It is a research methodology which helps the researcher to explore the views, experiences and beliefs of the interviewee. A qualitative interview, provides a deeper understanding which is not possible with quantitative methods. A qualitative interview is also useful when dealing with sensitive topics or where little is known about or when detailed insights are required from individual participants. However, conducting a qualitative interview can be very time consuming, costly and different interviewers may understand and transcribe interviews in different ways. There are three fundamental types of qualitative research interviews: structured, semi-structured and unstructured. A Structured interview involves asking predetermined questions. It is relatively easy to perform but …show more content…
The interviewer should be a good listener, neutral and should make the interviewee feel comfortable and at ease throughout the interview. Defining an exact sample size is a little complicated. It is advisable to have about 16 interviews but saturation is crucial in determining when to stop. The type of questions to ask are crucial in making the interviewee feel comfortable and give in-depth information. Questions need to be clear, open ended and neutral. The interviewer should start with easy questions and move to more difficult ones as the interview goes on and end with calming questions. A qualitative interview session should take on average 60 to 90 minutes however depending on the topic, if it is to take longer, you can decide to do it at different times other than doing it at once. Informed consent process is crucial in a qualitative interview. Anonymity and confidentiality should be emphasized as it involved tape recording. An interview should always be conducted in area which is free from distractions and which makes the interviewee feel
Qualitative research aims to gather information from data collection methods and transform it into written words. Such as transcribing recorded interviews, taking field notes from observations, using words to outline images (Denscombe, 1998, p. 174). On the other hand, quantitative research aims to gather information from data collection methods and transform it into numbers. Such as analysing conducted surveys and pulling numbers to transform it into statistics, tables and graphs (Denscombe, 1998, p.174-177).
Why was a qualitative approach appropriate to answer the RQ? Qualitative approach is an appropriate to answer research question because it gives you the method used, accurate understanding, and meaning of the research. It gives the assumptions such as realities and truths behind the research questions. It also generates hypothesis, data collection, analysis, and interpretation. 3.
Qualitative and quantitative methods allow researchers to investigate, explore and inquire the nature of the phenomenon being studied. It is important that the researcher develops a clear understanding of the problem and design a plan to investigate it (Cresswell, 1998, para. 1). There are a variety of research methods; nevertheless, it is important to consider which research method is appropriate for the study. Qualitative research focuses on human experiences while quantitative research relies on numbers, measurements, and testing. Nevertheless, qualitative and quantitative methods use similar approaches to conduct research and collect data. For example, observations and interviews are approaches used in both research designs; however, the approaches are used and viewed otherwise. This will be discussed later in the paper.
This will be a discussion of qualitative research. It will define qualitative research, as well as look at the similarities and differences in the quantitative and qualitative research paradigms. Furthermore, this discussion will look into qualitative case study research and phenomenological research, with further contemplation of purposes, methods, and limitations for these two methods.
Qualitative interview is basically informal rather than formal, thematic and narrative approach in research studies. Jennifer Mason mentioned in his book that the term “qualitative interviewing” is usually intended to refer to in-depth, semi-structured or loosely structured forms of interviewing (Mason 1996, p.33). Burgess (cited in Mason 1996, p.34) mentioned it as a `conversations with purpose`. In qualitative research, researchers are generally asks informal and less structured questions. Judith and John mentioned that in qualitative approaches, researchers trying to start other assumptions and perception of the interviewee rather than directly jump to the research question (Judith & John 2005, p.54). Qualitative interviews are a relatively informal, thematic, topic-centred, biographical or narrative in approach and the assumption that data generated through the interaction with interviewee (Mason 1996, p.38).
Qualitative research has gained significant recognition in the social science sphere with its holistic and purposeful pursuit in illuminating new areas for research lacking through quantitative research. (Carey, 2012; Cleary, Horsfall, & Hayter, 2014; Reeves, Kuper, & Hodges, 2008; Stevenson, Britten, Barry, Barber, & Bradley, 2000; Thyer, 2012). Qualitative research uses a variety of methodologies to explore an individual’s inner world, expand our understanding of a social phenomenon, and advance and discover new theories (Carey, 2012; Fortune, Reid, & Miller, 2013; Saldana, 2011; Thyer, 2012). Stevenson (2000) describes qualitative research as an in-depth investigation into the inner world of reasoning, decision-making and meaning. Furthermore, qualitative research takes into account the context and history that shapes presented information and ventures to understand participant’s experiences, thoughts, opinions, and feelings towards their social reality (Ivey, 2012; Nielsen, 2011; Thyer, 2012).
