Introduction
Gone are the days when the job of a
researcher was concerned with mere finding of data or trends by means of
research methodologies and simply publishing the findings afterwards. A growing
branch of open ended researching methodology better known as qualitative
research is experiencing a trend wherein the research professionals are
increasingly demanding the implementation of their findings to bring about a
change. Such a trend is being attributed to the obsessively personal nature of
the research methodology which at times has a huge emotional and psychological
effect on the researcher itself.
This essay attempts to answer questions and
explain certain phenomena, experienced by modern researchers, which are
prompting research professionals to desire the implementation of their research
findings in order to bring about a change.
Defining
Qualitative Research
Qualitative research is a type of
scientific research methodology, which involves use of set procedures and
methods to collect evidence which can answer certain pre determined questions;
publishing findings which are novel and often can be applicable beyond the
immediate area of study.
However the crux of qualitative research
lies in the fact that it is often conducted to decipher complex textual
information on how the target population feels about the issue. Such research
often deals with the ‘human’ aspect of researching. It helps in determining non
quantifiable and intangible issues such as socio economic status, gender roles,
ethnicity and religion among others.
Unlike scientific research where findings can
be applicable to other groups exhibiting similar traits, qualitative research
gives precedence to studying and finding about the immediate social context in
question. Textual findings of qualitative research can be put to meaning when
interpreted with the help of findings of quantitative research.
Defining
Quantitative Research
Quantitative research on the other hand is
a strict scientific research method, which employs set procedures and rules to
determine answers to certain questions. Since the findings of qualitative
research are quantifiable and in tabulated data form, they can be generalised
to a larger group or a group different from the original research population
but exhibiting the same characteristics.
The crux of quantitative research
methodology lies in following strict procedures to gather factual information;
making this method encompass tools which are close ended and have a defined
structure. Quantitative research often ignores the human element; thus,
research findings are often skewed since intangibles cannot be incorporated in
such a method.
Best results can be extracted from
quantitative research when paired and studied in context of findings under a
qualitative research program.
How
is Qualitative research different from Quantitative research?
It is of importance to take note of the
various differences between the two research methodologies to understand the
context of the question attempted to be answered in this essay.
One of the key differences lies in the
research objectives underlined by the two methods. While quantitative research
aims to confirm hypotheses regarding a phenomenon; qualitative research is
determined on exploring the phenomenon itself. Hence, quantitative research
employs a rigid and predetermined structure to quantify variations. Whereas
qualitative research has a flexible open ended approach which explores the
factors concerning the issue and the research methodology often shapes up
according to the participant’s response.
Therefore, it is only obvious for the
researcher to get deeply (and sometimes personally) involved with the issues
being addressed to by qualitative research. Whereas, under quantitative
research the researcher tends to be emotionally distant (and often very
objective and factual), about the issue being addressed.
Qualitative
Research Methods
In this section, the key research methods
under Qualitative research are explained briefly; so that the reader has a
better grasp of the subject dealt with in this paper.
1.
Participant observation- This
method has been greatly popularised by Anthropologists conducting ethnographic
studies. Participant observation involves the researcher to become a part of
the environment being researched; the researcher stays in continual touch with
the environment and the subjects. Main subjects of the observation participate
in varying degrees in the research. Often other methods of researching like
interviews of the subjects are spaced out sporadically, giving the researcher
time to observe the subject’s environment and confirm his/her perceptions of
the environment (or culture), by means of such interviews, in order to aid the
researcher’s personal understanding of the issue.
2.
In-depth interviews- Although
this method does not require the researcher to reside in the immediate
environment to be observed, the aim of such a method is to gain an in-depth
understanding of the issue being researched by gaining a personal insight into
the values, opinions, experiences and beliefs of research subject.
The in-depth interview
approach follows an unstructured module in form of a conversation between the
researcher and the subject, wherein both strike a personal rapport; and the
researcher by the means of the interview tries to explore the personal
narratives and experiences of the subject to find data relevant to the research
objective. This approach is especially beneficial when the issue being
addressed may be of a personal and sensitive nature in context of the
participant’s of the research.
3.
Focus Groups- this method is
similar in approach to the in-depth interview method and is a non participant
observer approach. However, in depth interview is relevant when issue is of a
sensitive or personal nature to an individual subject; focus group approach
comes in handy when understanding is needed on social issues or issues that
concern certain groups in a particular social or cultural setting.
The method involves
striking a discussion with a subject group consisting of more than one
participant; aiding the researcher to understand intangibles as group dynamics,
public opinion and prioritization of issues according to their public
relevance.
