Unit 11: Interpretive.
50 Characteristics of Qualitative Research
Qualitative research is like diving into the real world to see how people actually live and interact. It’s all about hanging out in natural settings and getting the scoop on how folks make sense of their experiences. Think of it as a way to capture the juicy details and unique stories that numbers just can’t tell. Researchers get up close and personal, listening to people’s stories and interpreting the rich, complex web of human life. It’s messy, it’s subjective, and it’s all about understanding the world from the inside out.
After this unit you should be able to:
Characteristics of Qualitative Research:
Interpretive in orientation; subject to inference, impressions, and an inductive form of reasoning.
Examples
Study on Multiethnic Identity Development: Researchers used in-depth interviews to explore how individuals with multiethnic backgrounds construct their identities. The study relied on inductive reasoning to identify patterns and themes from participants’ narratives, highlighting the interpretive nature of qualitative research
Naturalistic: Research that is conducted in the field or where participants live, work, and play.
Naturalistic Setting: Emphasizes the importance of studying individuals in their natural environment to gain authentic insights into their experiences and behaviors.
Qualitative research often involves studying communication in real-world settings, emphasizing the importance of context in shaping interactions. This approach allows researchers to observe communication as it naturally occurs, capturing the nuances and complexities that might be missed in controlled laboratory environments or other artificial environments.
Another key term is in vivo: Research that takes place in a natural setting.
Examples
Research on Workplace Communication: A study conducted in various office environments observed how employees communicate during their daily tasks. By being present in the natural setting of the workplace, researchers were able to capture authentic interactions and understand the context of communication
Socially Constructed Reality: Acknowledgement that reality is subjective and interpreted differently by individuals based on their social contexts.
Qualitative research recognizes that meaning is not inherent but is created through communication and social interactions. Researchers acknowledge that individuals interpret and construct their realities based on their social and cultural contexts.
Examples
Study on Social Media Use: Researchers examined how teenagers use social media to construct their social identities. Through focus groups and online observations, the study revealed how social interactions on these platforms shape participants’ perceptions of reality
Primacy of Subject Matter: Focus on understanding the individual perspectives and experiences of those who have encountered the phenomenon being studied.
Qualitative research is deeply interested in individual perspectives and experiences, particularly those of individuals who have encountered the phenomenon under study. Qualitative research seeks to understand the meaning individuals create around their experiences, recognizing that reality is socially constructed and understanding that there is no single objective reality. Qualitative research, therefore, aims to illuminate the richness and depth of these individual interpretations of the world.
Emic Perspective: Emphasizes understanding the phenomenon from the participant’s point of view, capturing their interpretations and meanings.
Qualitative research prioritizes the participant’s viewpoint, seeking to understand communication phenomena from the perspective of those involved. Researchers strive to capture the lived experiences and interpretations of participants, allowing their voices and perspectives to guide the research process.
Examples
Study on Cultural Communication Practices: Researchers immersed themselves in a community to study traditional communication practices. By adopting an emic perspective, they were able to capture the meanings and interpretations that community members attach to their communication rituals
Complex and Interwoven Variables: Recognition that human experiences and behaviors are complex and influenced by multiple interconnected factors that cannot be easily isolated and measured quantitatively.
Qualitative research recognizes the inherent complexity of human experiences and behaviors. Unlike quantitative research, which often seeks to isolate and measure specific variables, qualitative research embraces the idea that numerous interconnected factors shape how people experience the world. It acknowledges that these factors are often difficult, if not impossible, to disentangle and quantify.
Examples
Research on Family Communication: A qualitative study on family communication patterns explored how various factors such as cultural background, family dynamics, and individual personalities influence communication. The study acknowledged the complexity and interrelatedness of these variables
Interpretive Analysis: Highlights the role of the researcher in interpreting the data to identify themes, patterns, and meanings, acknowledging the subjective nature of qualitative analysis.
In qualitative research, data analysis involves interpreting the meanings and patterns present in the data. Researchers analyze data like interview transcripts, field notes, and documents to identify themes, relationships, and underlying meanings, acknowledging the subjective nature of qualitative analysis.
Examples
Study on Organizational Communication: Researchers analyzed interview transcripts and meeting notes to identify themes related to organizational culture and communication practices. The interpretive analysis highlighted the subjective nature of understanding organizational communication
Thus, we must also remember:
Reflexivity: How one’s own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact with their research site and their research itself.
Examples
Research on Ethnographic Fieldwork: In an ethnographic study of a community organization, the researcher reflected on how their own background and interactions with participants influenced the research process. This reflexivity helped in understanding the impact of the researcher’s presence on the data collected
References
Cambridge Scholars Publishing. (n.d.). Exploring communication through qualitative research. Retrieved from https://www.cambridgescholars.com/resources/pdfs/978-1-4438-9589-7-sample.pdf
Research that takes place/is conducted in a natural setting