Qualitative Research• Phenomenological

paradigm• Assumes reality is

socially constructed• Seeks understanding• Ethnography approach• Researcher becomes

“immersed”• Uses an emergent

design

Quantitative Research

• Positivist paradigm• Assumes an objective

reality• Seeks to explain causes

of changes in social facts• Experimental or

correlational designs• Researcher is detached• Uses established set of

procedures and steps

Purposes:• To describe and explore

• To describe and explain

Themes of Qualitative Inquiry

• Naturalistic Inquiry

• Inductive Analysis

• Holistic Perspective

• Qualitative Data

• Personal Contact and Insight

• Dynamic Systems

Themes of Qualitative Inquiry

• Unique Case Orientation

• Context Sensitivity

• Empathic Neutrality

• Design Flexibility

Data Collection Methods

• Direct observation

• In-depth, open-ended interviews

• Written documents

Sources of Data

• Program setting• Human, Social Environment• Planned Activities and Formal Interactions-• Informal interactions and Unplanned

activities• Native Language of the Phenomenon• Nonverbal Communication• Unobtrusive Indicators• Documents• What does not happen

Qualitative Interviewing

• Informal-conversational

• General interview guide

• Standardized open-ended

Purposeful Sampling

• Comprehensive Sampling

• Site Selection

• Maximum Variation Sampling

• Network Sampling

Sampling by Case Type

• Extreme case

• Intense case

• Typical case

• Unique case

• Reputational case

• Critical case

• Concept/theory-based case

Sample Size

• Guidelines related to– Purpose of the study– Research problem– Data collection technique– Availability of information-rich cases

Strategies to Enhance Validity• Prolonged and persistent field work• Multi-method strategies• Participant language• Low-inference descriptors• Multiple researchers• Mechanically recorded data• Participant researcher• Member checking• Participant review• Negative cases or discrepant data

UnderstandingRealism

GeneralizabilityValidityReliability

• The Case study

• Introduction– Is there a clear rationale for the study?– Is the literature review pertinent to the focus of

the research?

• Methodology– Are validity issues addressed?– Are limitations of design, data access

addressed?

• Findings and Interpretations– Are perspectives of different participants

clearly presented and is contextual information provided?

– Are multiple perspectives presented?– Are the results well documented and

interpretations linked to the results?– Are personal beliefs kept separate from the

data?– Are the interpretations reasonable?– Were researcher preconceptions and biases

acknowledged?

• Ethnographic

• Descriptive

• Historical

Assignment

• Critical Analysis of a Research Article