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Qualitative Research: Telling the Story

CTE Workshop March 26, 2012 Drs. Linda Gilbert and Mai Yin Tsoi

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Todays goals
Broad

overview of qualitative research Basic, with additional references Includes when to use (or not to use) Identifies some common theoretical perspectives

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Why Are You Here?

How

many of you

Are just curious about Qual. Research?

Have prior experience with Qual.

Research?

Planning to conduct Qual. Research?

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What IS Qualitative Research?

Gather

data to investigate human behavior Looks at WHY and HOW

As opposed to HOW MUCH

Used

in many different academic settings Common in social sciences, marketing, education

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Theoretical Underpinnings
Approach Grounded Theory Ethnography Critical Theory Interpretivist Phenomenology Feminism Discourse analysis Theory Build up from detailed observation Looking at ethnic and cultural understandings Looking at problems from historical/cultural contexts Reality is constructed through social experiences Study of structures of experiences Social construction of gender and sex Approaches to analyze events with signs, symbols, language

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Why and When to Use Qual Research-Continuum

When

do not know enough to do Quant. Research Only a few subjects In-depth versus broad Rich data

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Some Cautionary Notes

Easy

to do bad Qual Research Difficult to conduct rigorous Qual Research Researcher subjectivities need to be addressed Subjectivities can affect study design, analysis

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How To Get Started

As

in all research: IDENTIFY QUESTION

Choose appropriate theory base

Theory

base guides methodology

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Example Questions

Do students learn if using calculators?

Better with quantitative methodology

What effect do calculators have on spatial processing?

Could be both, depending on research goal

What are relationships between calculator use and student perceptions of their math ability?

Better with qualitative methodology

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First Step: What Are Your Research Questions?

Audience Examples? How do students feel about science? What misconceptions do student have about science?

What is the relationship between studying and test scores? What impact does studying have on student achievement?

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Choose Theory Base Methodology

Example:

Study on social media on class blog Discourse analysis - data in writings Therefore, a study with this belief would choose:
Class blog Thematic coding Concept mapping of theme nodes

Refer to Denzin and Lincoln for an excellent overview of theory.

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Second Step: Identify Data Types and Sources

Survey

Interview
Free-response Videotaping Observations Document

questions

analysis Artifact analysis AND MORE!

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Third Step: How Will You Analyze Data?

Statistics (quant) Mixed-Method (quant plus qual) Thematic coding

Memoing Case studies

multiple approaches

. Etc.

For more resources, see Denzin and Lincoln or basic qualitative texts

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Pros and Cons to Qual. Research

PROS Rich, in-depth mining of data CONS Limited, contextual generalizability Time-consuming

Get answers to complex research relationships/patterns Able to elucidate quantitative results Discover unforeseen relationships

rabbit hole Analysis subject to researcher transparency of process

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References For More Information

Handout

General Theory-specific Broader context

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Group Activity
Using

worksheet, come up with research questions

For example scenario For your own study

Brainstorm

on the best way to answer those questions What will your data look like?