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

Computer-Aided Qualitative Analysis Of Interview Data: Some Recommendations For Collaborative Working, Kate Ford, Iddo Oberski, Steve Higgins

The Qualitative Report

In a research project on the concerns and achievements of newly qualified teachers we used a qualitative data analysis software package for the Macintosh computer. This package allows the storage of documents such as interview transcripts, the coding and indexing of text-units and provides a tool for establishing and refining categories within data. However, although a computer-aided analysis dramatically decreases the time conventionally needed for the cutting, sorting and pasting of interview data, it poses several challenges when used in a collaborative context. In this paper we would like to discuss some of the practical and methodological considerations involved in …

Navigating The "Seven C'S": Curiosity, Confirmation, Comparison, Changing, Collaborating, Critiquing, And Combinations, Ron J. Chenail

The Qualitative Report

It is important for researchers to establish a research posture (i.e., the relationship a researcher wants to have with his or her subject or other) (Wolcott, 1992) and making subsequent methodological choices in which all cohere and are consistent with the ascribed posture. By keeping things plumb in this manner, researchers can greatly increase the chances that their projects will be internally coherent and imminently more do-able than those studies which grow out-of-alignment. A method for assessing research posture, the "Seven C's," is presented and a series of questions are introduced to help researchers match their postures with particular research …

Using Nudist-4 In A Preliminary Qualitative Investigation Of Postpartum Depression Among African American Women, Linda Amankwaa

The Qualitative Report

The purpose of this paper was to discuss the processes that were used to collect and analyze data in a pilot project on postpartum depression among African-American women. NUD*IST 4 (Richards & Richards, 1997), a computer program, was instrumental to the researcher in coding the preliminary data. Memos of the process and the thoughts of the researcher are sprinkled throughout the paper describing the processes used and decisions that were made during the data collection and analysis processes. Four interviews were conducted and the very first analysis of these these interviews are included in this paper. This paper is a …

Dual Relationships In Qualitative Research, Beth Bourdeau

The Qualitative Report

With the potentially sensitive nature of qualitative family research, the process of these inquiries can come to resemble the therapeutic process. Therapy and research done by therapists and other family professionals share similar philosophical and structural qualities. Inherent in this is a structural power differential that opens the possibility for abuse of participants by researchers. Meara and Schmidt (1991) give four principles for guiding the treatment of qualitative research participants, however; they address only the relationship of researcher-participant and not the additional relationships that may arise from research. In this article, the author proposes some guidelines for relationships between the …

Qualitative Research And The Generalizability Question: Standing Firm With Proteus, Margaret Myers

The Qualitative Report

Qualitative studies are tools used in understanding and describing the world of human experience. Since we maintain our humanity throughout the research process, it is largely impossible to escape the subjective experience, even for the most seasoned of researchers. As we proceed through the research process, our humanness informs us and often directs us through such subtleties as intuition or 'aha' moments. Speaking about the world of human experience requires an extensive commitment in terms of time and dedication to process; however, this world is often dismissed as 'subjective' and regarded with suspicion. This paper acknowledges that small qualitative studies …

Counting Quality, John Strassburger

Publications

This is the fifth in a series of occasional papers about the challenges confronting students and what Ursinus is doing to help them enter adult life.

A Note On The Representation Of Environmental Risks In The News, Demond Shondell Miller

The Qualitative Report

This paper examines the role of the media in representing environmental risks to society, focusing on how environmental realities are constructed via the objectivist and subjective perspectives. This study explores the construction of reality centered on space exploration, namely, the Cassini space probe. In this study, 200 respondents were asked to read four news articles from various sources and comment on the information contained in the articles. Their comments addressed the extent to which the articles were useful in helping them assess their risk to potential plutonium exposure in the event of a launch disaster. A large majority of the …

Dual-Enrolled Students' Perception Of The Effect Of Classroom Environment On Educational Experience, Heath Burns, Beth Lewis

The Qualitative Report

The researchers investigate the perceptions of dually-enrolled high school students. The researchers concentrate on the actual and perceived impact of the facility on the instructional benefits of the course. Additionally, the researchers explore the impact of combining high school and college students in a common classroom working with identical curriculum. Through critical inquiry the researchers provide a forum for dually-enrolled learners to articulate the strengths and weaknesses of the dual-enrollment model in which they participate.

Strategies For Conversation And Systems Analysis In Requirements Gathering: A Qualitative View Of Analyst-Client Communication, Cathy Urquhart

The Qualitative Report

This paper describes how strategies for conversation and systems analysis may operate in requirements gathering. The emergence of these concepts, whilst using grounded theory techniques to analyse a case study of analyst-client interaction is discussed. The topics of conversation in the case study are analysed and grouped into themes and examined with reference to strategies for conversation and systems analysis. Methodological issues that occur when undertaking qualitative analysis of discourse are also discussed. Finally, some implications for systems analysis practice are outlined.

Micropolitical Behavior Of Second Graders: A Qualitative Study Of Student Resistance In The Classroom, Angela Spaulding

The Qualitative Report

Micropolitics describes the ways in which individuals attempt to influence others in order to attain desired goals. This qualitative, micropolitical case study examines: (1) the micropolitical strategies of resistance that second grade students used to influence their teacher, (2) the students' goals for engaging in these micropolitical strategies, and (3) the consequences of the students' micropolitical influence on their teacher.

Patterns Of Talk: A Micro-Landscape Perspective, Jerry Gale

The Qualitative Report

This paper provides a introduction to conversation analysis. CA is traced from its roots to ethnomethodology, and five features of talk are examined (turn taking procedures, adjacency pairs, presequences, formulations, and accounts). Clinical examples are provided. The relevance of CA to clinicians, researchers and supervisors is also discussed.

