Summary of 'Qualitative Research' - Communication Science
All for this textbook (2)
Written for
Universiteit van Amsterdam (UvA)
Communicatiewetenschap
Kwalitatief Onderzoek (77522201AYV)
All documents for this subject (18)
1
review
By: neevaogenia • 11 months ago
Seller
Follow
evavanwingerde
Reviews received
Content preview
Chapter 1: Some very important starting information
What is qualitative research?
- Words as data
- Refers to data collection and analysis, and to a wider framework
- Paradigm: beliefs, assumptions, values, and practices shared by a research
community
- Big Q: application of the qualitative methods of data collection and analysis within a
qualitative paradigm
- Small Q: use of specific qualitative data collection and techniques
- Not necessary within a qualitative paradigm
Quantitative Qualitative
Numbers as data Words as data
Identify relationships between Interpret meanings, recognises that
variables to explain or predict data in context
Generalise findings to a wider Only sometimes findings contribute
population to a general understanding
Shallow but broad data → not a lot Narrow but rich data → detailed
of complex detail obtained from accounts of each participant, not
each participant, lots of participants many take part
take part
Seeks to find patterns, norms, Explores differences within data →
consensus → reduces diversity of tends to seek patterns, but
responses to an average response accommodates divergence within
data
Theory testing Theory generating
Detachment and impartiality Involvement and subjectivity
Fixed method → method doesn’t Method is less fixed → method can
change once data collection has change throughout data collection
begun
Can be completed quickly Takes long to complete
Qualitative research paradigm
- Not only one correct version of reality or knowledge
- Versions of reality closely linked to context they occur in
, - Qualitative research = always consider context
Qualitative paradigm
- Use of qualitative data, analysis of words
- Use of naturally occurring data methods that resemble real life (compared to
experiments) → make use of context
- Interests in meaning
- Use of inductive, theory-generating research
- Reject natural (quantitative) science research model, including the idea of an
objective researcher
- Researchers will bring their subjectivity, but this is seen as a strength
Skills in qualitative research
Qualitative sensibility = orientation towards research in terms of research questions and
analysing data
- Interest in process and meaning over cause and effect
- Critical approach to knowledge, ask why and how
- Ability to reflect on own subjectivity
- Development of analytics ear, critically reflect on data while listening
- Reflexivity: critical reflection on research process and one’s own role
- Interactional skills
, Chapter 2: Ten fundamentals of qualitative data
1. Qualitative research is about meaning, not numbers
- Qualitative research deals with meanings
- Is about capturing some aspect of the social or psychological world
- Puts organising framework around some messy aspect
- Is not about testing hypotheses, nor comparing groups
- Knowledge comes from context → qualitative research does not assume the same
results can be reproduced under different circumstances like in quantitative research
2. Qualitative research doesn’t provide a single answer
- There’s more than one way to assign meaning to data
- There’s not a single ‘right’ answer
- Analysis of data tells one story, a different analysis might tell a different story
- Stories = subjective interpretation of data
- There are many stories
- There is no absolute truth
3. Qualitative research treats context as important
- Information and knowledge always come from somewhere
- Data is produced in particular contexts
- Qualitative research recognises bias and incorporates them into the analysis
4. Qualitative research can be experiential or critical
- Exploratory, open-ended, organic
- Produced rich, in-depth, and detailed data
- Divided into two broad camps → experiential and critical
- Experiential = meanings, views, perspectives, experiences
- Interpretations are prioritised and focused on
- Critical = uses meaning in data to explore something else
- Seeks to understand factors influencing meanings
5. Qualitative research is underpinned by ontological assumptions
Ontology: branch of philosophy that is concerned with existence and reality
- It deals with the nature of reality or truth
- ‘What is existence?’, ‘What is there?’, ‘What is the nature of existence?’
- Relativism: there are multiple realities
- Reality is dependent on the ways we come to know it
- Truth is relative to context
- Critical realism: a pre-social reality exists which can only be partly accessed
- Qualitative research adopts critical realism
- Realism: assumes a pre-social reality exists that is accessible through research
- There is one objective truth
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller evavanwingerde. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $9.23. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.