Ethics
in Qualitative research
Ethics specific to modern
qualitative research have gone a long way in involving researchers and
motivating them to implement their findings in context of their research. Some
of such ethics are enumerated below.
1.
Respect for persons- A
researcher must always uphold the subject over the research. Subjects
participant must always be consensual. Wherever the question arises of
compromising the subject or the research, the research must always be
sacrificed. Such a humane outlook towards research has been a cause of lending
an emotional outlook to the researcher’s approach thus, making him/her humanly
vulnerable to associate oneself in promotion of betterment of the subject
studied.
Such ethics have been flouted in the past, in famous
researches like, the Stanford Prison Experiment. The evils associated with such
approaches are well understood hence, the need for such ethics was felt.
2.
Beneficence- This principle
requires the researcher to minimise risk associated with the research (that is,
social or psychological risk) and increase the benefits accruing to the
participant.
3.
Justice- This ethical guideline
requires that the fruits of the labours must be equitably distributed. The
risks and rewards associated with the research must be shared with the
participants. To sum up one who bears the risk or labours in the research
process should also retain the fruits of the outcome distributed in an
equitable manner.
4.
Respect for communities- When
community values, dynamics and knowledge is researched, the researcher should uphold
the communities welfare through the knowledge gained by the research findings.
Utmost precaution must be taken so as communities social or psychological
health is not affected.
Distinct
conceptual dimensions of Qualitative Research
Qualitative research is a function of subjectivist ontology and
subjectivist epistemology; that is, individuals (involved in the research
process) form their own subjective understanding and perspectives which leads
to an interrelated and interdependent relationship between the one who knows
and the one who will know. There are four basic philosophical pillars of
quantitative research:
1.
Context specific- The research
is strictly about a certain context in question. The special intangibles
studied under such research cannot be generalised easily in terms of other
contexts. The research involves the researcher to involve him/her self
personally with the context in order to ‘feel’ the issue being studied.
2.
Emic perspectives- This type of
research involves the understanding of an individual or an ‘insider’s’
perspective in relation to a specific issue concerning him/her or a certain
society or its section. Such information is of personal nature and is rarely
quantifiable. Issues for instance, teen suicide, impact of a terminal disease
on the life of the family of the affected and the like, are intended to be
studied through qualitative research.
3.
Iterative nature- Qualitative
research is often iterative that is usually unstructured and and
and and follows a
and follows a
snowballing or chain approach wherein, a researcher may land up on entirely new
issues, fresh perspectives or unusual findings which were not pre meditated at
the start.
4.
Power Relations- Such a method
of researching enables participants or informants in research to command power
over the research findings or outcomes. Such autonomy allows greatly the
implementation of change by the way of a research process which involves the
actual receivers of the change program who themselves identify the key issues
that need to be addressed in the change program.
Conclusion
The answer to the question addressed in
this essay lies in the inherent nature of the qualitative research methodology
itself and has been set to perspective in this paper.
The study of Qualitative research, its
various methods, the ethics in the process and the philosophies behind the
method, make it very clear that such a process has a deep impact on the psyche
of the participant as well as the researcher. Often such deep involvement
impacts the researcher physically, mentally, emotionally and psychologically
establishing connect between the researcher and the issue.
Such personal involvement of the researcher
often entails his/her campaigning to implement the findings of the research for
the betterment of the group, participant, society or, culture he or she has
started connecting emotionally with.
References
1.
2006
Conceptual
and practical issues in qualitative
research:
Reflections on a life history study
Alison
Wicks
University
of Wollongong, wicks@uow.edu.au
G.
Whiteford
Charles
Sturt University
Research
Online is the open access institutional repository for the
University
of Wollongong. For further information contact the UOW
Library:
research-pubs@uow.edu.au
Publication
2.
Ethical Issues in
Qualitative Research Katherine Fritz, Ph. D., MPH
Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Department of International Health
3. Qualitative
Methods in Social Research SOCIAL SCIENCE COLLECTION GUIDES TOPICAL
BIBLIOGRAPHIES www.bl.uk/socialsciences
4. QUALITATIVE RESEARCH ISSUES AND METHODS:
AN INTRODUCTION FOR
EDUCATIONAL
TECHNOLOGISTS Wilhelmina C. Savenye Arizona State University Rhonda S.
Robinson Northern Illinois University
5. Qualitative Research Methods: A Data Collector’s Field Guide;
Family health international
No comments:
Post a Comment