Paper IIIPaper IIIQualitative research

Qualitative research

methodologymethodology

Objective 1.2Objective 1.2

Explain Explain strengths and

strengths and

limitations limitations of a of a

qualitative approach to

qualitative approach to

research?research?

BellworkBellwork

Is qualitative research

Is qualitative research

ALWAYSALWAYS appropriate? appropriate? Why Why

or why not?or why not?

It is important to choose the

It is important to choose the most appropriate methods for

most appropriate methods for what is being investigated.

what is being investigated.Qualitative research is

Qualitative research is not not appropriate to answer every

appropriate to answer every research question research question and and researchers need to think

researchers need to think carefully about their

carefully about their objectives.objectives.

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Do they wish to Do they wish to study a study a particular phenomenon in depth particular phenomenon in depth (eg, students' perceptions of (eg, students' perceptions of studying in a different culture)?studying in a different culture)?

Or are they more interested in Or are they more interested in

making making standardized standardized comparisons and accounting for comparisons and accounting for variance variance (eg, examining (eg, examining differences in examination differences in examination grades after changing the way grades after changing the way the content of a module is the content of a module is taught). taught).

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Clearly a Clearly a quantitative quantitative approachapproach would be more would be more appropriate in the last appropriate in the last example. example.

As with any research As with any research project, project, a clear research a clear research objective has to be objective has to be identified to know which identified to know which methods should be applied.methods should be applied.Re

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Important Note:Important Note:Qualitative researchers Qualitative researchers should be very cognizant of should be very cognizant of the strengths and limitations the strengths and limitations of using this approach as ALL of using this approach as ALL research situations are research situations are conducive to this method. conducive to this method.

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Strengths of Qualitative Strengths of Qualitative Research:Research:•Qualitative research methods are appropriate for particular types of research. They can convey a richness and intensity of detail in a way that quantitative research can not.•Qualitative research methods allow for much more detailed investigation of issues. When description is the aim, qualitative methods provide a vivid picture of a phenomena.

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Strengths of Qualitative Strengths of Qualitative Research:Research:•More and more recognition is being given to the individual in the process, not just the observable effect of 'treatment' upon a 'patient,' particularly in studies that involve health practices (such as investigating addiction, obesity, etc.)•Qualitative methods such as semi-structured interviews, case studies and narrative can ultimately reveal more about the effectiveness (or otherwise) of a form of therapy on an individual.

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Other Strengths of Other Strengths of Qualitative Research:Qualitative Research:•Issues can be examined in Issues can be examined in detail and in depth.detail and in depth.•Interviews are not restricted Interviews are not restricted to specific questions and can to specific questions and can be guided/redirected by the be guided/redirected by the researcher in real time.researcher in real time.

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Strengths of Qualitative Strengths of Qualitative Research:Research:•The research framework The research framework and direction can be and direction can be quickly quickly revised as new information revised as new information emerges.emerges.•The The data based on human data based on human experience that is obtained experience that is obtained is richis rich and sometimes more and sometimes more compelling than quantitative compelling than quantitative data.data.

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Strengths of Qualitative Strengths of Qualitative Research:Research:•Subtleties and complexities Subtleties and complexities about the research subjects about the research subjects and/or topic are discovered that and/or topic are discovered that are often missed by more are often missed by more positivistic enquiries.positivistic enquiries.•Although data usually collected Although data usually collected from a few cases or individuals from a few cases or individuals cannot be generalized cannot be generalized to a to a larger population, findings can larger population, findings can however be however be transferable transferable to to another similar case/setting.another similar case/setting.

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General Limitations of General Limitations of Qualitative Research:Qualitative Research:•Although it has gained Although it has gained increasing acceptance, increasing acceptance, qualitative research still has qualitative research still has significant limitations.significant limitations.

• In particular, qualitative In particular, qualitative research can present challenges research can present challenges in terms of in terms of generalizable results, generalizable results, validity, wider implications and validity, wider implications and reliability.reliability.

