1

Approaches, Types & Forms in Qualitative

Research

2

Approaches VS Types

In relation to qualitative research, the terms approaches and types are

sometimes used interchangeably.

3

QUALITATIVE APPROACHES

A general way of thinking about conducting qualitative research.

4

APPROACHES TO QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

According to Sharan B. Merriam (-)

1. Interpretive qualitative approach2. Critical qualitative approach3. Postmodern or post-structural qualitative approach

5

Interpretative Qualitative Approach

“Learning how individuals experience & interact with their social world”

6

Critical Qualitative Approach

“Learning how the social and political aspects of situation shape the reality”

7

Postmodern/Post-structural

“Questioning all aspects of the construction of reality, what is and

what is not, how it is organized, and so on”

8

TYPES OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

According to Sharan B. Merriam

1. Narrative Inquiry2. Case Study3. Ethnography4. Action Research5. Mixed Method6. Phenomenology7. Grounded Theory

9

Narrative Inquiry

Definition

Narrative inquiry is the interdisciplinary study of the activities involved in generating and analyzing stories of life experiences (e.g., life histories, narrative interviews, journals, diaries, memoirs, autobiographies, biographies) and reporting that kind of research. (Schwandt, 2007, p. 204)

10

Narrative Inquiry

Charateristics

1. Flexibility2. Experiences of an individual3. Life stories4. Coding field texts5. Re-story from the field text6. Collaboration between researcher and others7. the importance learning from participants is

emphasized

11

Case Study

Definition

An Exploration of “a bounded system” or a case (or multiple cases) overtime through detailed, in-depth data collection involving multiple sources of information rich in context. (Cresswell, 1998)

12

Case Study

Charateristics (According to Robert K. Yin, 1994)

1. typically to answer questions like “how” or “why”2. investigator has a little/no possibility to control the

events3. contemporary phenomenon in a real-life context4. Case study is an empirical inquiry

13

Ethnography

Definition

A systematic study of a particular cultural group or phenomenon wherein an ethnography researcher focuses on the cultural interpretation.(Frances Julia Riemer, 2008)

14

Ethnography

Charateristics (According to Nurani, 2008)

1. The observation takes place in natural setting2. Event is perceived and interpreted by the people in

a speech community3. Holistics4. Hypothesis emerges as the data collection occurs

15

Action Research

Definition

An approach that involves both action and research (Burns in Heigham and Crocker, 2008) in which this kind of research focuses on improving quality of an organization (a group) and its performance (North Central Regional Educational Laboratory).

16

Action Research

Charateristics

1. Practical focus2. The educator- researcher’s own practice3. Collaboration4. A dynamic process5. A plan of action6. A sharing research

17

Mixed Method

An approach that combines both qualitative and quantitative research methods in a single study (Crocker in Heigham and Crocker, 2008:15) to

understand a research problem (Cresswell, 2008)

18

arateristics

1. Practical focus2. The educator- researcher’s own practice3. Collaboration4. A dynamic process5. A plan of action6. A sharing research

Mixed Method

Charateristics

1. Minimizing weaknesses2. Recognizing the value of knowledge as

constructed through qualitative means3. It rejects the dualism

19

Phenomenology

Definition

A study that describes the meaning of the lived experiences for several individuals about a concept or phenomenon. (Cresswell, 2008)

20

Phenomenology

Charateristics

1. Describe participants’ experiences of a phenomenon

2. Gain insight into participants’ lifeworlds3. Get participants to bracket or suspend their

preconceptions4. Search for the invariant structures or essences of

participants’ experiences

21

Grounded Theory

Definition

“is a general methodology for developing theory that is grounded in data systematically gathered and analyzed”. (Glasser& Strauss)

22

inductive or bottom-up approach

Grounded Theory

• Inductive & Bottom up approach to generate a theory.

• Theoretical saturation.

23

inductive or bottom-up approach

Grounded Theory

Charateristics (according to Glasser & Strauss)

1. Fit2. Understanding3. Generality4. Control