Quantitative, Qualitative, Comparative, and Historical Methodologies Commons^™

Social And Virtual Networks: Evaluating Synchronous Online Interviewing Using Instant Messenger, Vanessa Hinchcliffe, Helen Gavin

The Qualitative Report

This paper describes an evaluation of the quality and utility of synchronous online interviewing for data collection in social network research. Synchronous online interviews facilitated by Instant Messenger as the communication medium, were undertaken with ten final year university students. Quantitative and qualitative content analysis of respondent and researcher evaluation of the quality and utility of IM indicated that IM was an integral part of student university life and also an excellent and innovative communication platform; a potential advancement for research interviewing. IM was subsequently compared with face-to-face communication in terms of gains and losses for research interviewing. The efficacy …

On Being Degraded In Public Space: An Autoethnography, Todd A. Schoepflin

The Qualitative Report

In the form of an autoethnography, the author analyzes a violent attack he suffered in public and discusses how the incident relates to a degradation ceremony. The author explains why the incident did not meet the required conditions of a successful degradation ceremony and defines a concept called degradation incident. Like a degradation ceremony, a person who experiences a degradation incident is perceived by the public as lower in the local scheme of social types. Unlike a degradation ceremony, transformation of ones total identity is not a required outcome of a degradation incident. The significance of being degraded in public …

Preliminary Investigation And Interview Guide Development For Studying How Malaysian Farmers Form Their Mental Models Of Farming, Steven Eric Krauss, Azimi Hamzah, Zoharah Omar, Turiman Suandi, Ismi Arif Ismail, Mohd Zaidan Zahari, Zanariah Mohd Nor

The Qualitative Report

The development of the interview guide is an integral aspect of the process of conducting qualitative research, yet one that receives little attention in the qualitative research literature. It is often assumed that interview guides are merely a list of questions used to guide a qualitative interview. The background analysis and preparation necessary to prepare an appropriate and effective guide cannot be dismissed, however, as they are integral aspects of the interview process. The current study on mental models of Malaysian smallholder farmers employed in-depth interviews as its primary approach to data generation. This paper details the initial processes undertaken …

Rasgando La Piel: Tatuajes, Cuerpos Y Significados, Jelitza Soto Roman, Linette Santiago Arroyo, Zuellem Cotto Gomez

The Qualitative Report

La modificacion corporal mediante el tatuaje se realiza con diferentes propositos y distintas motivaciones. Esta practica es muy comun en nuestra sociedad puertorriquena; no obstante, ha sido escasamente estudiada. Como resultado de esto, se desarrollo una investigacion con los objetivos de explorar la constitucion narrativa, el cambio de significado personal y social, y la percepcion de trabajadores/as sociales que subyace a la practica de tatuarse el cuerpo. Estos aspectos fueron estudiados entre personas tatuadas, no tatuadas y trabajadores/as sociales mediante la implantacion de un diseno exploratorio. Se espera que los hallazgos encontrados logren contribuir al interes en la realizacion de …

A Book Review Of Laura Ellingson’S Engaging Crystallization In Qualitative Research: An Introduction, Ronald J. Cugno, Kathy Thomas

The Qualitative Report

Ellingson (2009) might be the first qualitative researcher to contextualize "crystallization" as a formalized sub-methodology for conducting qualitative research using a nontraditional approach. For Ellingson "crystallization depends upon including, interweaving, blending, or otherwise drawing upon more than one genre of expressing data" (p. 11). Epistemologically, Ellingson’s feminist and social constructivist approach moves her notion of crystallization past positivism on one end and radical interpretivism on the other end of the qualitative research continuum. She looks beyond the established focus of traditional qualitative research to present crystallization as a holistic approach and "radical way of knowing" (Ellis & Ellingson, 2000, p. …

Giving Voice To The Results Of Your Study: A Review Of Authoring Your Life: Developing An Internal Voice To Navigate Life’S Challenges By Marcia B. Baxter Magolda, Robin Cooper

The Qualitative Report

In Authoring Your Life: Developing an Internal Voice to Navigate Life’s Challenges, Marcia B. Baxter Magolda offers a theory and model for building self-authorship through the development of an internal voice. Her primary audience is adults in their twenties and thirties, as well as their parents, peers, and employers. Qualitative researchers will also find the book of interest as a unique example of reporting results of a study in an original format.

