Qualitative Research

What the page covers

The resources follow the usual path of a qualitative research course. Some set out the basics: the differences between qualitative and quantitative work, research paradigms, and epistemology. The flowchart Research methods covers social constructionism and symbolic interactionism. Others look at designs such as grounded theory, ethnography, narrative investigation, phenomenology, case study and action research.

Where to start

Begin with the mind maps Qualitative Research Approaches and Types of Qualitative Research to see the main designs side by side. The flashcards Lecture 14 - Qualitative research then ask when qualitative research is used, what features it shares and which data collection methods it relies on.

Data collection and analysis

• The Interviews mind map defines interviews as open-ended questions put to participants, then moves on to data analysis.
• Slide sets cover interviews and focus groups, and textual data collection through surveys, story completion and vignettes.
• The Story completion tasks quiz checks that you know why the technique is projective.
• Mind maps on IPA, observation and qualitative data analysis help with the interpretive side.

Using quizzes and maps together

Read a mind map first, then take a quiz on the same topic. Grounded theory works well here: it tests the aim of generating a theory rather than testing a hypothesis, and it raises inductive reasoning. If an answer surprises you, go back to the map and look again. The Companion MCQ's: Collecting data quiz raises issues such as researcher self-disclosure and rapport. The Qualitative Research Final Exam quiz is a good check once you have worked through the topics.

Where it fits

This unit sits in the Research Approaches and Fields strand of Research methods and academic skills. Teachers can pick out maps, slide sets and quizzes to share with a class. Choose one topic today and try its quiz.