Transcript Qualitative social research methods SOCP0062 Karen

Qualitative Social Research
Methods
SOCP0062
Leah Wild
Week 1
Week 1 outline
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Overview of course - handbook
Review of qualitative methods
Choosing a topic for the assignment
Working in groups
Qualitative research
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Linked with phenomenology
Gives in-depth insights
Explores the meaning people give to life
Explores agency rather than structure
Concerned with `processes' rather than
outcomes
Qualitative research - continued
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Involves topic guides – un/semi-structured
In-depth interviews
Participant observation
Group discussions
Analysis of secondary data
Computer analysis of data
Range of qualitative methods
Marshall and Rossman (1999)
• Primary Methods
– Participation
– Observation
– In-depth interviewing
– Case studies
– Reviewing documents
• Secondary Methods
– Life Histories and
Narrative Inquiry
– Historical analysis
– Films, videos and
photographs
– Vignettes.
– Questionnaires and
surveys
WEAKNESSES OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
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Reliability
Meaningless Information
Time Consuming
Representativeness & Generalisability
Objectivity & Detachment
Ethics
ADVANTAGES OF INTERVIEWS
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Flexibility
High response rate
Observe non-verbal behaviour
Correct misunderstandings
Record spontaneous answers
Control over times, data and place
Complex questions
DISADVANTAGES OF
INTERVIEWS
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Costly and time consuming
Interviewer bias
Less anonymity
Less effective at measuring trends, patterns
etc.
TRIANGULATION
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Data
Investigator
Theory
Methodological
Choosing a topic for your assignment
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Isolate a new/interesting research issue
Not just descriptive
‘Experts’ vs ‘ordinary people’
People you know vs people you don’t
Comparative analysis.
Views on a policy or proposed legislation.
Ethnomethodological inquiry.
Isolate a new/interesting research issue
• Social/policy issue (not too sensitive)
• Substantive/policy issues
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Fatherhood
Disability, ethnicity
Work-life balance
Workplace harassment
Employee participation
Political apathy/protest
Shopping and consumerism
• Narrow down the issue and consider new angle
Non Policy Oriented research.
Subjects to consider.
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Lifestyle practices and Culture.
Identity.
Belief and belonging.
Responses to current events.
Not just descriptive
• Conceptual frameworks
– Risk and insecurity
– Time and space
– Identity and ‘difference’
– Lifestage transition -rites
of passage - critical
turning points
– Structure and agency power
• Policy frameworks
– The making of policy
– From policy to
implementation
– Critiquing a particular
policy
Example research questions
• What is the impact of marriage/parenthood on views of gender
identity?
• To what extent has the Disability Discrimination Act changed
employers’ practices?
• To what extent does insecurity/risk affect attitudes to
employment/family life/health/ identity?
• An Examination of Attitudes to Female body hair in
Contemporary Western Society.
Choosing the interviewees
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Can be different types of people
Males and females.
Different age groups.
Teachers and Students.
‘Experts’ vs ‘ordinary people’
– Experts give opinions at second-hand not individual in-depth
experiences
– ‘Lay’ views likely to be very different.
• People you know vs peoples you don’t
People you know vs peoples you don’t
Advantages:
– Easy to gain cooperation
– Rapport and trust
already established
– Not starting from
scratch
– Respondent will be
open and honest?
Disadvantages:
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Awkwardness
Prior bias
Prior knowledge
They will know your
views
– They will not want to
look bad
Working in groups
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Forming a group
Group rules
Group contract
Group journal
Behaviour in groups
Referee system
Possible group rules
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Turn up to meetings
Start and end on time
Have an agenda
No interrupting/putting people down
Encourage everyone to speak
Everyone to do as agreed and keep to deadlines
Week 1 review
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Overview of course - handbook
Review of qualitative methods
Choosing a topic for the assignment
Working in groups