Resilience Of Gendered Spheres In Transnational Migration: An Interpretive Book Review Of Sheba Mariam George’S When Women Come First: Gender And Class In Transnational Migration, Jose Luis Calderon

The Qualitative Report

Dr. Sheba George’s ethnographic study based using participant observation and purposive sampling and an insider transnational journey to examine changes in family and social roles that result when nurses from Kerala, India immigrate to the US ahead of their husbands. The author concludes that the economic and political gain immigration affords nurses does not translate into enhanced social status for their family in India or for their husbands in the US when they undergo gender transferral to homemaker. This transference causes a shift in gender structure from the home to the community, in this case the church as a way …

Marijuana Users In Their Own Words: Explaining The Continuation And Cessation Of Habitual Marijuana Use, Landon Shane Bevier

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study is a qualitative examination of twenty current and former users of marijuana, using in-depth interviews as the units of analysis. The relationship between the participants’ perceived costs and rewards, type and amount of linguistic accounts used, as well as frequency of use are explored using Homans' exchange theory and Lyman and Scott’s theory of accounts. Reasons for continuation, regulation, and cessation of use are also studied. It is found that the participants use marijuana for a varied amount of reasons; these reasons directly influence how they account for their behavior as well as their frequency of use, particularly …

The Conceptualization Of Genocide In The International Media: A Case Study Of Darfur, Kayla Costello

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Cross-national crime studies are often plagued with conceptualization issues. In specific, some countries may define certain acts of violence as crimes, whereas others may perceive these acts as justifiable or culturally prescribed. This difference in conceptualization is especially the case with the crime of genocide, which the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide of 1948 defines “as any of a number of acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.” Despite this legal definition, countries, organizations, institutions or individuals may label a crisis as …

Using Art Therapy To Increase Self-Efficacy Beliefs Of Homeless Mothers Living In A Shelter, Mandi Elizabeth Wines

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

Literature reveals that homelessness is inherently a situation where desired outcomes are less likely than unfavorable outcomes, and, as such, the concepts of learned hopelessness, disempowerment, and low self-efficacy are especially relevant. Self-efficacy has been found to affect one’s motivation, performance, coping, self-esteem, emotional arousal, and behavior. Homeless women who possess a stronger sense of self-efficacy are more likely to actively engage in employment and housing searches and spend less time in temporary shelters than those with low self-efficacy.

Although aspects of this problem have been studied no specific intervention models have proven effective in increasing homeless women’s self-efficacy. Literature …

The Chakra Energy System And Art Therapy: A Heuristic Study, Linda Scalise

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

The chakra system, an Eastern philosophy relating to an individual’s health, energy, and consciousness, has been integrated into the healing practices of psychology, meditation, yoga, and alternative medicine. Dale (2005), Judith (1996), and Myss (1996) described the chakra energy system as focal points embedded within the human energy system that regulate all components of the self. Researchers in complementary therapies and energy medicine have long been interested in how the integration of this system affects the progression of disease, human behavior, and emotional disturbances. However, although rich in symbolism and metaphor, no literature has been found demonstrating the use of …

The Road Less Traveled: A Review Of Anfara And Mertz’S Theoretical Frameworks In Qualitative Research, Candace H. Lacey

The Qualitative Report

Editors Anfara and Mertz travel a new road with their tidy little book, Theoretical Frameworks in Qualitative Research. This tightly edited book begins by providing an up-close look at the process of taking a book from the germination of an idea to the delivery of the final product. As noted in the introduction, "To understand a theory is to travel into someone else’s mind." Most of the book clears the path toward that journey by presenting a sampler of chapters focusing on the use of theoretical frameworks in actual qualitative research studies. Finally, the editors bring the book full circle …

Personal, Thorough, And Accessible: A Review Of Carla Willig’S Introducing Qualitative Research In Psychology, Angela Yehl

The Qualitative Report

Carla Willig’s (2008) second edition of Introducing Qualitative Research in Psychology provides the novice researcher with a solid foundation in the theoretical underpinnings of qualitative research, epistemology and how it drives qualitative research, as well as the application of six qualitative methodologies to the study of psychology.

Face-To-Face In Writing: My First Attempt At Conducting A Text-Based Online Focus Group, Steven R. Terrell

The Qualitative Report

Having completed graduate degrees in educational research and counseling, I have studied the theory of focus groups and participated in many while in a classroom setting. Interestingly, I had never moderated one until my first attempt in a text-based online environment. This paper describes my preparation for the session as well as the issues I faced while actually conducted the focus group. Readers will find that being prepared by establishing rapport with their group prior to the event, understanding the change of dynamics that distance brings to the process and handling the pressures of an expanded role as moderator, will …

The Role Of Qualitative Methods In Early Childhood Education: A Review Of J. Amos Hatch’S Early Childhood Qualitative Research, Maribel Del Rio-Roberts

The Qualitative Report

Early Childhood Qualitative Research is an edited book that captures the importance of conducting educational research and the significance of such research being scholarly and rigorous. In addition, this book does a phenomenal job of stressing the importance of giving participants in educational research a voice to describe their experiences is stressed, including the experiences of classroom teachers. The aim to provide professionals in the early childhood arena an opportunity to see different perspectives than they make typically be exposed to and to provide them with opportunities to critique current practices, in order to enhance qualitative research practices in the …

