Qualitative Research Methods

QUALITATIVE  RESEARCH  METHODS  

Paulino  Silva  Higher  Education  Lecturer  

1  Paulino  Leite  da  Silva  -­‐  MQI  

RESEARCH METHODS

•  What  are  research  methods?  – Research  methods  are  techniques  that  enable  specific  analysis  according  to  the  methodology  followed  by  research  of  their  use.  

•  Some  examples:  –  Interviews;  – Observation;  – Documents.  

2  

RESEARCH METHODS •  Combination  of  methods:  – Accounting:  Interviews+  Documents  – Anthropology:  Participant  Observation  +  Interviews  

•  A  single  study  can  combine  the  use  of  various  methods;  

•  Any  of  the  methods  exemplified  can  be  used  in  quantitative  research  (but  it  is  not  common).  

3  

QUALITATIVE INTERVIEWS

•  They  are  usually  semi-­‐structured  and  open;  •  Similar  to  ordinary  conversations;  •  Researcher  and  respondent  /  groups  of  people;  

•  Face  to  face,  by  telephone,  Internet  or  video  conferencing;  

•  For  a  month  or  several  months  or  years;  •  They  may  be  few  or  many.  

4  

INTERVIEWS

5  

OBSERVATION •  Observe  the  activities  performed  or  not  performed  by  the  interviewees;  

•  Observe  social  actions,  behaviours,  relationships,  etc.;  

•  Very  used  to  try  to  understand  other  cultures;  •  Can  be  combined  with  other  research  methods  (e.g.,  attending  meetings,  observing  the  reaction  of  respondents  in  a  given  interview).  

6  

OBSERVATION

7  

DOCUMENTS •  Widely  used  in  qualitative  research;  •  Variety  of  documentary  sources:  legislation,  newspapers,  magazines,  newsletters,  manuals  and  other  publications,  correspondence  (physical  or  electronic),  reports,  diaries,  historical  archives,  advertising,  contracts,  websites;  

•  May  be  part  of  a  research  strategy  as  the  only  method  (e.g.  study  that  dates  back  to  a  distant  past).  

8  

DOCUMENTS

9  

Thank  you  for  your  attention!    

10