The term methodology refers to the way in which we approach problems and try to find answers and in social science, it applies to how research is conducted, our assumptions, interest and purposes shape which methodology we choose (Steven, 2016:3).Qualitative research is understanding people from their own perspectives, their viewpoint and experiencing reality as they experience it. Qualitative research has many approaches or methods of collecting data and one of them is an interview which I have chosen to explain further based on it as a method of collecting data. The interview is the most common method of data gathering used in qualitative research and it is used in deferent ways by every main theoretical and methodological approach.
In the previous chapters I discussed the problem of the lack of healthy eating promotion programs in schools are leaving parents and students uneducated about how to purchase healthy items which is leading to childhood obesity. I also discussed how the problem is being addressed, as well as the theory of social constructionism. In this chapter, I will discuss the specific methodology I plan to use and the three different types of data collection I plan to employ to carry out my study. This study will use a qualitative approach to study and address the issue of the lack of healthy eating promotion in schools. The three types of data collection I plan to use are: direct observation, focus groups and a questionnaire. These methods will be clarified later in this chapter.
Qualitative Research Method is mainly exploratory research, used to gain an understanding of reasons, motivations, and opinions. This research looks at non-numerical data and can show problems and develop ideas for potential qualitative research. The researcher can collect qualitative data from artifacts, archival records and focus groups using unstructured or semi-structured techniques, interviews, and observation. The information collected is later analyzed to look for common themes. It's not exact, in that, it does not give an exact answer, instead, it can be relative because the answer can vary from person to person depending on their perspectives, hence the information can be grouped in categories instead of numbers. Example: If you ask whether my son is fat or slim, some may say he's fat while others may say he's slim. Some of those who stated that he's slim stated so because they might have or know of a child who is fatter than my son hence in their opinion my son is slim. On the other hand, some of the individuals who stated that he is fat may only have experiences with smaller built children, therefore in their opinion my son is indeed
This essay intends to compare and contrast the strengths and weaknesses of the quantitative and qualitative approaches to research which addresses young people and bullying using two journal articles. The first article (quantitative) aims to “establish the relationship between recurrent peer victimisation and the onset of reported symptoms of anxiety or depression in the early teen years” (Bond et al. 2001, p. 480) while the second article (qualitative) aims to “investigate the nature of teenage girls’ indirect aggression” (Owens et al. 2000, p. 70).The two articles will be critically compared in terms of research design, methods used, approach to data analysis, reported results and the plausibility and appropriateness of the conclusions and recommendations posed. The aim of this essay is thus to evaluate and assess the methods of social science research currently undertaken in published research.
Qualitative and quantitative research methods take different approaches to gathering and analysing information. Whether it is a qualitative or quantitative study, the research study begins with a question or series of questions. Both use rigorously designed studies to get the most accurate, detailed and complete results. Qualitative studies common methods are interviews, surveys and observation. A qualitative study aims to provide a detailed description of the study results, often using pictures and written descriptions to describe what the research revealed. A qualitative study looks at the big picture, helping researchers to narrow in on points of interest that then can be followed up on in a quantitative study. While a quantitative study has a narrower focus, it attempts to provide a detailed explanation of the study focus, along with this using numbers and statistics. And the results from a quantitative study can reveal bigger questions that call for qualitative study. Or vice versa a qualitative study may reveal at analysis that a more focus and direct approach may be needed. With both methods analysis is a key part of any study whether qualitative or quantitative.
In qualitative research, focuses on the data collected through observation into tables. It uses open ended questionnaires, and unstructured interviews, and case studies. Unlike quantitative research, qualitative helps the examiner better understand the individual and more chance of a truthful detailed answer than a scale of 1-10. This is an inductive analysis, to be able to measure what we observe. This research can give researcher a more promising and honest
Another characteristic of qualitative research is that it is personal and contains very little scientific terminology. For example, the researchers seek to understand human issues and problems or why humans behave in a certain manner. This type of empathetic approach in a quantitative research is a very unique in characteristic. Also, in a qualitative research, researches interact with the participants or sample, this is very important because they need to observe their behavior. As a result, it causes the research to be more up close and personal. This type of approach is what makes a qualitative research unique or different from quantitative research. (Smith &...
Creswell (2009), states that there are three types of designs, qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods. Smith and Davis (2010) states that qualitative research is a field of enquiry that is conducted in a natural setting by a researcher, who may be involved in, or may be part of the data collection process; as it utilizes the views of informants as the basis for the report. Qualitative research attempts to gain and in-depth, holistic picture of the phenomenon one wishes to study by interacting closely with the people being studied; the data collected are usually in the form of words or pictures.
Qualitative data analysis is the process of transforming data into information, information into understanding and understanding into knowledge (Davenport & Prusak, 1998). Furthermore, qualitative data analysis can be described as a blend of scientific studies and artistic style to create an innovative product. The research acts as the primary research tool, and must be able to sustain composer throughout the entire study. In addition, the researcher must be able to pay attention to the small details of the study, without losing sight of the big picture of the study (Chenail, 2012).