A Qualitative Inquiry Of Conceptualized Heterosexuality And Its Influence On The Counseling Process, Breyan N. Haizlip

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

With CACREP's increasing attention to majority cultural group memberships and its influence on trainee self-awareness and the counseling relationship (see CACREP 2001/2009), heterosexually-identified counselors have little or no opportunity to increase awareness of their own sexuality, creating challenges when working with clients of various sexual identities. The purpose of this article is to present a qualitative analysis of conceptualized heterosexuality and its influences on the counseling process. A model of the process by which heterosexually-identified counselors conceptualize their heterosexual identity and its influences the counseling process is proposed. Results suggest that providing counselor trainees an opportunity to explore the relationship …

Gender,Social Facilitation, And Task Influences On Leadership Selection, Paul Harwell

Undergraduate Research Conference

The opportunities for women to be placed in leadership positions are steadily increasing. With the rise in these positions and the fact that in many cases women are competing with men for the same leadership position, it is very important to understand how gender or other variables may affect who is chosen for such roles. Past research has shown that men are chosen much more frequently than women for leadership roles (Porter, Geis, & Jennings, 1983). The current study examined how additional variables may affect or interact with the selection of leaders of different genders.

Hebl(1995) found that characteristics of …

Elder Abuse: A Policy Analysis, Cortni Davis

Undergraduate Research Conference

Elder abuse is a growing social problem in the United States. It takes on many forms, and is prevalent throughout various cultures. Elder Abuse Reporting Laws have been enacted throughout various states to prevent and intervene in elder abuse cases. California’s Financial Abuse Reporting Act of 2005 is one among many laws in the United States which was formed to help ensure social justice for the elderly citizens of America.

Measure Twice And Cut Once: A Review Of Clark And Creswell’S Mixed Methods Reader, Steven R. Terrell

The Qualitative Report

The Mixed Methods Reader is an edited book that presents the reader with a synthesized introduction to the philosophy, history, methodology and practice of mixed methods research. The first section presents the reader with a series of 14 foundational articles, with a second section presenting nine carefully chosen exemplar articles demonstrating best practices in the field. The editors did a remarkable job in combining theory and application with the inclusion of a framework throughout the text which includes discussion questions, visual diagrams and introductory comments for each article. This creates a synthesis and ease of use that guarantees this text …

Communicating Qualitative Analytical Results Following Grice’S Conversational Maxims, Jan S. Chenail, Ronald J. Chenail

The Qualitative Report

Conducting qualitative research can be seen as a developing communication act through which researchers engage in a variety of conversations. Articulating the results of qualitative data analysis results can be an especially challenging part of this scholarly discussion for qualitative researchers. To help guide investigators through this difficult communicative process, the authors suggest Grice’s (1989) Conversational Maxims of Quantity, Quality, Relation, and Manner as general guidelines to follow when formulating and presenting findings in qualitative research products as well as basic assumptions to guide readers when judging the quality of result representations.

Qualitative Research Like Politics Can Also Be Local: A Review Of Interdisciplinary Standards For Systematic Qualitative Research, Ronald J. Chenail

The Qualitative Report

The political nature of defining what constitutes standards of rigor and quality in qualitative research comes to the forefront again in Lamont and Whites’ (2008) new report, Interdisciplinary Standards for Systematic Qualitative Research. Based upon a 2005 National Science Foundation (NSF) funded workshop for representatives from NSF’s Cultural Anthropology, Law and Social Science, Political Science, and Sociology programs, Lamont, White, and their colleagues share perspectives on what they see as strengths, standards, and opportunities for qualitative research today and in the near future. Although this manuscript might not allay the fears of those in the field concerned over the "conservative …

Qualitative Research For Social Workers Or Social Work For Qualitative Researchers?, Dan Wulff

The Qualitative Report

Deborah Padgett’s new edition of Qualitative Methods in Social Work Research significantly updates and expands her initial edition. This qualitative research text will be a welcomed addition to social work research courses. While becoming a more inclusive text with wide applicability for the research context today, the author only hints at some of the more contentious or evolving issues that continue to make the field of qualitative research challenging to traditional research approaches. Several places/issues of growth and evolution are suggested by this reviewer

Exploring How Factors Impact The Activities And Participation Of Persons With Disability: Constructing A Model Through Grounded Theory, Joy Wee, Margo Paterson

The Qualitative Report

This paper explores a conceptualization of how factors impact activities of daily living (ADL) and participation from the perspective of persons with disability. This study identified what, and how, factors perceived by participants affect their daily activities, to better inform reporting of scores obtained on measures of ADLs and participation such as the Barthel Index and the Participation Scale. Grounded theory methodology was used to conceptualize a model, employing semi-structured interviews guided by categories of the above measures. Eight themes emerged from 24 participants, resulting in conceptualization of the successful adaptation model, which demonstrates relationships amongst factors, activities, and participation. …

