Qualitative research: methodological background

6 important questions on Qualitative research: methodological background

How does qualitative research contrast to the positivist tradition?

Because qualitative research focuses on the meaning that people give to the situations and events. However, positivism focuses on what is being measured and if the results are correct.

What are the most important differences between qualitative and quantitative research?

- pattern & meanings VS relationship between variables
- Holistic point of view VS Analytical reduction
- Interpreting, understanding VS counting, measuring, explaining
- Few units of analysis VS many units of analysis
- Non-probability sampling VS probability sampling
- Open questions VS closed questions
- Explorative approach VS theory testing
- Triangulation VS multivariate
- Iterative parallel VS lineair serial

What does a patttern model of explanations mean?

A pattern model of explanations means that we try to explain something based on coherence with other things within its whole.
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When do you use a deductive-nomenological explanation and pattern explanation?

You use a pattern explanation when:
- it involves many diverse facts or factors of approximately equal importance
- the pattern of relation is important
- the relations can be rather directly observed.   

You use a deductive nomenological explanation when
- one or two factors or laws determine what is to be explained
- When these laws are better known than the individual instance

What are the three important problems a holistic approach poses?

1. The question of defining the scope of research
2. Observer bias; we have a blind spot
3. Participant bias; due to participation of the researcher, the original natural setting will change.

How can we solve the observer bias? (3)

1. Several observers observe simultaneously
2. Use triangulation
3. Look closely at own communication with researcher

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