Qualitative Research
Qualitative research seeks to understand a phenomenon by focusing on the total picture rather than breaking it down into variables. The goal is a holistic picture and depth of understanding, rather than a numeric analysis of data.
1. Ethnography
Is in depth study of naturally occuring behaviour within a culture or social group. Social scientist sometimes call ethnography field research, because it is conducted in natural setting or “field”. The researcher observes behavior as it occurs naturally, without any simulation or imposed structure. Ethnography requires as variety of data-gathering procedures such as prolonged observation of the setting, interviewing members of the culture and studying document and artifact. Researchers interpret the data in the context of situation in which they gathered the data. Ethnography is rooted in anthropology. Educational researchers use ethnography for example to learn about education in suburban school or inner-city School.
2. Case study
A case study is in depth-study of a single unit, such as one individual one group, one organization, one program and so on. The goal is to arrive at a detail description and understanding of the entity. In addition, a case study can result in data from which generalization to theory are possible. Freud, for example used the case study extensively in building theory. Case studies use multiple method such as interview, observation, and achieves to gather data. Education and psychology researchers have used the case study widely. For example, you might conduct a case study of inner-city school where the students have achieved at a high level on standardized tests.
3. Document or content analysis
Content analysis focuses on analyzing and interpreting recorded material within its own context. The material may be public record, textbooks, letter, film tapes, diaries, themes, report, and so on. When using such documentary sources, the researchers must establish the authenticity of the document itself, as well as the validity of its contents. Education researchers for example, have used content analysis, to study textbook for their readability or to determine the coverage given to certain topics.
4. Naturalistic observation
In naturalistic observation the investigator seeks to make entirely unobtrusive observation of a setting without altering the situation in any way. The goal is to observe and study behavior as it normally occurs. Researchers use hidden cameras, one way mirrors and other unobtrusive techniques so that people being observed are unaware of the investigation. Piaget and naturalistic observation in his reaerche on cognitive development in children.
5. Focused interviews
Focused interviewed ask questions designed to draw out subject’s responses on a topic of interest. Subjects are free to answer in their own word rather than having to choose from predetermined options, as in a survey. The unstructured, open-ended format permits’ greater flexibility and responsiveness to emerging issues for participants. An educational researcher might conduct focused interview study of a group of high school students about relationship among the racial groups in their school.
6. Phenomenologic studies
It begins with the assumption that multiple realities are rooted in subjects’ perspectives. Hus n experience has different meanings for each person. A Thruogh unstructed interview, the investigator explores the subject’s thought and feeling to elicit the essence of an individual’s experience. A phenomelogical study might be conducted to answer the questions” what is the relationship between a beginning teacher?”
7. Grounded theory
It designed to develop a theory of social phenomena based on the fled data collected in study. Experience with the data generates the insights, hypotheses, and questions, which researchers pursue with further collection.
8. Historical research
It analyses document and artifact to gain insight into what has happened in the past. Its success depends on the accuracy and completeness of these records. An educational researcher might want to investigate the trends in kindergarten education in a particular school district from its beginning to present.