An Exploratory Study On Adolescents Experiences Of Using Icq (I Seek You), Zenobia C. Y. Chan, Wilson Cheuk

The Qualitative Report

Little research exists into adolescents rationales for using ICQ (I Seek You) and these adolescents relationships with their peers, families, and strangers in ICQ communication. Our curiosity about these subjects led us to adopt a qualitative inquiry, a multiple case study of ten adolescents via purposive sampling. Three major results were discerned: (1) rationales for using ICQ as a major communication tool and for its entertainment functions, (2) contents of ICQ included the participants school lives, peer relationships, family issues, and playing games, and (3) the participants relationships with their peers, family, and strangers like female adolescents are more protective …

Role Of The Elected Panchayat Samity Members In National Health And Family Welfare Programs: A Case Study, Subhash Barman

The Qualitative Report

The geographical area of this study is West Bengal - a constituent state (province) of India. The state government policy aims at administrative decentralization through Panchayats (or Village Councils) in rural areas. It is a 3-tier system, comprising a Gram Panchayat in every village, Panchayat Samity (block level), and Zilla Parishad (district level). Focusing mainly on Panchayat Samity members, the study explores the knowledge, attitudes, participation, and involvement of the Panchayat Samity members in National Health and Family Welfare Programs. The categories of respondents are the Health Committee members of Panchayat Samity, and health personnel of Block Primary Health Center …

Interpretive Research Aiming At Theory Building: Adopting And Adapting The Case Study Design, Antonio Diaz Andrade

The Qualitative Report

Although the advantages of case study design are widely recognised, its original positivist underlying assumptions may mislead interpretive researchers aiming at theory building. The paper discusses the limitations of the case study design for theory building and explains how grounded theory systemic process adds to the case study design. The author reflects upon his experience in conducting research on the articulation of both traditional social networks and new virtual networks in six rural communities in Peru, using both case study design and grounded theory in a combined fashion in order to discover an emergent theory.

Lived Experiences Of Adult Children Who Have A Parent Diagnosed With Parkinsons Disease, Amy Blanchard, Jennifer Hodgson, Angela Lamson, David Dosser

The Qualitative Report

Little is known about the experience among adult children who have a parent with Parkinsons Disease (PD). The purpose of this study was to explore, appreciate, and describe their experiences using a phenomenological methodology. Narratives were collected from seven participants who have a parent diagnosed with PD and analyzed according to Colaizzis (1978) phenomenological data analysis method. Seven thematic clusters were identified and an exhaustive description is presented to summarize the essence of their lived experience. The study indicates a strong sense of essential positivism from the participants stories, and overall, it seems PD has brought some degree of biological, …

Mas' Making And Pedagogy: Imagined Possibilities, Janice B. Fournillier

The Qualitative Report

In this article I draw on an ethnographic case study that examined mas makers perceptions of the learning/teaching practices at work in the production of costumes for Trinidad and Tobagos annual Carnival celebrations. During the 2005 Carnival season I spent four months in the field, my country of birth, and collected data through participant observation, still photographs, and informal and semi-formal autobiographical interviews. I used Spradleys (1979, 1980) domain and componential analysis and Goodenoughs (1971) propriospect in my description, analysis, and interpretation of the data resources. In this article, I apply the notion of performance art pedagogy to these findings. …

Developing Understanding Of Research-Based Pedagogy With Preservice Teachers: An Instrumental Case Study, Kathryn L. Laframboise, Kim Shea

The Qualitative Report

Preservice teachers have difficulty incorporating research-based instructional strategies and often revert to those observed during their own school years. This study describes how preservice teachers used a framework of planning, implementation, feedback, and reflection to try research-based teaching practices from their methods courses and examine their notions of effective pedagogy. This instrumental case study of 50 preservice teachers in a two-day-per-week field experience includes intensive interviews of six selected students. Findings include kinds of support reported as helpful in implementing new instructional strategies, difficulties experienced in the implementation of strategies, and new understandings of effective teaching during use of the …

The Search For An Explanation: Breast Cancer In The Context Of Genetic Inheritance, Christine Maheu

The Qualitative Report

This case study is an in-depth examination of how Erika (a pseudonym) interpreted and understood her genetic test results for breast cancer susceptibility. Her experience is presented in the form of a biography, which was built from key passages retrieved from the semi structured interview the author conducted at Erikas home. The interview data showed that Erikas interpretation and understanding of her inconclusive test results were embedded in her own and her familys experiences with breast cancer. Her interpretation of her test results was influenced by perception of risk for future breast cancers for herself and her family, as well …