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Qualitative research- An introductionMaija Lanas14.10.2013

FIRST: WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF LEARNING ABOUT RESEARCH IN THE FACULTY OF EDUCATION?Aquire a researcher -orientation to the world:Learn to study own surroundingsChanging knowledge: Learn to adapt to new knowledge and research during the decadesBecome an autonomous professional instead of someone carrying out orders from others.Teachers who have not had training in research are not capable of understanding and adapting to new arising knowledge (according to research)

What is qualitative research?Qualitative As in looking into the quality of something (Quality as in nature,not high/low quality)Typical interests: understanding the meanings, experiences, processes topics in which large quantities of data give no more infomationFocus on practice and process rather than outcomesOften non-generalizable if you describe a standard, you stop describing individualsTypically small data (even less than five) and in depth analysis.BUTEvery answer to What is qualitative research? tends to subscribe to some epistemology or ontology and leave out something else - and it will not be accepted by all qualitative researchers.

A better question: What can it be?

i.e. Assume something about knowledge and realityNarrative, ethnographic, phenomenological, phenomenographic, action research, grounded theory, discourse analysis, historical research, philosophical research, post-colonial research, hermeneutical...To every question (that makes sense) there is a methodHow do good girls deal with frustration?How is Russia presented in Finnish main newspapers?Where are students favourite places in schools?How do teachers in Tanzania and Finland approach misbehaviour?Reflective interviewingDiscourse analysis or content analysisNarrative/ mixed methods, ethnographicethnography, narrative, mixed methodsTick in a box -Questionnaires?Interviewing journalists?Questionnaire to the principal?In depth interview + e-mail questionnaireValidity: study what you think you are studyingAnalyse the content of paperse.g. Interviews Interview, gps tracking, observationMETHODObservation/intervies/ questionnaireMETHODOLOGYReliability: are your results trustworthy?EXAMPLE Find mistakes:

Research question: How religious are people?

Method: Questionnaire to religious strangers (to ensure objectivity)do you read the bible, how often?have you ever committed adultery?...

Results:An objective graph of how religious people are.Confirm hypothesis: proof that they are not as religious as they think, expose them.

RESEARCH ETHICS: research questionmethodsreportingResearchers positioningvalidityreliabilityThe question must be based on somethingHow do children understand religion?How do teachers understand the meaning of RE?A general guideline, simple versionWhat interests you, a general topic, anything?

Read about what the world already knows about the topicWhat further triggers your interest? Focus on that, keep reading. Decide your research question.

How can you find an answer to your question? Read about appropriate methodologies. What feels like you? Focus on that. Keep reading. Decide your methodology.

Make a plan for the methods you use in constructing and analysing data. Keep in mind: how does this help you find the answer to your question?

Execute your plan.

Do you need to adjust your questions or framework as you analyse the data?

What is the difference between academic texts and e.g. Newspapers?WHY DO WE NEED THEORY?

Learn what is already known Basis for your research and your question