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Theoretical Paradigms

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Theoretical Orientation

Also called paradigms and approaches A paradigm is a “loose collection of logically

related assumptions, concepts, or propositions that orient thinking and research”

These paradigms have each had contributions to the characteristics of qualitative research

People can have a blended philosophy of qualitative research

Good researchers are aware of their theoretical base and use it

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Hermeneutics Emphasis on the context in which a

phenomenon occurs Focuses on interpreting text, history

and theology Interpretations of data are based on

the context of the researcher

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Social Construction and Constructivism Believe that individuals seek

understanding of the world in which they live and work

Knowing where individuals come from when researching them is key

Differentiation Constructivism – unique experience of

each of us Social construction – the hold our culture

has on us in shaping how we see things

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Critical Race Theory Race a normal part of American life, a

part of the context of educational problems

Often study storytelling

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Pragmatism Use what works attitude to research Mixed methods movement

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Feminist Theory and Methods The purpose is to use a feminist perspective

in conducting research Feminist theory emphasizes power

disparities and inequalities among genders Considers researcher impact with regard to

gender Example:

What was it like to study to be a teacher in the mid 1900’s?

What are the experiences of female superintendents?

What is it like to be a feminist researcher?

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Postpositivism Science is not so “black and white” Still value the scientific approach

(empirical data collection, cause-and-effect, a priori theories)

Methods display logical order and rigor

Analysis may include statistical techniques, use of computers

Reports are more formal and resemble quantitative reports

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Postmodernism Feel it is wrong to say there is one truth Knowledge claims must be framed and set

within the conditions of the world today Consider class, race, gender, and other

group affiliations Consider the characteristics of our culture –

mass media, technology Often study written documents and

discourse analysis

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Critical Theory Critical of social organization that

privileges some at the expense of others

Research is an ethical and political act that benefits some group

Try to benefit a marginalized group by empowering them and transforming social inequity and injustice

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Ecological Psychology Focus on the relationship between

human behavior and the environment

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Systems Theory Looking at how something functions

as a whole Elephant story

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Advocacy/Participatory Believes research should contain an

action agenda for reform Sometimes collaborate with

participants in designing research study

The voice of the participants can be heard throughout the study

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Most Common Approaches to Qualitative Research Why do we need to think about this?

You don’t have to pick one before conducting a qualitative study

You do need to know what these are, which you relate to, and those you do not

If anything, to give you different perspectives and angles to approach when conducting a qualitative study

These can overlap and one may find he/she is using multiple approaches in a study

The four bullets above describe the “generic approach”

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Phenomenology The purpose is to study how people put

meaning around their experiences Want to know what is the essence of

experiencing a particular phenomenon Researcher has to decide how to determine

meaning and how much his/her presence distorts the meaning

Examples: What is it like to be a first-year teacher? What is it like to be a teacher displaced by a

natural disaster? What is it like to be a dropout in a rural area?

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Phenomenology Specializations

Heuristics – researcher personally experienced phenomenon

Ethnomethodology – focus on ordinary, daily lives

Symbolic Interaction – focus on common symbols and understandings

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Ethnography The purpose is to describe the culture

and social interactions of a particular group

Some conduct auto-ethnographies where the individual examines his or her own beliefs, values and traditions

Examples: A study of peer groups in a high school A study on bilingual learners

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Grounded Theory The purpose is to generate theory

that comes from data collected in the field

Examples: A study on faculty accepting ownership of

a new program implemented in their school

A study on parental involvement in a rural school

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Case Study To study some thing in depth because

it has unique characteristics Examples:

A study on an ineffective school A study on an innovative alternative

school A study on the Recovery School District

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Narrative Analysis The purpose is to tell a story through

written or spoken word Also referred to as biography and life

history Look for themes within the stories Example:

What are the main themes in the stories told by a retired teacher of 30 years?

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Standpoint EpistemologyWhere you stand impacts what you see