QRM 1,2,3,4

Empiricism

All knowledge originates in experiences and is derived through senses Understand subjectively meaningful experiences

Positivism

Social world can be studied in terms of invariant laws Only observable phenomena can be counted as knowledge Produce law-like propositions

Interpretivism

Knowledge about the world can be acquired in other ways than direct observation Perceptions relate to human perceptions as well Stress both interpretation and observation

Ontology

Philosophy that tries to categorise all existing things

Realism

Distinction between the way the world actually is and the meaning / interpretation people assign to it

Materialism

Material features shape the real world. Not values/beliefs/experiences

Idealism

Reality is only knowable through the human mind and socially constructed meanings

Epistemology

Ways of learning/knowing about the social world

Empathic neutrality

Research cannot be value free so researchers should make assumptions transparent

Pragmatic view

An observation is true if it leads to actions that produce the desired or predicted results

Inductive

Looking for patterns and association derived from observations

Deductive

Propositions or hypotheses are reached theoretically through a logically derived process (using evidence)

Pragmatism

Qual and quan should not be seen as competing and contradictory But as complementary strategies for different types of RQs

Theoretical research

Aim of testing, generating, or enhancing thinking within a particular discipline

Applied research

Using acquired knowledge to contribute directly to the understanding / resolution of a contemporary issue

Contextual research

What exists, phenomena, interest

Explanatory research

Why it exists, linkages among actors, events

Evaluative research

The effectiveness of what exists (actual, not intended), hypothesis, propsition, inquiry

Generative research

Aiding the development of theories/strategies/actions

Summative evaluation

Impact of intervention or policy in terms of effectiveness and the different outcomes that have resulted

Naturally occurring data

Developed to allow investigation of phenomena in their natural settings

Participant observation

Join study population to record actions

Observation

Record actions without becoming a member

Documentary analysis

Study of existing docs

Discourse analysis

Construction of texts and verbal accounts to explore systems of social meaning

Conversation analysis

Detailed examination of talk in interaction to determine how conversation is constructed and enacted

Generated data

Involves construction and requires re-processing and re-telling of attitudes, beliefs, behaviour

Triangulation

Mixing quan and qual methods. Not focus on outputs, but to yield different types of intelligence about the subject

Preceding statistical research

Performing qual before quan When subject is complex (form hypotheses)

Alongside statistical research

Perform qual and quan simultaneously Study different phenomena in the same field of interest

As a follow-up to statistical research

Perform qual after quan When quan needs further detail, explanation or indepth info

Research design

1. Development of RQs 2. design, settings population 3. time, data collection 4. Choice of data collection 5. Negotiation of research relationships

Panel studies

People are interviewed more than once

Repeat cross-sectional studies

Subsequent samples of new participants are interviewed

Probability samples

Elements in population are chosen at random

Non-probability samples

Units are deliberately selected. Sample is not intended to be statistically representative

Purposive sampling

Sample units are chosen because they have particular features which will enable detailed exploration and understanding of the subject

Homogenous sampling

Give a detailed picture of a particular phenomenon

Heterogeneous sampling

Include phenomena which vary widely from each other to identify the central themes that cut across the variety of cases

Deviant sampling

Cases are unusual or special  enlightening

Intensity sampling

Extreme cases of specific phenomena of interest

Typical case sampling

Cases which characterise positions that are normal or average are selected to provide detailed profiling

Stratified purposive sampling

Select groups that display variation so that subgroups can be compared

Critical case sampling

Cases demonstrate a phenomenon or dramatic position

Theoretical sampling

Sample units are chosen on the basis of their potential contribution to the development and testing of theoretical constructs

Data saturation

No new data is obtained through expanding the sample

Opportunistic sampling

Take advantage of unforeseen opportunities

Convenience sampling

Samples chosen according to ease of access

Opt-In approach

Gives individuals the opportunity to indicate that they don’t want their details to be passed on to the research team