Qualitative

• basic qualitative research • case study research • grounded theory • narrative inquiry • ethnography • phenomenology

Q = pattern of similarities and differences research analysis = thematic analysis (from data, no pre-conceived ideas)

Purpose = describe in-depth the experience of one person, family, group, community or institution Methods -Interviews -Observations Q = bounded system analysis = thematic analysis/synthesis

Continuous interplay between data collection and analysis • so, when data is collected and coded, this is used to look for more data etc. • concepts and ideas ‘emerging’ from data, tagged w codes and later grouped into higher level concepts which form the basis of a theory • memo-ing throughout process Q=a process analysis = GT

• guided by participant • telling of the story = as important as the story itself Q=a story analysis = narrative analysis

fieldwork = crucial! immersion into culture - direct involvement, field notes, participation Q = a culture/shared belief analysis = thematic analysis/synthesis

• interest in lived experience, central = individual experience, with an interest in emotion • rich and specific Q= an affect/emotion analysis = Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA)

+Detail ! Richness ! +Provides insight for further research + possibility of ambiguity, change of relationships (reflective of life) - Not able to generalise, not transferable to other settings - Researcher bias, very dependent on researcher interpretation - time consuming

Interviews (can be structured/semi/not) Focus groups Naturalistic observation Surveys and Questionnaires

• Detailed exploration of how participants construct meaning from personal and social contexts • Rigorous investigation of personal meaning and lived experience • Inductive in nature - ideas and themes emerge rather than imposing a hypothesis • Emic (insider) and etic (interpretative, outsider) positions • Dual focus on unique characteristics of individual participants and patterning of meaning across participants ○ Contrasts w TA, mainly just patterning • Much more detailed examination of individual experience

• Method for identifying analysing and recording patterns or themes within data. Minimally organises and describes your data set in (rich) detail • Transparency in decisions - understanding positionality of research (biases etc.) • Flexible - not tied to one epistemology or approach • Themes can be identified either in an inductive (‘bottom-up’) way, or in a theoretical/deductive (‘top-down’ way)

\+ quick easy and convenient \+ allows for patterns to arise \+ unexpected results! \+ summarise key features \+ accessible • limited interpretative power beyond mere description • not a formal method (lack of expertise?) • too much data • disregard of the individual experience • no standardisation • researcher bias

\+ iterative process, responds to data \+ rich and descriptive \+ patterns \+ avoids assumptions \+ good for little known areas • obscures researcher bias • too much data • no standardisation • limited interpretative power beyond mere description • disregard of the individual experience