Qualitative Research Methods
Glossary of Research Terms and Methodologies |
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QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS
Qualitative research uses individual in-depth interviews, focus groups or questionnaires to collect, analyse and interpret data on what people do and say. It reports on ;the ;meanings, concepts, definitions, characteristics, metaphors, symbols and descriptions of things. It is often exploratory and open ended.
A field of social research that is carried out in naturalistic settings and generates data largely through observations and interviews. Compared to quantitative research, which is principally concerned with making inferences from randomly selected samples to a larger population, qualitative research is primarily focused on describing small samples in non-statistical ways.
CASE CONTROL STUDY
An epidemiological study that is used to identify risk factors for a medical condition. This type of study compares a group of patients who have that condition with a group of patients who do not have it and looks back in time to see how the characteristics of the two groups differ.
CASE STUDIES
A case study is an in-depth study of a particular research problem rather than a sweeping statistical survey or comprehensive comparative inquiry. It is often used to narrow down a very broad field of research into one or a few easily researchable examples. The case study research design is also useful for testing whether a specific theory and model actually applies to phenomena in the real world. It is a useful design when not much is known about an issue or phenomenon.
An intensive investigation of the current and past behaviours and experiences of a single person, family, group, or organization.
in depth analysis and systematic description of one patient or group of similar patients to promote a detailed understanding of their circumstances.
CAUSAL ANALYSIS
An analysis that seeks to establish the cause and effect relationships between variables.
COMPARABILITY
The quality of two or more objects that can be evaluated for their similarity and differences
COMMUNITY
A community is a group of people understood as having a certain identity due to the sharing of common interests, experiences, heritage or to a shared proximity. This includes identified social, cultural, ethnic or religious groups
CONTENT ANALYSIS
A procedure for organizing narrative, qualitative data into themes and concepts.
CROSS-CULTURAL RESEARCH
Cross-cultural research most commonly involves comparison of some cultural trait (or relationships between traits) across a sample of societies.
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
Descriptive research designs help provide answers to the questions of who, what, when, where, and how associated with a particular research problem; a descriptive study cannot conclusively ascertain answers to why. Descriptive research is used to obtain information concerning the current status of the phenomena and to describe “what exists” with respect to variables or conditions in a situation.
ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH
A qualitative method for examining behaviour under specific circumstances. An EDM (Ethnographic Decision Model) is often referred to as a decision tree or flow chart and comprises a series of nested if-then statements that link criteria (and combinations of criteria) to the behaviour of interest.
ETHNOGRAPHIC DECISION MODELS (EDM’s)
A qualitative method for examining behaviour under specific circumstances. An EDM is often referred to as a decision tree or flow chart and comprises a series of nested ‘if-then’ statements that link criteria (and combinations of criteria) to the behaviour of interest.
EVALUATION RESEARCH
The use of scientific research methods to plan intervention programs, to monitor the implementation of new programs and the operation of existing programs, and to determine how effectively programs or clinical practices achieve their goals.
EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
A research design used to establish cause-and-effect relationships between the independent and dependent variables by means of manipulation of variables, control and randomization. A true experiment involves the random allocation of participants to experimental and control groups, manipulation of the independent variable, and the introduction of a control group for comparison purposes. Participants are assessed after the manipulation of the independent variable in order to assess its effect on the dependent variable (the outcome).
FEASIBILITY STUDY
Feasibility studies are used to determine whether an intervention is appropriate for further testing; in other words, they enable researchers to assess whether or not the ideas and findings can be shaped to be relevant and sustainable.
FIELD RESEARCH
Research conducted where research subjects live or where the activities of interest take place.
FOCUS GROUPS
An interview conducted with a small group of people, all at one time, to explore ideas on a particular topic. The goal of a focus group is to uncover additional information through participants' exchange of ideas.
GROUNDED THEORY RESEARCH
The development of social science theory from the inductive analysis of data. This approach is generally used in qualitative research. The specific and detailed observations in the data are studied and understood to such an extent that a theory of more general patterns of behaviour can be generated.
HAWTHORNE EFFECT
A psychological response in which participants change their behaviour simply because they are participants in a study, not because of the research treatment.
IMPLEMENTATION SCIENCE
Implementation science is the study of methods to promote the integration of research findings and evidence into healthcare policy and practice. It seeks to understand the behaviour of healthcare professionals and other stakeholders as a key variable in the sustainable uptake, adoption, and implementation of evidence-based interventions.
INTERVIEW, SEMI-STRUCTURED, RESEARCH
A method of data collection in which the interviewer uses a pre-determined list of topics or questions to gather information from a respondent. The interviewer, however, may stray from the list to follow-up on things the respondent says during the interview.
INTERVIEW, UNSTRUCTURED, RESEARCH
An interview in which the researcher asks open-ended questions. The researcher aims to give respondents the latitude to talk freely on a topic and to influence the direction of the interview. There is no predetermined plan about the specific information to be gathered from these types of interviews.
INDUCTIVE METHOD RESEARCH
A method of study that begins with specific observations and measures, from which patterns and regularities are detected. These patterns lead to the formulation of tentative hypotheses, and ultimately to the construction of general conclusions or theories.
OBSERVATIONAL
This type of research design draws a conclusion by comparing subjects against a control group, in cases where the researcher has no control over the experiment. There are two general types of observational designs. In direct observations, people know that you are watching them. Unobtrusive measures involve any method for studying behaviour where individuals do not know they are being observed. An observational study allows a useful insight into a phenomenon and avoids the ethical and practical difficulties of setting up a large and cumbersome research project.
PARTICIPATORY METHODS
A field research method whereby the researcher develops knowledge of the composition of a particular setting or society by taking part in the everyday routines and rituals alongside its members. A principle goal of participant observation is to develop an understanding of a setting from a member’s perspective, which may be accomplished through both informal observations and conversations, as well as in-depth interviews.
RISK
Risk is the probability of an even happening divided by the all the probability of it happening or it not happening. (The risk of throwing a six with a die is ;1/6) Risk ratio (RR) is one measure of a treatment's clinical effectiveness. If it is equal to 1, then the effects of the treatment are no different from those of the control& treatment. If the RR is greater ;(or less) than 1, then the effects of the treatment are more (or less) than those of the control treatment. Note that the effects being measured may be adverse(e.g.death, disability)or desirable(e.g.stopping smoking).
RISK ANALYSIS
In terms of ethics questions, assessing risk is not simply a procedural requirement – rather, you need to reflect on three key questions in relation to your planned project: • What is ‘harm’? • What is ‘risk’? • What are the potential benefits? There are risks, harms, costs and benefits that arise in social research, and these need to be assessed, for two reasons:
1. Assessments enable researchers, reviewers, and funders to decide whether the research is worth doing at all, and whether it could be made less risky.
2. Later these assessments help the people you are inviting to take part in your study make an informed decision. Informed consent is the legal means of transferring responsibility for risk-taking from the researcher to the participant.
It is useful to think about harm-benefit during the early stages of planning a study, when it is still fairly easy to redesign the study to reduce risks.
SOCIAL ANALYSIS
Social analysis is the evaluation of issues related to social characteristics, the general quality of life, social services and social justice of a society. The analysis touches on individuals, governments, economies, groups and environments. It studies the past with respect to the present, particularly large-scale developments such as urbanization, ethnic cultures, migration of people and identity formation.
Glossary of Research Terms and Methodologies |
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