Qualitative Research methods

Lecture 1
dr. John Gelissen

Course Introduction
Course Details . . . . .
Goals of the course . .
Obligatory readings . .
Topics . . . . . . . . . . .
Reading schedule. . . .
Exam and final grade .
Important stuff . . . . .

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Foundations
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . .
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . .
Important concepts . . . . .
Historical developments . .
Historical developments . .
Further developments . . .
Ontological issues . . . . . .
Epistemological issues . . .
Approach Ritchie & Lewis

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Applications
Types of research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ad 1. Contextual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ad 2. Explanatory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ad 3. Evaluative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ad 4. Generative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
QR as independent research strategy . . . . . . .
Functions of qualitative methods . . . . . . . . . .
Combining qualitative & quantitative methods

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9

Course Introduction

Page 2 / 28

Course Details
Lecturers
John Gelissen Course coordinator, Lectures, Seminar/Lab meetings
Margot Bennink Seminar/Lab meetings
Ingrid Vriens Seminar/Lab meetings
Zsuzsa Bakk Seminar/Lab meetings
Course organisation
Lectures Explanation of concepts, procedures, additions & comments on readings
Seminars Interviewing, coding, research proposal
Lab session Software: Atlas.ti
Qualitative Research Methods Lecture 1

Academic year: 2012-2013 Page 3 / 28

Goals of the course

After completing this course, you should. . .
have knowledge about (philosophical) foundations of qualitative research methods
be able to choose among qualitative research strategies
have knowledge about research designs, data collection and analysis methods for qualitative
research
be able to rapport qualitative research findings
be able to critically evaluate a qualitative research proposal

Qualitative Research Methods Lecture 1

Academic year: 2012-2013 Page 4 / 28

Obligatory readings
1. Lecture notes
2. Ritchie, J., & Lewis, J., Qualitative Research Practice: A Guide for Social Science Students and
Researchers, London: Sage Publications, 2003, ISBN 0761971106
3. Swanborn, P., Case study research: What, Why and How? London: Sage Publications, 2010,
ISBN: 9781849206129
4. Gelissen, J. (ed.), Qualitative Research Methods: Readings on Collection, Analysis and Critiques.
London: Sage Publications, 2010, second edition: ISBN 978-0-85702-862-4
Details about obligatory and non-obligatory parts in Course Syllabus on Blackboard
Qualitative Research Methods Lecture 1

Academic year: 2012-2013 Page 5 / 28

Topics
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

Topic
Course intro, Foundations, Applications
Research design, sampling strategies
Data collection I: interviewing
Data collection II: Focus groups, observation
Data analysis I: Principles of analysis
Data analysis II: Grounded Theory, application
Data analysis III: Thematic analysis, Narrative analysis
Case study: definition, designs
Case study: case-selection, causality issues
Case study: data-enrichment and analysis
Quality criteria for (qualitative) research, critique
Reporting qualitative research, Thesis proposals

Qualitative Research Methods Lecture 1

Academic year: 2012-2013 Page 6 / 28

Reading schedule
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

Readings
R&L, Ch. 1,2
R&L, Ch. 3,4
R&L, Ch. 5,6
R&L, Ch. 7, Gelissen, Ch. 1
R&L, Ch. 8, Gelissen, Ch. 4,5
Gelissen, Ch. 2,3
R&L, Ch. 9, Gelissen, Ch. 6
Swanborn, Ch. 1.,2
Swanborn, Ch. 3, 4
Swanborn, Ch. 5, 6, Gelissen, Ch. 7
R&L, Ch. 10, Gelissen, Ch. 8
R&L, Ch. 11

Qualitative Research Methods Lecture 1

Academic year: 2012-2013 Page 7 / 28

Exam and final grade

Written exam: multiple choice, 50 questions

Knowledge reproduction and application to substantive problems
5 questions Buffer arrangement: pass a quiz and 1 wrong answer on final test is ignored +
1.
2.
3.

