instrument of data collection,.
8. Collect Data: Data is collected in the natural setting (fieldwork). Common methods include:
◦ In-depth Interviews: Unstructured or semi-structured conversations to explore perceptions,,.
◦ Focus Group Discussions (FGD): Small groups discussing a specific topic to reveal group norms and views,.
◦ Observation: The researcher may act as a participant-observer to understand the culture from the inside,,.
◦ Artifacts/Documents: Reviewing diaries, letters, or photos,.
Phase 4: The Analytic Phase
The data analysis in qualitative research often occurs concurrently with data collection. The researcher analyzes incoming data to shape future observations and interviews,.
9. Organize and Prepare Data: This involves transcribing audio-recorded interviews into text and organizing field notes,,.
10. Analyze Data (Inductive Process): The researcher moves from specific data to general themes (inductive reasoning),. The process typically involves:
◦ Coding: Labeling segments of text with short descriptions,.
◦ Categorizing: Grouping similar codes together,.
◦ Identifying Themes: Synthesizing categories into broad, abstract themes that describe the phenomenon,.
◦ Computer-Assisted Analysis: Software like NVivo or ATLAS.ti may be used to manage large amounts of text,.
Phase 5: Establishing Trustworthiness
Instead of "validity" and "reliability," qualitative researchers focus on the trustworthiness of the data, using criteria such as credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability,,.
11. Ensure Quality/Rigor: Techniques include:
◦ Triangulation: Using multiple data sources or methods to validate findings,.
◦ Member Checking: Returning to participants to validate if the findings accurately reflect their experiences,.
◦ Reflexivity: The researcher documents their own biases and influence on the study,.
Phase 6: Dissemination Phase
12. Communicate Findings: The final report is usually a narrative description rich with verbatim quotes from participants to support the identified themes,. The goal is to provide a "thick description" that allows readers to understand.