Practical Research 1

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John Creswell defines qualitative research as “an approach for

exploring and understanding the meaning individuals or groups ascribe
to a social or human problem.”
It involves and analyzes human emotions, reasons, and meaning and
seeks to answer questions about complex human experiences and
phenomena. The participants then are closely examined in their natural
setting. They have to be uncontrolled and uninfluenced by the
researcher in order to collect authentic data.
Characteristics of Qualitative Data
Bogdan and Biklen (2007) as cited in the book of Fraenkel ad Wallen
(2010) outlined the following main features of qualitative research:
1. The researcher is the primary observer in the qualitative research.
As a researcher, you will be the primary observer of your study’s
participants. You will have to spend a great amount of time in their natural
setting(s) observing their everyday lives. Here, you can examine their
actions, and certain events that are relevant to your study. You can also
conduct individual and group interviews. In your interviews, you must not
attempt to coach participants or elicit a particular response from them.
Data for a qualitative study is best collected in an uncontrolled
environment. Also, remember that respect and prudence towards your
participants must be exercised at all times when conducting your study.
2. A qualitative researcher is a keen observer. He or she observes
every action, event, interaction, conversation, tradition, and detail that is
relevant to the study, however minor. These are important source of data
that convey meaning when contextualized and interpreted.
3. Qualitative research offers a wide array of designs, focusing on
individual experiences, societies, cultures and languages and
communication. These designs all aim to understand, describe, and
analyze data in detail and contextualize the participants’ experiences,
perspectives, reactions, etc.
4. Inductive reasoning is largely used in analyzing qualitative data.
Qualitative research does not focus o testing or proving a hypothesis.
Hypotheses are defined and formulated as the study progresses. This
means that you are constructing concepts and meanings based on
collected data and your interpretation of the data at the end of the study.
5. A qualitative researcher is concerned with meanings and
interpretations. As a qualitative researcher, you aim to determine
perceptions, thoughts, and feelings of the participants and explain why
and how these meanings are formulated.
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STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

Qualitative research has numerous strengths when conducted properly.
However, it also has its own share of limitations as a research strategy. The
following (adapted from Anderson, 2010) are some of the strengths and
limitations of qualitative research.

Strengths of Limitations of
Qualitative Qualitative
Research Research
- A research problem in
- Qualitative data is generally
qualitative research can be
subjective and can be influenced
examined with greater detail and
but the researcher’s biases
depth

- Data obtained from qualitative

- Research instruments, such as
research typically comes from
interview questions, can be made
small sample size and therefore
flexible based on information
may not be statistically
that has recently surfaced.
represented.

- The research framework can be

- Data analysis, such as coding
fluid, depending on the
and triangulation (which will be
availability of information.
further discussed in later) , can
be time consuming
- Results generated from
qualitative research are largely
- Acceptability of qualitative data
from human experiences and
is not always guaranteed
observations

- Qualitative data cannot be

- Qualitative research often
reproduced. Doing duplicates
requires small sample size
can be difficult

- Qualitative research is an open-

- Selection of human
ended process
subjects/participants can be
problematic due to ethical and
- Unique and specific cases are
confidentiality issues
selected and studied to enable
the collection of detailed
information and bring about in-
The progress of qualitative
depth understanding of the
research problem
research is determined by
the approaches the
- Data collection is usually researcher has chosen.
conducted on-site
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Qualitative research approaches