the student participated in all seminar meetings

the student participated in lab session
the quality of students participation and work were to the satisfaction of the professor or
t.a.s

Note: participation is NOT obligatory! See Course Syllabus for details

Qualitative Research Methods Lecture 1

Academic year: 2012-2013 Page 8 / 28

Important stuff
Enroll into Blackboard a.s.a.p.
Read the syllabus
get the books a.s.a.p.
Keep track of Announcements in Blackboard
Stick to your Seminar/Lab group
Do not only read or scan the readings, but study them well and keep up with the readings
Do not bother your professor with (simple) questions for which the answers are in the syllabus
Bother your professor with questions 1) not (clearly) answered in the books or syllabus 2) about
the lectures 3) other stuff related to qualitative methods
Register for the exams on time

Qualitative Research Methods Lecture 1

Academic year: 2012-2013 Page 9 / 28

Foundations

Page 10 / 28

Definitions
Qualitative research is a fuzzy enterprise; specific approach depends on:

researchers beliefs about nature of social world and what can be known about it
researchers beliefs about nature of knowledge and how it can be acquired
research goals
state of existing knowledge
characteristics of those being researched
funders, audiences, research environments . . .

Qualitative Research Methods Lecture 1

Academic year: 2012-2013 Page 11 / 28

Definitions
Googleing definition of qualitative research: about 8.000.000 hits
Key elements across definitions pertain to:

goal of research being undertaken

nature of samples
nature of data collection methods
nature of data gathered
nature of data analysis
nature of research output

Important: R&L, box 1.1, p. 4

Qualitative Research Methods Lecture 1

Academic year: 2012-2013 Page 12 / 28

Important concepts

Paradigm
Ontology
Epistemology
Induction
Deduction

Figure 1: Empirical cycle

Qualitative Research Methods Lecture 1

Academic year: 2012-2013 Page 13 / 28

Historical developments
Key figures in empiricism/positivism

Key characteristics of positivism:

Methods of natural sciences (Erkl

aren)
Only knowledge via sensory observation is valid
Induction and deduction
Difference between facts and values, value-free research

Qualitative Research Methods Lecture 1

Academic year: 2012-2013 Page 14 / 28

Historical developments
Key figures in interpretivism

Key characteristics of interpretivism:

Non-positivist methods for studying social world

Interpreting peoples understanding of social world (Verstehen)
observation
Investigators values matter

Qualitative Research Methods Lecture 1

Academic year: 2012-2013 Page 15 / 28

Further developments
End 19th/20th century: qualitative research more widely adopted, especially in sociological
research
But simultaneously: (positivist) survey research
70s: challenges to scientific method, boost for qualitative methods
But: challenges to basic assumptions of qualitative research:

Postmodernist approaches
Critical theory

Emphasis on researchers role and research participants stories

1980s onwards: popularity explosion of qualitative methods

Qualitative Research Methods Lecture 1

Academic year: 2012-2013 Page 16 / 28

Ontological issues
Some examples of ontological questions:
What is the nature of the world, of social entities?
Does social reality exist independently of human conceptions and interpretations?
Is there a common, shared, social reality or just multiple context-specific realities?
Is social reality independent of human actors or is it constantly being constructed by them?
ontological positions: Realism, Materialism, Idealism etc. (Box 1.3)
Qualitative Research Methods Lecture 1

Academic year: 2012-2013 Page 17 / 28

Epistemological issues
Some examples of epistemological questions:
How is it possible to know about the world?
What constitutes valid knowledge about the world?
Is it okay to use the methods of the natural sciences for the study of human (social) behavior?
epistemological positions: positivism, interpretivism (Box 1.3)
Qualitative Research Methods Lecture 1

