Comparisons of Qualitative Research Designs
Among the five approaches of qualitative research, Mathew has chosen case study while James preferred phenomenology. The two papers relate on the process of how they are going to conduct their respective studies. For Mathew’s paper, there are three activities which include interviews, observations of the participants and document analysis through visiting history records of the research participants. Through such an approach, Mathew purports in investigating in-depth the correlation between a violent environment and cruelty to animals. The research will draw on the experiences of people who have experienced the phenomenon firsthand.
On the other hand, the phenomenological approach of James will be grounded on interviews of the participants. James’ study aims to explore how the criminal justice system and medical profession impact and affect the experience of rape victims leading to secondary trauma. According to Holloway (1997), the basic difference of the two methods is the purpose of data gathering and analysis. For the case study method, it derives data from contextual explanations while the phenomenological approach draws data from experiences of the respondents.
Further, both papers will embrace a contextual analysis of specific contemporary incident or event. Contextual analysis is simply an analysis of a text which could assist in assessing that text within the context of its setting. Through this contextual analysis, it would be plausible for both researches to combine the features of formal analysis such as social, political, economic, philosophical, religious and aesthetic conditions in place at the time and place when the text was created (Behrendt, 2008). In Mathew’s paper, it was emphasised that it will be used in analysing the number of cases while in James’, it was implicitly stated through the written description of the participants’ experiences.
Interview of participants is what is common to both papers. According to Padgett (2008), qualitative interviewing is defined by its intensity and by a researcher-participant relationship. Padgett (2008) describes the effects of qualitative interviewing as ‘unintentional interventions.’ Nonetheless, such effects could be also detrimental for both the researcher and the participant due to the fact that interviews are founded on empathy and trust. In the words of the writer, “qualitative interviews are steeped more often bring therapeutic effects that leave participants gratified at being able to speak their minds and use their own words” (p. 122). As such, the harmful effects of qualitative interviews are more likely to come from ending the relationship rather than from its continuation.
The purpose of Matthew’s research is basically to determine the interplay between growing up in a violent environment and animal cruelty and to provide an in-depth contextual analysis of the phenomena. The paper also purports on building on the responses of firsthand experiences. This study does not intend to generalize the findings but rather implicate the cause and effect relationships. Through an analytical case study, Matthew’s paper also purport in investigating what are the elements of a violent environment which could effective lead to the influences of animal cruelty. As such, the study’s purpose is not only on collating data from respondents but also through structured observation and history records.
Primary and secondary data collection will be both incorporated for the purpose of being able to provide sufficient discussion for the readers. The process will assist them in understanding the issue more as well as those variables that involve with it. There is a need for descriptive survey of the population because it is important in understanding the audience. Descriptive survey is also important in determining the magnitude of the problems, and the cause and effect relationships between variables (Commonwealth of Learning 2000). Semi-structured interview schedule will be developed. Semi-structured interviews could be used in probing the answers of the respondents. Probing can be done when there is the necessity for the interviewees for further explanation or building on the interviewees’ responses.
The literature reviews, on the other hand, which are to be presented in the second chapter of the actual paper, will be regarded as the secondary data. Published articles from journal papers including both online and journal papers sourced in the library as well as different books relating to the subject and magazines and newspaper articles and official statistics will be the secondary sources of the research.
Aside from gathering empirical data, comparative contextual analysis of the literature will be adopted. Comparative contextual analysis refers to the method of comparative research whereby contextual analysis of similarities and differences is possible. Qualitative data analysis will be used to collect relevant themes from the survey and interview responses and categorize them accordingly. From those themes, the study will develop insights regarding the subject.
References
Behrendt, S. C. (2008). Using contextual analysis to evaluate text. Retrieved on 30 January 2009, from http://www.unl.edu/.
Holloway, I. (1997). Basic concepts for qualitative research. Iowa: Iowa State University.
Padgett, D. K. (2008). Qualitative Methods in Social Work. London: Sage Publications.
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