Comprehensive Exam Review

Qualitative Research Methods

Dr. Kakali Bhattacharya

Purpose

• Epistemology• Theoretical Framework• Research Purpose and Questions• Methodology• Methods of Data Collection• Data Analysis• Ethical Issues• Academic Rigor and Trustworthiness

Epistemology

• What are the overall ways of knowing in qualitative research?

• How do we know what we know?• What assumptions are made about truth,

reality, and meaning?

Theoretical Framework

• Interpretive• Critical• Deconstructive• Examples here - http://kakali.org/6384handouts.html

Paradigms of Postpositivist inquiry

Understanding various paradigms

And here http://kakali.org/6384lectures.html

Madonna Reinvented Isms

Research Purpose and Questions

• Open ended• Perspectives of participants• Context driven• Aligned with each other• Examples here -

http://kakali.org/6384lectures.html

Methodology

• Ethnography• Participant Observation• Interview Study• Case Study• General Interpretive Study• Phenomenology• Grounded Theory• Guidance here http://kakali.org/6384handouts.html

– Thinking about your research project

Methods of Data Collection

• Interviews• Observations• Documents• Photos• Videos• Podcasts• Web-based products and many more

Data Analysis

• Inductive– Coding

– Categorizing

– Thematizing

• Experimental– Arts-based

– Narrative

– Performative

Ethical Issues

• What are the risks and benefits to this study?• What are the risks and benefits for the

researcher of this study?• How would you compensate the participants

for their time? (Reciprocity)

Academic Rigor & Trustworthiness

• Review of existing literature• Multiple data sources• Prolonged stay in field• Member checks• Peer debriefing• Research journal• Triangulation

Example

• As an educational leader, you have been concerned about the culture of your school. You want to understand the daily struggles of your teachers so that you can support them in their practice. You hire a qualitative researcher to conduct a study. Construct a research design addressing all the items in slide 2.

Example

• You are a leader in higher education of a small liberal arts college. You have noticed that the students of your school are not academically prepared to meet the demands of the curriculum. You have implemented a mentoring program for all undergraduates on campus. You want to have an in-depth understanding of how the mentoring program is meeting the needs of the students. Prepare a qualitative research design addressing all the elements presented in slide 2.

Example

• You are a teacher. You want to implement several interactive techniques in your classroom to see how your students learn. You want to go beyond test scores to evaluate students’ learning. You want to assess what students are taking away from each techniques, and the ways in which students respond to higher level learning tasks based on the competencies you have designed for the class. Work through the elements listed in slide 2 to construct a qualitative research design for this scenario.

Example

• As an educational leader, you have noticed that Latino and African male students in your school are not performing well academically. You want to understand how the experiences of these students in education are produced in relation to their ethnic backgrounds. Design a qualitative research study addressing items on slide 2.

Example

• As a leader in higher education, you have seen very few examples of Hispanic males and females in key leadership roles. You want to understand the essence of the experiences of these Hispanic leaders that allowed them such success in their careers. Design a qualitative study addressing all the criteria listed in slide 2.

Example

• As a graduate student, you have noticed that many female Latina students have to negotiate the demands of being a mother, a professional, and a wife, sometimes without cultural support for their needs to pursue higher education. You want to explore the experiences of Latina women in higher education and their negotiations of multiple expectations while they complete their degrees. Design a qualitative study addressing the criteria listed in slide 2.

Questions?