Karl Ho
School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences
University of Texas at Dallas
Positivism: every rationally justifiable assertion can be scientifically verified or is capable of logical or mathematical proof.
- Oxford Languages
Type of Approach | Defining Features | Data Collection Implications |
---|---|---|
Phenomenology | Focuses on individual experiences, beliefs, and perceptions. | Questions and observations are aimed at drawing out individual experiences and perceptions. |
Text used as a proxy for human experience | In focus groups, group experiences and normative perceptions are typically sought out. | |
In-depth interviews and focus groups are ideal methods for collecting phenomenological data. |
Type of Approach | Defining Features | Data Collection Implications |
---|---|---|
Ethnography | Oriented toward studying shared meanings and practices (i.e., culture). | Questions and observations are generally related to social and cultural processes and shared meanings within a given group of people. |
Emphasizes the emic perspective. | Traditionally, it is associated with longterm fieldwork, but some aspects are employed in applied settings. | |
Can have a contemporary or historical focus. | Participant observation is well suited to ethnographic inquiry. |
Type of Approach | Defining Features | Data Collection Implications |
---|---|---|
Inductive Thematic Analysis | Draws on inductive analytic methods (this would be same for Grounded Theory below as well). | ITA requires generation of free-flowing data. |
Involves identifying and coding emergent themes within data. | In-depth interviews and focus groups are the most common data collection techniques associated with ITA. | |
Most common analytic approach used in qualitative inquiry. | Notes from participant observation activities can be analyzed using ITA, but interview/focus group data are better. |
Type of Approach | Defining Features | Data Collection Implications |
---|---|---|
Grounded Theory | Inductive data collection and analytic methods. | As above, in-depth interviews and focus groups are the most common data collection techniques associated with GT. |
Uses systematic and exhaustive comparison of text segments to build thematic structure and theory from a body of text. | Sample sizes for grounded theory are more limited than for ITA because the analytic process is more intensive and time consuming. | |
Common analytic approach in qualitative studies | Note: Many researchers incorrectly label all inductive thematic analyses “grounded theory,” as a default. Technically, they are not the same thing. |
Type of Approach | Defining Features | Data Collection Implications |
---|---|---|
Case Study | Analysis of one to several cases that are unique with respect to the research topic. | Cases are selected based on a unique (often rarely observed) quality. |
Analysis primarily focused on exploring the unique quality. | Questions and observations should focus on, and delve deeply into, the unique feature of interest. |
Type of Approach | Defining Features | Data Collection Implications |
---|---|---|
Discourse/Conversation Analysis | Study of “naturally occurring” discourse | These linguistically focused methods often use existing documents as data. |
Can range from conversation to public events to existing documents. | Conversations between individuals that spontaneously emerge within group interviews or focus groups may be studied but are not preferred. | |
Text and structures within discourse used as objects of analysis. | Participant observation is conducive to discourse analysis if narratives from public events can be recorded. |
Type of Approach | Defining Features | Data Collection Implications |
---|---|---|
Narrative Analysis | Narratives (storytelling) used as source of data. | If generating narratives (through indepth interviews), then questions/tasks need to be aimed at eliciting stories and the importance those stories, hold for participants, as well as larger cultural meaning. |
Narratives from one or more sources (e.g., interviews, literature, letters, diaries). |
Type of Approach | Defining Features | Data Collection Implications |
---|---|---|
Mixed Methods | Defined as integrating quantitative and qualitative research methods in one study. | Collection of qualitative data in a mixed methods study can be informed from a wide range of theoretical perspectives and analytic approaches. |
Two most common designs are sequential and concurrent. | Researchers must specify up front, and in detail, how, when, and why qualitative and quantitative datasets will be integrated. |