•Qualitative Research

 4 Major Research Designs

 Data Collection Methods in
Qualitative Research
4 Major Research Designs
1. Descriptive research
• about the description and characteristics of an
existing phenomenon, a problem, issue or
certain situation, designed to provide systematic
information regarding them

• in a descriptive research, the hypotheses is not

indicated, but is likely develop after collecting
data (Friedmann, 2005; Southwold, 2005)

• the collected data are often quantitative and

some statistical techniques are usually used to
summarise the information.
4 Major Research Designs
2. Exploratory research

• the researcher explores a setting, a social

phenomenon, an issue or a certain social situation. It
is conducted when there are few or no earlier studies
to which references can be made for information

• aims to look for patterns, ideas or hypotheses rather

than testing or confirming a hypothesis. Therefore, the
researcher does not begin with a hypothesis in his
design (Friedmann, 2005; Southwold, 2005)

• focus on gaining insights and familiarity with the

subject area for more rigorous investigation later
 4 Major Research Designs
3. Explanatory or Analytical research

• begins with ideas about the possible causes of a certain phenomenon,

e. g., the researcher develops hypotheses before collecting any data.
The researcher then plans a study that can provide systematic evidence
supporting (or not supporting) these initial ideas about cause.

• a continuation of descriptive research where the researcher goes

beyond merely describing the characteristics, to analyse and explain
why or how something is happening. Thus, analytical research aims to
understand phenomena by discovering and measuring causal relations
among them.
 4 Major Research Designs
4. Predictive research

• goes further by forecasting the likelihood of a similar situation

occurring elsewhere. It aims to generalise from the analysis by
predicting certain phenomenon on the basis of hypothesised general
relationships

• provides ‘how’, ‘why’, and ‘where’ answers to current events as well as

to similar events in the future. It is also helpful in situations where
‘What if?’ questions are being asked.
 Strategies can be further defined and differentiated based on these
three conditions:
• type of the research question posed
• extent of control of the researcher over the behavioural
situation of the study, and
• degree of focus whether contemporary or not

Strategy Form of Researcher’s Focus

research control over whether
question behavioural contemporary
event or not
Experiment How, why yes yes
Survey Who, what, no yes
where, how
much, how many
Document / Who, what, no yes or no
archival analysis where, how
much, how many
History How, why no no
Case study How, why no yes
Note: The ‘what’ question when asked as part of the exploratory, pertains to all five strategies.
If the research question focuses more on ‘what’
question, either of the two possibilities arise, that
‘what’ questions are exploratory, such as, ‘What
are the best ways in which an effective school is
operated?’ The goal here is to come up with
pertinent hypothesis and propositions for further
inquiry. But, in an exploratory design, any of the
five strategies can be used—for example, an
exploratory survey, an exploratory experiment, or
an exploratory case study.
The second type of ‘what’ question is usually a
form of a ‘how many’ or ‘how much’ line of
inquiry. For example: ‘What have been the
outcomes of a particular supervisory strategy that
was implemented by DepEd?’ or ‘What have been
the results of the application of anti-malarial
measures to the communities?’
Identifying the outcomes more likely favour a
survey type of strategy or an archival strategy.
In contrast, ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions can be more explanatory and
likely lead to the use of case studies, histories and experimental
strategies, when such questions deals with operational links that need
to be traced over time. Say for example:
How the people in the marginalised sectors cope with the increasing
prices of basic commodities? Here, you can look on their strategies or
their coping mechanisms to meet both ends.
Another example is: Why do the people in the hinterlands of
Marinduque have lower incidence of heart diseases?

The two given questions above can also lead to exploratory case
studies or historical analysis.

