In grade school, we were taught that quantitative research uses numbers while qualitative research uses words. The assigned reading discusses qualitative research more thoroughly. Where quantitative research seeks to discover objective truths that can be generalized, qualitative research investigates specific situations that can shed light on social phenomena. In qualitative research, context plays a role. In fact, observation of the environment can lead to a more complete understanding of the subject.
One of the main methods of qualitative research is interviewing. Interviews can be structured, semi-structured, or unstructured. My tendency is to conduct semi-structured interviews because I believe they balance the needs of the researcher with potential contributions of the subject. In the assigned reading, Beverley Hancock writes about a procedure she calls "constant comparative analysis" whereby "any interesting findings are incorporated into the next interview." Without having a name for this process, I have used it many times, most recently when I interviewed professionals for a documentary about nontraditional media.
For my group's collaborative project, we will be using interviews to examine a specific subgroup of the population. The project will have a local focus, and the climate of the area--where people live and shop--will necessarily play a role in the examination of the data. Qualitative research will help us achieve these goals.
One of the main methods of qualitative research is interviewing. Interviews can be structured, semi-structured, or unstructured. My tendency is to conduct semi-structured interviews because I believe they balance the needs of the researcher with potential contributions of the subject. In the assigned reading, Beverley Hancock writes about a procedure she calls "constant comparative analysis" whereby "any interesting findings are incorporated into the next interview." Without having a name for this process, I have used it many times, most recently when I interviewed professionals for a documentary about nontraditional media.
For my group's collaborative project, we will be using interviews to examine a specific subgroup of the population. The project will have a local focus, and the climate of the area--where people live and shop--will necessarily play a role in the examination of the data. Qualitative research will help us achieve these goals.
RSS Feed