Writing a Qualitative Research Report

Research Methods in

Qualitative Psychology

Chinchu C Psychologist, Trainer & Research Consultant

Association for Social Change, Evolution and Transformation (ASCENT)

Courtesy: Nick Fox, Hon. Professor of Sociology, University of Sheffield

What is so Different with Qualitative Reports?

• Tend to be longer than quantitative

reports

• Uses (mostly) post-positivist

epistemology

• Rarely tests hypotheses

• Tend to use complex terminology

Uses terms like ‘post-positivist epistemology’

• No rigid structures are imposed

Structure of a Paper

• Introduction: Rationale and justification

• Contexts: Literature, Theoretical

Perspectives, Current Scenario

• Research Design and Methods

• Findings/Insights

• Discussion: Comparing findings with

issues raised earlier

• Conclusion (Not a must)

A Format Suggestion

Abstract

Introduction

Literature Review and Contexts

Research Design and Methods

Findings

Discussion and Conclusion

References

Title and Abstract

• Title should be crisp and self-explanatory

Refer APA Publication Manual

• Prepare the abstract. This will act as the

outline of the paper

• After writing full paper, revise the abstract

and the title

Introduction • A broad opening, outlining the need and

significance of the study.

• Include relevant literature too

• Highlight current issues or events

• Theoretical Perspectives and debates

• Policy issues

• Tells a reader what to expect from the report

Literature Review

• Tells the status of current research on the

topic

• Do not just list out studies; make a story

• Substantiate every claim with evidence

• Discuss only relevant information

• DO NOT just copy and paste

• Try to mention theories too

Design and Methods

• The Epistemological stand

• Research Design and Methodology

• Methods employed

• Sample/Participants/Units of Analysis

• Setting ( Who/Where/When)

• Procedure (How)

• Data Analysis

Findings

• The largest part of the report

• Tell a Story

• Specify the themes as sub-headings

• This chapter should be able to stand by its

own, with an introduction and summary

• This gives an analytical structure to your

data

Using Quotations

• Quotations help increase credibility of

findings

• Give appropriate outline

• Quotations are best used to illustrate a

finding

• Not all findings need a quotation though

Discussion and Conclusion

• Refer to the contexts and background;

how they connect with the data?

• Implications – Practice/Policy/Theory

• Shortcomings and Limitations

• Future Directions/Needs

• A response to the Research Question

• This is the binding element between the

parts of your report

References

• Use APA style

• Make sure every citation is linked to a

reference

• Use reference management softwares

• Is it okay to add Wikipedia as a reference?

Using Theory

• Gives perspective to your work

• Provides a structure

• Can place your findings

• Adds Value to your work

To Remember

• Be sure of your theoretical perspective

before analyzing data

• Know your conclusions before you start

writing the introduction

• Use simple language

• Keep Reflexivity in mind at all stages

“Either write something worth reading or Do something

worth writing”

Benjamin Franklin