1. Ethnography – the ethnographic approach to qualitative
research is basically derived from anthropology. In this approach
the ethnographer studies the entire culture of a particular group.
Although ethnography was initially concerned with geographic
location and ethnicity, the definition has expanded to include pretty
much any organization of group; thus, ethnographic research is no
longer limited to ethnic groups. The most common ethnographic
approach is participant observation, in which the researcher
becomes immersed in the culture under study as an active
participant, taking extensive notes about observation and
impressions.
2. Phenomenology – This qualitative research approach
explores the world of the participants by gaining thoughts,
insights, and perceptions to a particular phenomenon. The
researcher tries to investigate an individual’s thoughts and
perceptions and finds the common ground to every experience.
This is what we called essence in which every researcher wants
to identify and describe. In phenomenology, the participants
relive their experiences in order to obtain the very essence of
these thoughts and perceptions.
3. Narrative Research – This is a qualitative research that
narrates the life experiences of an individual told to the
researcher or from available document or material. Narrative
research highlights special events in the individual’s life. This could either be a
biography or autobiography. In a biography, the researcher narrates the
experiences of the other person, while in an autobiography, the written
account of the individual who is the subject of the study.
4. Grounded Theory – This qualitative research approach
aims to generate a theory from the data which are analyzed
and interpreted inductively. The theory that can be generated
does not start from the beginning but only surfaced after all
the data have been analyzed inductively. This is the result if
thorough interviews and observations.
5. Case Study – This qualitative research approach presents
a detailed analysis of a specific case. Usually, a case is an
individual or one group of people or one school. The
researcher focuses only on one particular case.

Qualitative Research in Various Fields of study

Qualitative research is essential in generating new theories and explanations
as well as in describing events and phenomena. It is also useful in
understanding local contexts and examining learning processes and theories
in education.
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Qualitative Research in Various Fields of study (cont.)

Qualitative research fulfills various roles in different fields and is a driving
force for innovations that are vital to scientific and economic advancement
In behavioral science and the social sciences, qualitative research involves
understanding people’s attitudes, belief systems, and behaviors. Ultimately,
qualitative approaches in these fields of study enable a researcher to probe
complex human experiences and process.

Qualitative research can also be applied in the field of natural sciences.

Generally, both qualitative methods and quantitative methods (mixed
methods) are integrated in studies in various disciplines such as astronomy,
biology, chemistry, physics, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

More over there are studies which require the collation of documents and
the collection of field samples. Subsequently, these documents and field
samples will then be subjected to analysis in support of what has been
actually observed from the field.
Stages in the conduct of a Qualitative Research
1. Identification of the phenomenon to be studied.
Qualitative research normally starts with the identification of a phenomenon
to be studies or investigated.
2. Development of a theoretical framework
Your proposed research requires the use of a formal theory. This theory
gives your study its main focus or direction. A theoretical framework is
constructed from established theories and serves as the foundation of your
study. The framework sets some sort of boundaries which can limit your
supposed research activities and delineate only those required and
necessary. Also, theoretical framework supports your study by revealing the
strengths as well as probable weakness or weaknesses of the proposed
study.
3. Review of related literature.
To develop a theoretical framework for your study, a review of related
literature is necessary. A literature review will enable you to formulate your
own set of assumptions, in relation to the findings reported by other
researchers who have conducted studies similar to yours.
4. Identification of the participants in the study
The participants of the study are to be observed and / or interviewed by the
researcher. The samples of participants are usually selected purposively per
their relevance to the study. In choosing your participants, always consider
gender, experience, professions, ethnicity, age, etc. This gives you a relatively
much wider perspective about the phenomenon under study. Also, think
about those people who you think would play important roles in your chosen
field of study. Identify experts who you think can further assist you in your
study.
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Stages in the conduct of a Qualitative Research (cont)

5. Data collection

Data can be collected through interview, observations, and a review of

relevant documents. The data collection technique that you will adopt
depends on the research problem, purpose of the study, and the
action and responses of the samples / participants selected. Data
collection is a continues process until sufficient data and relevant
information are obtained.

Other possible sources of data are documents and artifacts.

Documents are physical materials which may take written, visual, or
digital forms. On the other hand, artifacts are three dimensional
objects which represent something.

6. Data Analysis

This is the process which a researcher systematically evaluates raw

data in order to generate logical information. This stage involves
collation and interpretation of data. When analyzing data, you attempt
to establish patterns, trends, common themes, categories and the like
which can be used in addressing the research question you have set
at the beginning of your research.

Typically, data analysis starts with coding which is the process of

classifying data. This is the stage where data are broken down and
categorized into smaller groups. Each data is individual evaluated such
that it is appropriately place into categories.

7. Disseminating the results of your study

Results of studies can be disseminated by preparing research report

or by presenting it in a conference. Collate all materials you have and
search for opportunities o present the to an audience.