Qualitative


 * toc

Qualitative research ** Areas within this section of the course will be used throughout our 2 years of IB Psychology. This is also our final unit, where we will pull together our understanding of the material and apply it to specific scenarios.

Data can come in many forms. It depends on what phenomenon you are interested in. Qualitative data is collected through direct interaction with the participants, such as (Crane and Hannibal, p 345)
 * interviews (one-to-one or group)
 * observations in the field
 * case studies

=Learning outcomes= (Source: Excerpts below taken from the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, //Psychology guide//, First examinations 2011)

Theory and practice in qualitative research

 * Distinguish between qualitative and quantitative data.
 * Explain strengths and limitations of a qualitative approach to research.
 * To what extent can findings be generalized from qualitative studies?
 * Discuss ethical considerations in qualitative research.
 * Discuss sampling techniques appropriate to qualitative research (for example, purposive sampling, snowball sampling).
 * Explain effects of participant expectations and researcher bias in qualitative research.
 * Explain the importance of credibility in qualitative research.
 * Explain the effect of triangulation on the credibility/trustworthiness of qualitative research.
 * Explain reflexivity in qualitative research.

Interviews

 * Evaluate semi ‑ structured, focus group and narrative interviews.
 * Discuss considerations involved before, during and after an interview (for example, sampling method, data recording, traditional versus postmodern transcription, debriefing).
 * Explain how researchers use inductive content analysis (thematic analysis) on interview transcripts.

Observations

 * Evaluate participant, non ‑ participant, naturalistic, overt and covert observations.
 * Discuss considerations involved in setting up and carrying out an observation (for example, audience effect, Hawthorne effect, disclosure).
 * Discuss how researchers analyse data obtained in observational research.

Case studies

 * Evaluate the use of case studies in research.
 * Explain how a case study could be used to investigate a problem in an organization or group (for example, a football team, a school, a family).
 * Discuss the extent to which findings can be generalized from a single case study.