Lecture Communication research: Asking questions, finding answers (4e) Chapter 14: Introduction to qualitative research

Chapter 14

INTRODUCTION TO
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH


VAR

JUA

h

n

lều

hHHCF
ap

* Preserves the form and content of interaction

* Contextually situated
* Discourse Is the data

* Analyzed for its qualities - empirical, inductive, and
interpretive
* Aims for subjectivity
* Allows interactants’ voices to be heard


* Intersubjectivity

+ The social accomplishment of how people coconstruct and co-experience their social life and
rules for doing so

* How do people understand and interpret
communication processes?

* How is communication socially situated’?


MUTUAL SIMULTANEOUS SHAPING
* The here and now

* Everything influences
everything else
* Emphasis on process
and the holistic frame of
Interaction

* Plausible explanations
built on what is
observed
ducfoñ o + cistibuli rt
_ the prior written nsent of
~~
MeGr eee one atio


INC

ANA

* From the specific to the general

* Explanations and theories emerge from the
data
* Propositions formulated continuously
throughout the data collection and data
analysis process


AOL
-

JR

7
Purpose
 Phenonfenon

Interdependent stages
Not linear

* Cannotbe plannedin
entirety

ARCH

ơ

QUALITA

ae
d

\

\

f

|
-



* Bottom reflects

activities in the field
——

—

/

j

si

of

Select data _

~~collection™

“ing Ƒ ¬
'

¬

analyse
Analysis

——

P|

\

“S|

design of the project

ie

uestions

existing
literature

N

* Top circle reflects

®
Reorerch

—

J
ee

ee

Sm-=_ —Hm=m= Kmmmm Kmm==m Jmmm cm

mm


3+FDIE

YIN

QUA

ñ

* Extent to which data interpretations are
7 true
+ correct
+ dependable

* Allows for multiple interpretations by asking
“What's plausible?”


NAAN

\

* Triangulation: use of several kinds of methods or data
to enhance credibility
+ Data triangulation
+ Investigator triangulation
+ Interdisciplinary triangulation

* Member validation
+ Taking research findings back to individuals who provided
data


CONCEPTUALIZING RESEARCH QUESTIONS
FOR QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

* Based on previous literature
* Broadly stated
* Nondirectional

* Gives researcher latitude in following interesting paths
* Specific to the interaction context

ASSESSING QUALITATIVE RESEARCH QUESTIONS

* Should ask how or
what’?

* Should reference the
research

site?

|

*

Focus ona specific type of

TR HE

* Discover how meaning is

developed/shared?

* Reveal naturally occurring
communication not suitable for
Study in an experiment?

*

Reveal unanticipated

ophenomena/influences?

*

Reveal process that occur over
time’?

* Explore the influences of the
<


* Anything that can be observed or captured
* Interpreting meaning
+ Researcher construction

+ Subjective valuing
+ Contingent accuracy
* Level of evidence
+ Microlevel, midlevel, macrolevel


ADVANTAGES
* Documents the unseen

* Provides information
about those who cannot
or will not speak for
themselves

* Supplements

information from
quantitative studies

LIMITATIONS
* Communication
environment must be
accessible

* Interactants may change
their behavior

* Observations filtered
through the researcher
* Time consuming


THREATS
TO CREDIBILITY
* Inaccuracy or incompleteness of data
* Problems of interpretation
+ Whose interpretation is being imposed’?

* Theoretical validity
+ What about data that fail to fit the interpretation?

* Selection bias

* Reactivity bias