Academic year: 2012-2013 Page 18 / 28

Approach Ritchie & Lewis

Generic/eclectic approach adapted to applied (social) policy research
. . . particular emphasis is placed in applied policy research on producing qualitative
evidence that has been rigorously collected and analysed, is valid, able to support wider
inference, as neutral and unbiased as possible and clearly defensible in terms of how
interpretations have been reached. It also means that emphasis is placed on research
findings which are accessible and which can be translated into policy planning and
implementation (R & L, pp. 18-19).
Ontological position: subtle realism
Epistemological position: embrace aspects of scientific method, interpretivism and pragmatism
Qualitative Research Methods Lecture 1

Academic year: 2012-2013 Page 19 / 28

Applications

Page 20 / 28

Types of research
Fundamental (social) research Theory-testing, theory-building research (R&L:theoretical, pure,
basic research)
Applied (social) research Practice-oriented research, evaluation research

Role of qualitative methods in both types of research

Functions of qualitative research
1.
2.
3.
4.

Contextual
Explanatory
Evaluative
Generative

Qualitative Research Methods Lecture 1

Academic year: 2012-2013 Page 21 / 28

ad 1. Contextual
Describe relevant issues and phenomena as experienced by the study participants, detailed, in
participants own terms
Examples:

What dimensions are contained within the concepts of shame and guilt ?
How do shame and guilt manifest themselves among war veterans?
What does it mean to a veteran to feel ashamed or guilty?
Can we identify groups of veterans who deal with shame and guilt in qualitatively different
ways?

Qualitative Research Methods Lecture 1

Academic year: 2012-2013 Page 22 / 28

10

ad 2. Explanatory
Why phenomena occur and the forces and influences that drive their occurrence
Examples:

Why do some veterans feel ashamed or guilty, and others not?

What reasons do veterans report for being ashamed or feeling guilty?
What conditions make that feelings of shame and guilt persist?

Note: What people tell you what was according to them the cause for particular feelings, views,
behaviors, or events need not be the true cause; causality is very difficult to investigate!
Qualitative Research Methods Lecture 1

Academic year: 2012-2013 Page 23 / 28

ad 3. Evaluative
How well does something work? What processes and outcomes do occur?
Examples:

How do veterans respond to counseling in order to deal with feelings of shame and guilt?
What motivates veterans to take part in such a counseling program?
What are the requirements for counselors for the effective delivery of the counseling program?
Is the quality of a veterans family life affected by counseling?

Qualitative Research Methods Lecture 1

Academic year: 2012-2013 Page 24 / 28

11

ad 4. Generative
Produce new ideas either as a contribution to the development of social theory or to the refinement or
stimulus of policy solutions
Examples:

The role of training military personnel to deal with difficult situations

Changes in the Rules Of Engagement for military personnel
The role of social capital and group support in military units for dealing with feelings of
shame and guilt

Qualitative Research Methods Lecture 1

Academic year: 2012-2013 Page 25 / 28

QR as independent research strategy

Qualitative research as the only approach; phenomena to be studied are. . .

Ill defined/not well understood

Deeply rooted
Complex
Specialist
Delicate or intangible
Sensitive

Crucial issue: what are the research questions and what information is needed to answer those
questions?
Qualitative Research Methods Lecture 1

Academic year: 2012-2013 Page 26 / 28

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Functions of qualitative methods

Distinguish between methods for data collection and techniques for data analysis
Methods for data collection:

Participant observation Outcome: Naturally occurring data

Observation Outcome: Naturally occurring data
Semi-structured/unstructured/life history interviews Outcome: generated data
Focus groups/group discussion: Outcome: generated data

Techniques for data analysis: documentary analysis, discourse analysis, conversation analysis
Qualitative Research Methods Lecture 1

Academic year: 2012-2013 Page 27 / 28

Combining qualitative & quantitative methods

Preceding statistical inquiry

Alongside statistical inquiry
Follow-up to statistical inquiry

Debate: is mixing methods okay? Different versions:

Embedded methods/paradigm proponents: no

Proponents of technical version: yes

Qualitative Research Methods Lecture 1

Academic year: 2012-2013 Page 28 / 28

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