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Limited Generalizability:Limited Generalizability:•One significant limitation of One significant limitation of qualitative research involves the qualitative research involves the limited ability to generalize results to limited ability to generalize results to other populations. other populations. •Because qualitative research is Because qualitative research is oftenoften exploratory and often tailored exploratory and often tailored to the needs of one population to the needs of one population (as (as when a researcher adapts an when a researcher adapts an interview question to a participant's interview question to a participant's prior knowledge, or when case-study prior knowledge, or when case-study analysis is specific to the person or analysis is specific to the person or situation under study)situation under study), it is difficult , it is difficult to extrapolate findings to more to extrapolate findings to more broad populations or to draw general broad populations or to draw general or far-reaching conclusions from the or far-reaching conclusions from the findings of a qualitative study.findings of a qualitative study.

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Limited Generalizability:Limited Generalizability:•For example, one might conduct a For example, one might conduct a case study which finds that teachers case study which finds that teachers at a particular IB school have all at a particular IB school have all articulated a need for more training articulated a need for more training in technology.in technology.•Although the findings might be valid Although the findings might be valid for that particular IB school, it is for that particular IB school, it is impossible, from that single case impossible, from that single case study, to draw a wider conclusion and study, to draw a wider conclusion and state that all teachers, everywhere, state that all teachers, everywhere, need more training in technology.need more training in technology.•Thus, you have essentially only Thus, you have essentially only describeddescribed behavior at one particular behavior at one particular school (not necessarily teachers in school (not necessarily teachers in general). general).

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Validity:Validity:•Another Another limitation to qualitative limitation to qualitative research is that, especially to research is that, especially to audiences accustomed to reviewing audiences accustomed to reviewing quantitative research, quantitative research, qualitative qualitative research may seem to be less than research may seem to be less than valid in its approach, methods, or valid in its approach, methods, or conclusions. conclusions. •Qualitative research often Qualitative research often depends depends on the individual judgment on the individual judgment of the of the researcher and is researcher and is heavily dependent heavily dependent on the researcher's interpretation on the researcher's interpretation and skill and skill (for example, in the analysis (for example, in the analysis of interview data or case study of interview data or case study information). information).

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Threat of Researcher BiasThreat of Researcher Bias•Although this fact allows for Although this fact allows for research to reflect the complexity research to reflect the complexity of a particular situation or the of a particular situation or the knowledge of the researcher, it knowledge of the researcher, it can also allow the researcher's can also allow the researcher's subjective opinions to bias the subjective opinions to bias the information presented or the information presented or the conclusion drawn. conclusion drawn. •In such cases, the study In such cases, the study becomes more reflective of the becomes more reflective of the researcher's opinions than of the researcher's opinions than of the actual data, presenting issues actual data, presenting issues with validity.with validity.

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Other LimitationsOther Limitations•Although this fact allows for Although this fact allows for research to reflect the complexity research to reflect the complexity of a particular situation or the of a particular situation or the knowledge of the researcher, it knowledge of the researcher, it can also allow the researcher's can also allow the researcher's subjective opinions to bias the subjective opinions to bias the information presented or the information presented or the conclusion drawn. conclusion drawn. •In such cases, the study In such cases, the study becomes more reflective of the becomes more reflective of the researcher's opinions than of the researcher's opinions than of the actual data, presenting issues actual data, presenting issues with validity.with validity.

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Other LimitationsOther Limitations• It generally takes more time to It generally takes more time to collect the data when compared collect the data when compared to quantitative research. to quantitative research. Give Give examples.examples.• Data analysis is often time Data analysis is often time consuming. consuming. Give examples of Give examples of why.why.•Reliability is often difficult to Reliability is often difficult to achieve (because of the achieve (because of the subjective nature of the subjective nature of the research). research).

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Take the next 5 minutes

Take the next 5 minutes to to outline the general

outline the general ideas from this objective

ideas from this objective in your notebook (from

in your notebook (from the notes that you the notes that you have).have). Have a great lunch!

Have a great lunch!

ReflectionReflection