Methods in Qualitative Research

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Methods in Qualitative Research

• Participant Observation

• Non-Participant Observation

• Informant Interview

• Case Study

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Participant Observation

• Active involvement in situation being observed

• Degree of involvement varies

• Employ unobtrusive measures

• Freedom of access

• Triangulation of data collection methods

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Non-Participant Observation

• Minimizes interactions

• Tends to be less intrusive

• Often used as a follow-up to other methods

• Sharper focus than many other methods

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Informant Interview

• Explicit purpose

• Explicit ethnographic explanations

• Key informants - those with special knowledge

• Establish rules for conducting interviews

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Case Study

• Historical

• Observational

• Oral history

• Situational analysis

• Clinical case study

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Data Analysis

• Early analysis

• Coding

• Using the computer

• Making connections

• Interpreting

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Early Analysis

• Done simultaneously with data collection

• Memo writing

• Analytic files

• Regular reports - daily, weekly, monthly

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Coding

• Identifying and labeling categories

• Subdividing categories

• Relating categories

• Identifying preliminary themes

• Verifying

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Using the Computer

• QSR NUDIST and other dedicated software

• Word processing

• Spreadsheets

• Database management

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Making Connections

• Examining categories

• Examining links among categories

• Identifying and labeling themes

• Refining preliminary themes

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Interpreting

• Polishing theme descriptions

• Verifying data

• Establishing trustworthiness