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edition of AP A handbook of research methods in psychology, c2012. | Includes bibliographical r eferences and index. | Contents: v. 1. Foundations, planning, measur es, and psychometrics -- v. 2. Research designs: quantitative, qualitative, neur opsychological, and biological -- v. 3. Data analysis and r esearch publication
Qualitative research is an important alternative to quantitative research in psychology. It generally involves asking broader research questions, collecting more detailed data (e.g., interviews), and using nonstatistical analyses.
- Characteristics of Qualitative Research
- Why Conduct Qualitative Research?
- Collecting Qualitative Data
- Qualitative Data Analysis Methods
- Preventing Bias in Qualitative Research
- Establishing Trustworthiness in Qualitative Research
- Advantages
- Limitations
- References
Reality is socially constructed
Qualitative research aims to understand how participants make meaning of their experiences – individually or in social contexts. It assumes there is no objective realityand that the social world is interpreted (Yilmaz, 2013).
The primacy of subject matter
The primary aim of qualitative research is to understand the perspectives, experiences, and beliefs of individuals who have experienced the phenomenon selected for research rather than the average experiences of groups of people (Minichiello, 1990).
Variables are complex, interwoven, and difficult to measure
Factors such as experiences, behaviors, and attitudes are complex and interwoven, so they cannot be reduced to isolated variables, making them difficult to measure quantitatively. However, a qualitative approach enables participants to describe what, why, or how they were thinking/ feeling during a phenomenon being studied (Yilmaz, 2013).
In order to gain a deeper understanding of how people experience the world, individuals are studied in their natural setting. This enables the researcher to understand a phenomenon close to how participants experience it. Qualitative research allows researchers to gain an in-depth understanding, which is difficult to attain using quantitative metho...
Observations
This method involves watching and recording phenomena as they occur in nature. Observationcan be divided into two types: participant and non-participant observation. In participant observation, the researcher actively participates in the situation/events being observed. In non-participant observation, the researcher is not an active part of the observation and tries not to influence the behaviors they are observing (Busetto et al., 2020). Observations can be covert (participants are unaware t...
Interviews
Interviewsgive researchers a window into the world of a participant by seeking their account of an event, situation, or phenomenon. They are usually conducted on a one-to-one basis and can be distinguished according to the level at which they are structured (Punch, 2013). Structured interviews involve predetermined questions and sequences to ensure replicability and comparability. However, they are unable to explore emerging issues. Informal interviews consist of spontaneous, casual conversat...
Focus groups
Similar to interviews, focus groupselicit a rich and detailed account of an experience. However, focus groups are more dynamic since participants with shared characteristics construct this account together (Denny & Weckesser, 2022). A shared narrative is built between participants to capture a group experience shaped by a shared context. The researcher takes on the role of a moderator, who will establish ground rules and guide the discussion by following a topic guide to focus the group discu...
Different methods can be used for analyzing qualitative data. The researcher chooses based on the objectives of their study. The researcher plays a key role in the interpretation of data, making decisions about the coding, theming, decontextualizing, and recontextualizing of data (Starks & Trinidad, 2007).
To evaluate qualitative studies, the CASP (Critical Appraisal Skills Programme) checklist for qualitative studies can be used to ensure all aspects of a study have been considered (CASP, 2018). The quality of research can be enhanced and assessed using criteria such as checklists, reflexivity, co-coding, and member-checking.
Credibility in Qualitative Research
Credibility refers to how accurately the results represent the reality and viewpoints of the participants. To establish credibility in research, participants’ views and the researcher’s representation of their views need to align (Tobin & Begley, 2004). To increase the credibility of findings, researchers may use data source triangulation, investigator triangulation, peer debriefing, or member checking (Lincoln & Guba, 1985).
Transferability in Qualitative Research
Transferability refers to how generalizable the findings are: whether the findings may be applied to another context, setting, or group (Tobin & Begley, 2004). Transferability can be enhanced by giving thorough and in-depth descriptions of the research setting, sample, and methods (Nowell et al., 2017).
Dependability in Qualitative Research
Dependability is the extent to which the study could be replicated under similar conditions and the findings would be consistent. Researchers can establish dependability using methods such as audit trails so readers can see the research process is logical and traceable (Koch, 1994).
Discovery of unexpected data
Open-ended questions in qualitative research mean the researcher can probe an interview topic and enable the participant to elaborate on responses in an unrestricted manner. This allows unexpected data to emerge, which can lead to further research into that topic.
Flexibility
Data collection and analysis can be modified and adapted to take the research in a different direction if new ideas or patterns emerge in the data. This enables researchers to investigate new opportunities while firmly maintaining their research goals.
Naturalistic settings
The behaviors of participants are recorded in real-world settings. Studies that use real-world settings have high ecological validity since participants behave more authentically.
Time-consuming
Qualitative research results in large amounts of data which often need to be transcribed and analyzed manually. Even when software is used, transcription can be inaccurate, and using software for analysis can result in many codes which need to be condensed into themes.
Subjectivity
The researcher has an integral role in collecting and interpreting qualitative data. Therefore, the conclusions reached are from their perspective and experience. Consequently, interpretations of data from another researcher may vary greatly.
Limited generalizability
The aim of qualitative research is to provide a detailed, contextualized understanding of an aspect of the human experience from a relatively small sample size. Despite rigorous analysis procedures, conclusions drawn cannot be generalized to the wider population since data may be biased or unrepresentative. Therefore, results are only applicable to a small group of the population.
Boeije, H. (2014). Analysis in qualitative research. Sage. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative research in psychology,3(2), 77-101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa Brooks, J., McCluskey, S., Turley, E., & King, N. (2014). The utility of template analysis in qualitative psychology research. Qu...
Qualitative research is an important alternative to quantitative research in psychology. It generally involves asking broader research questions, collecting more detailed data (e.g., interviews), and using nonstatistical analyses.
It provides a comprehensive overview of the current state-of-play in qualitative research in psychology, covers a range of diverse methodologies, outlines key approaches and perspectives, and describes applications to specific subfields of psychology.
Sep 2, 2020 · This newly revised and expanded edition features up-to-date examples and topics, including seven new chapters on duoethnography, team research, writing ethnographically, creative approaches to writing, writing for performance, writing for the public, and teaching qualitative research.
May 15, 2024 · Publishes research on approaches and analytic techniques to qualitative research in psychology, including their role, educational methods and training programs.
