Notes #4
THE VALUE OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
In contrast to quantitative data, qualitative data does not simply count things, but it a way of recording
people’s attitudes, feelings, and behaviors in greater depth.
Qualitative data analysis is:
Often based on grounded theory practices
Answers the “why?” questions
Pays greater attention to individual cases
Qualitative research methods allow for much more detailed investigation of issues-answering questions
of meaning, who is affected (by issue), why, what factors are involved, do individuals react, or respond
differently from each other. In health practice for example, 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. 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.
Research projects using qualitative measures have smaller sample sizes than quantitative studies. This
in itself leads to a different approach when it comes to utilizing the data collected. The core of qualitative
analysis is interpretation. The larger sampling available to quantitative research methods enables finding s to
be generalized from the research sample to the population at large. Qualitative research seeks to deal with
human experiences, and as such, is more concerned with transferability as a way of validating findings.
Qualitative research can enable one to tackle sensitive issues, to appreciate the wider context of
people’s experiences, and make connections across different areas of participants’ lives.
Types of Qualitative Research
In the previous section, you were presented with several types of research just in case you chose to use
the quantitative research. However, if you decide to choose qualitative type, there are five major types to
choose from:
1. Phenomenology
This refers to the descriptive study of how individuals experience a phenomenon. The fundamental
question in phenomenology is: what is the meaning, structure, and essence of the lived experiences of this
phenomenon by a person or persons? Conducting in-depth interviews is a common method for gaining access
to individual’s life-worlds. Phenomenological researchers often seek for commonalities across individuals,
rather than focusing on what is unique about individuals.
Examples:
a. What is the essence of people’s experiences when they find out their loved one has terminal cancer?
b. What coping mechanisms do patients employ before a major surgery?
c. What is the essence of students’ experiences on uncaring teachers?
2. Ethnography (ethno=people; graphy=writing)- Writing about people
This is the discovery and description of the culture of a group of people, and originates in the discipline
of anthropology. Therefore, the concept of culture, which is a system of shared beliefs, values, practices,
language, norms, rituals, and material things that group members use to understand their world, is of central
importance. The basic question is: what are the cultural characteristics of this group of people or of this
cultural scene? The final ethnography (i.e., the report) should provide a rich and holistic description of the
culture of the group under study.
3. Case Study
This is the detailed account and analysis of one or more cases. The foundational question in case study
research is: what are the characteristics of this single case or of these comparison cases? A case is a bounded
system (e.g. a person, a group, an activity, a process). Because the roots of case study are interdisciplinary,
many different concepts and theories can be used to describe and explain the case.
Multiple methods of data collection are often used in case study research like interviews, observation,
documents, and questionnaires. The case study final report should provide a rich (vivid and detailed) and
holistic (describes the whole and its parts) description of the case and its context.
Case studies are in-depth investigations of a single person, group, event, or community. Research may
also continue for an extended period of time so processes and developments can be studies as they happen.
The case study method often involves simply observing what happens to, or reconstructing the case
history of a single participant or group individuals (such as a school class or a specific social group).
Among the sources of data the psychologist is likely to turn to when carrying out a case study are
observations of a person’s daily routine, unstructured interviews with the participant herself (and with people
who know her), diaries, personal notes (e.g. letters, photographs, notes) or official document (e.g. notes, clinical
notes, appraisal reports). Most of this information is likely to be qualitative (i.e. verbal description rather than
measurement) but the psychologist might collect numerical data as well.
4. Grounded Theory
This is the development of inductive, “bottoms-up,” theory that is grounded directly in the empirical
data. The foundational question is: what theory or explanation emerges from an analysis of the data collected
about this phenomenon? It is usually used to generated theory. Grounded theory can also be used to test or
elaborate upon previously grounded theories, as long as the approach continues to be one of the constantly
grounding any changes in the new data.
Four (4) important characteristics:
a. Fit. Does is correspond to real-world data?
b. Understanding. Is it clear and understandable?
c. Generality. Is it abstract enough to move beyond the specifics in the original research study?
d. Control. Can it be applied to produce real world results?
Data collection and analysis continue throughout the study. When collecting and analyzing, the
researcher needs theoretical sensitivity (i.e., being sensitive about what data are important in developing the
grounded theory).
Data analysis often follows three (3) steps:
a. Open Coding (i.e., reading transcripts line-by-line and identifying and coding the concepts found in the
data).
b. Axial Coding (i.e., organizing the concepts and making them more abstract).
c. Selective Coding (i.e., focusing on the main ideas, developing the story, and finalizing the grounded
theory).
The grounded theory process is “complete” when theoretical saturation occurs (i.e., when no new
concepts are emerging from the data and the theory is well validated). The final report should include a detailed
and clear description of the grounded theory.
5. Biographical Study
A biographical study is considered an exhaustive account of a life experience, it is the collection and
analysis of an intensive account of a whole life or potion of a life, usually by an in-depth, unstructured
interview.
The account may be reinforced by semi-structured interviewing or personal documents. Rather than
concentrating upon a snapshot of an individual’s present situation, the biographical approach emphasizes the
placement of the individual within a center of social connections, historical events, and life experiences (the life
history).
References:
Applied Research: An Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods and Report Writing by Ma. Lourdes F.
Melegrito, Ph.D., and Diana J. Mendoza, Ph.D., pp. 41-57, 2016
Activity #4
THE VALUE OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
Direction: Research three (3) related studies about your chosen title and complete the following table (30 pts.).
Research Title: ___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Related Studies:
VALUE OF
RESEARCH RESULTS/
REFERENCES THE
TITLE FINDINGS
RESULTS
1. The lived Son, H.; Choi, W.; Hwang, Y.; & Yang, H. The participants were
experiences of (2021). The lived experiences of Covid-19 quarantined after their
Covid-19 patients in South Korea: a qualitative study. COVID-19 diagnosis
patients in International Journal of Environmental was confirmed, and
South Korea: a Research and Public Health 2021, 18(1), they experienced
qualitative 7419. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph1814741.9 desperate and
study uncertain times during
treatment. The
participants expressed
shock and
dissatisfaction due to
an excessive invasion
of privacy during the
quarantine process and
in the quarantine
system. As confirmed
COVID-19 cases, the
participants
experienced social
stigma and feelings of
guilt, negative attitudes
from others and
society, and negative
influences from social
networking services
and the media. The
participants also
experienced mental
and physical
difficulties due to
COVID-19 symptoms.
However, they
rediscovered
meaningful
relationships through
the support of their
family and friends in
the midst of adversity.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
