philosophic underpinnings of qualitative research

Philosophic Underpinnings of Qualitative Research

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şehnaz Şahinkarakaş

Main differences between Qualitative and Quantitative Research

Quantitative: ◦Based on observations that are converted

into discrete units that can be compared to other units by using statistical analysis.

◦Based on a positivist position

Qualitative:◦Examines people’s words and actions in

narrative or descriptive ways (closely representing the situation as experienced by the participants)

◦Based on a phenomenological position

Some Terminology:Positivism and Phenomemology

Positivism (positive or observable facts): ◦ objective inquiry based on measurable variables and

provable propositions. ◦ For positivist research, science is and should be

concerned with the explanation and the prediction of observable events.

Phenomenological approach: ◦ understanding the meaning events have for persons

being studied.◦ Sees the individual and his/her world as co-constituted. ◦ The person is viewed as having no existence apart from

the world, and the world as having no existence apart from the person.

Some Terminology:Paradigm and Postulates

Paradigm:◦ Interconnected assumptions about the nature of

reality (a typical example or a pattern or something)

◦ A paradigm provides the largest framework within which research takes place

Postulates:◦ An assumption stated positively (a starting point

of reasoning)◦ Postulates are the individual assumptions that

are stipulated to be true. ◦ A set of postulates make up a paradigm

Why are these terms important?

Research questions must be carefully matched with methods of collecting and analyzing data.

One set of postulates constitutes an alternate paradigm and the phenomenological approach to inquiry

Another set of postulates frames the dominant paradigm and positivist approach.

A Philosophic Perspective to Qualitative Research

Quality research is (was!) in the minority status! Why?

Quantitative research constitutes objective observation, quantifiable data and verifiable truths.

Quantitative researcher makes a guess or forms a hypothesis which is then used to test the data.

Qualitative research is a kind of social inquiry and it focuses on the way people interpret and make sense of their experiences and the world in which they live.

Qualitative researcher seeks patterns which come out of or emerge from the data.

Thus, if the underlying philosophy is not understood, this research is seen as a less rigorous a less valued way of doing inquiry.

A brief history of qualitative researchCultural anthropologists: among the

first and best known qualitative researchers

Freud: case studies using the knowledge gained from his patients

Rogers: transcripts of therapy

Piaget: clinical interviews

POSTULATES of RESEARCH PARADIGM

Questions Postulates of the positivist approach

Postulates of the phenomenological approach

1. How does the world work?

Reality is one. By carefully dividing and studying its parts, the whole can be understood.

There are multiple realities. These realities are socio-psychological constructions forming an interconnected whole. These realities can only be understood as such.

2. What is the relationship between the knower and the known?

The knower can stand outside of what is to be known. True objectivity is possible.

The knower and the known are interdependent.

3. What role do values play in understanding the world?

Values can be suspended in order to understand.

Values mediate and shape what is understood.

POSTULATES of RESEARCH PARADIGM

Questions Postulates of the positivist approach

Postulates of the phenomenological approach

4. Are causal linkages possible?

One event comes before another event and can be said to cause that event.

Events shape each other. Multidirectional relationships can be discovered.

5. What is the possibility of generalization?

Explanations from one time and place can be generalized to other times and places.

Only tentative explanations for one time and place are possible.

6. What does research contribute to knowledge?

Generally, the positivist seeks verification or proof of propositions.

Generally, the phenomentologist seeks to discover or uncover propositions.

Paradigm Shift in Research MethodsResearch Characteristic

Dominant Paradigm (Positivist)

Alternate Paradigm (Phenomenological)

World View Simple Complex

Organization of information

Hierarchic Heterarchic

Forms of relationships

Mechanical Holographic

Sources of change Determined Indeterminate

Explanation Linear causal Mutual causal

Nature of change Assembly Morphogenesis

Observer perspective

Objective Perspectival




World View

Simple Complex










Can be examined

and broken apart

properly

Interconnected














Sth. is always at the bottom and

sth. is always at the top

There is a ‘web of

meaning’














One-way flowchart

Multi-dimensional reproduction









Sources of change

Determined Indeterminate





Potentially identifiable

Not identifiable










Explanation

Linear causal Mutual causal




A causes B

A and B cause each

other











Nature of change

Assembly Morphogenesis



Change occurs by replacing parts –

individual and discrete parts

Change is affected by

the next change in a connected

manner














Instruments are objective

No way of seeing the

world is definitely true

(different perspectives)

The importance of understanding the philosophical underpinnings of the research:◦a) understanding similarities and

differences between words and numbers

◦b) perspectival observer versus objective observer

◦c) discovery versus proof

Words and Numbers The major difference between quantitative and

qualitative approaches is the meaning given to the words.◦ Qualitative research looks closely at people’s words, actions

and records. ◦ Quantitative research quantifies such observations (using

statistics).

Qualitative researcher does not have to challenge statistics; however, understanding and presenting qualitative research is as demanding as understanding statistics.

Qualitative researcher tries to understand what people say and do (products of how people interpret the world); thus, an emphatic understanding is needed.

Perspectival vs Objective Observer

Why would someone use a perspectival (subjective) view in research rather than an objective view?

To be objective is to be cold and distant so the knower stands outside; to be perspectival requires to get at the world of the agent/subject so the knower and the known are interdependent.

Discovery vs ProofThe goal of qualitative research is to discover

patterns which emerge after close observation, careful documentation and thoughtful analysis of the research topic.

In the process of discovery, we keep in mind that reality is multiple, events are simultaneously and mutually shaped and the goal of this approach is to discover not to prove.

Hypotheses (quantitative approach) are formed after observations, not before!

philosophic underpinnings of qualitative research

Documents

positivist research

research questions

set of postulates

somethinga paradigm

dominant paradigm

alternate paradigm

place postulates

hisher world