Similarly, if you wanted to know ‘what’ would be the outcomes of a new

agricultural policy, you may engage in a predictive survey with the
farmers.
Levels of understanding the
research work to be pursued

Delineate the steps based on

Specific the cited design and strategies
steps
Now that you decided on the
Design & methodology that you will follow,
what specific designs and strategies
strategical levels you will apply in doing the research
project?
Methodological level With the posted question, what
is the best research
Descriptive, Explanatory, etc. methodology you will follow?
What is the right approach
Process or approach level in pursuing the posted
question in relation to your
Qualitative, Quantitative, Mixed guiding principle and goal?
Purpose and categorical level What is your research
goal, your research
Basic, Applied, Evaluation, Orientational, Action problem? What is the
present understanding
Philosophical level level about your
What
research is your
idea?
guiding
Positivism, Post-Positivism, Post-Modernism, Interpretivism, etc. philosophy? How
do you
understand
 SAMPLE
QUESTIONS!!!

1. Why do people behave the

way they do?

2. How are people’s opinions

and
attitudes formed?

3. How are people affected by

the events around them?

4. How and why have cultures

developed the way they did?
Qualitative Research…
• Tends to focus on how people or groups have different
views of looking at reality
• Takes account of the complex situations in the real world
• Studies behavior in natural settings
• Focuses on experiences or on data that cannot be
adequately expressed numerically
• Concentrates on description and interpretation
• Uses a flexible research process
Advantages and Disadvantages of

Qualitative Research
Advantages Disadvantages
Qualitative methods produce The subjectivity of the inquiry
more in-depth, comprehensive leads to difficulties in establishing
information. reliability and validity of
approaches and information.
It uses subjective information and It is very difficult to detect
participant observation to researcher bias.
describe the context, or natural
setting, of the variables under
consideration.
It seeks a wide understanding of Samples are small and not
the entire situation. necessarily representative of the
population.
Complex cases are examined with It cannot be used as a basis for
high attention to detail. generalizations.
 Data Collection Methods
in Qualitative Research
Observation • Are monitored for evidence of personal
s bias or prejudice

• Resemble everyday conversations, but they

Interviews are focused on the researcher’s needs for
data

Focused Group • Are similar to interviews, but are

Discussions conducted to a larger group of people

Case Study • Detailed investigations of individuals,

groups, institutions, or other social units
 External
Participation

Total Passive
Participation Participation
Observations

Active Balanced
Participation Participation
 Observation
Advantages Disadvantages
• Provides direct information • Expensive and time consuming
about the behavior of groups and • Needs well-qualified observation
individuals skills
• Permits evaluator to enter the • May affect the behavior of the
situation participants
• Offers a good opportunity to • Selective perception and biases
identify unexpected outcomes of observer may distort data
• Natural and unstructured • Observer has little control over
• Facilitates the use of mechanical the situation
aids, such as tape recorders and • There is a possibility of conflict
cameras between one’s role as a
• Provides first-hand experience participant and one’s role as a
and increases understanding researcher
 Structural

Interviews
Unstructu Semi-
red structured
 Interview
Advantages Disadvantages
• Yields richest data, detail and • Expensive and time-consuming
new insight • Interviewers need to be well-
• Permits face-to-face contact with qualified and highly trained
respondents • Interviewees may distort
• There is an opportunity to information through errors or the
explore topics extensively desire to please the interviewer
• Allows the interviewer to explain • Flexibility can result
or clarify questions inconsistencies across interviews
• Lets the interviewer be flexible in
administering the interview
 Focused Group Discussion
Advantages Disadvantages
• Researchers can see how people • Inexperienced moderators of
interact with each other focus group discussions may face
• Free and open discussion results problems in controlling the group
in generation of more ideas • Respondents may be hesitant to
• Focus groups can be dynamic in share sensitive ideas and
order to better facilitate concerns publicly
discussion • A focus group set up may
influence the individuals to act
unnaturally
 Descript
ive

Case Study Illustrati

Explanat
ory ve

Experim
ental
 Case Study
Advantages Disadvantages

• A source of ideas about specific • Difficult to use in establishing

behavior cause and effect conclusions
• A good method for studying rare • Researcher cannot generalize
phenomena from a single case
• Can challenge theoretical • Possible biases in data collection
assumptions and interpretation