Establishing The Research Foundations For Successful Client-Server Computing: What Naturalistic Studies Could Contribute, Patricia Y. Logan, Charles M. Lutz

The Qualitative Report

What is the nature of the process of implementing a new technology? How should the dynamics of implementing a new technology be studied? What research methods are best-suited to the study of complex issues of social and organizational impacts arising from the implementation of a new technology? Client-server computing represents a significant new technology that has not been a focus of research investigations. As companies pursue client-server technology as a replacement for legacy computing systems, there is a need to provide practitioners with grounded research that discover patterns of organizational and social dynamics that influence the successful outcome of a …

The Dislocated Textile Worker In Rural Alabama: A Portrait, Sharon G. Lankford-Rice

The Qualitative Report

This is a study that delves into the attitudes of the rural Alabama textile worker at the point of being laid off. The methodology and findings are discussed and a personal interview transcribed from a former dislocated worker concerning her feelings, attitudes, and aspirations on how the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) program has impacted her life and career.

Constant Comparison Method: A Kaleidoscope Of Data, Jane F. Dye, Irene M. Schatz, Brian A. Rosenberg, Susanne T. Coleman

The Qualitative Report

This paper will attempt to illustrate the use of a kaleidoscope metaphor as a template for the organization and analysis of qualitative research data. It will provide a brief overview of the constant comparison method, examining such processes as categorization, comparison, inductive analysis, and refinement of data bits and categories. Graphic representations of our metaphoric kaleidoscope will be strategically interspersed throughout this paper.

Review Of Comparative Perspectives On Social Movements: Political Opportunities. Mobilizing Structure, And Cultural Framings (Book), Robert Kleidman

Sociology & Criminology Faculty Publications

Reviews the book "Comparative Perspectives on Social Movements: Political Opportunities, Mobilizing Structure, and Cultural Framings," edited by Doug McAdam, John D. McCarthy, and Mayer N. Zald.

Comparative Study Of Economic Adjustment And Housing Quality Of Migrants And Natives In The State Of Virginia, Bayram Unal

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

This research has directed attention towards comparing and understanding the characteristics of both native and migrant populations and both recent and long-term migrant populations in the state of Virginia. The research question is: how does migrant population differ from native population? And how do recent migrants differ from long-term migrants in terms of their employment status, occupation, income, home ownership, quality of housing and amount of rent. This study utilizes data from the 5 percent sample of the U.S. 1990 Census. Cross tabulation and analysis of variance are used to compare migrant with native population and recent migrants with long-term …

An Exploratory Study Of The Correlates Of Drug Use Among Juveniles: Analysis Of Regional Variations In The United States, Denise D. Nation

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

Research on substance use and abuse has increased exponentially over the past twenty-five years. However, research focusing on regional differences in drug use seems to be very limited. The purpose of this study is to examine the correlates of drug use among juveniles in the four major geographic regions of the United States: the Northeast, the North Central, the South and the West. Here, drug use is defined in terms of alcohol and marijuana use for the age group 12-19. Four research hypotheses are proposed. The 1996 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse data was used to assess and analyze …

Medicaid Fraud: Medical Students' And Physicians' Attitudes And Perceptions, Kristin M. Byars

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine the attitudes and perceptions of medical students and physicians concerning Medicaid fraud. The primary tool was an anonymous survey distributed to both medical students and physicians in the Hampton Roads area. Previous research suggests that physicians would be more likely to view Medicaid fraud as less serious and less justifiable than medical students would. Since little research looks specifically at the attitudes and perceptions of medical students and physicians two theories, Differential Association and the Theory of Organizational Misconduct, were used because they best fit the research already out there. The analyses …

Computer Khatba, Shereen Ali Abu Abu Hashish

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Kierkegaardian Understanding Of Self And Society: An Existential Sociology, Chris L. Jakway

Dissertations

In examining the history and development of existential sociology, it becomes clear that in its initial phases it was not intended to oppose traditional sociological research, but to complement it. I intend to show that the contemporary chasm between the methodologies can be narrowed with a reconsideration of their common roots in the work of G.H. Mead and the symbolic interactionists. Existential sociologists today offer a practical synthesis that combines that theoretical heritage with philosophic ontology dating back to the writings of Soren Kierkegaard.

My conceptual goal is reveal how the existential philosophy of Kierkegaard, while not irrational or solipsistic, …

Living With Chronic Heart Disease: A Pilot Study, Charlene A. Winters

The Qualitative Report

Few studies have addressed the experience of living with chronic heart disease. Understanding how persons appraise and respond to heart disease will foster nurses' ability to provide holistic client care. The purpose of this pilot study was to extend understanding of the experience of living with chronic heart disease and to identify questions for further study. Qualitative inquiry was the interpretive approach guiding this descriptive explorative study. Individuals eligible for participation were (a) 18 years or older, (b) able to read and speak English, and (c) at least 1 year post acute cardiac event and free of chronic illness unrelated …

Results Of A Case Study On Information Technology At A University, Winston M. Tellis

The Qualitative Report

In the first article in this series (Tellis, 1997a) the author presented the background on the history and importance of the use of the case method of research. The second article (Tellis, 1997b) presented a proposed methodology based on the literature and an application of the methodology in an information technology case. The current article will present a suggested format for reporting case research results. The article will review the goals and objectives of the research project and present various tables containing the results of the data analysis conducted for the project. The article will finally present conclusions drawn from …

The Quilting Bee: A Research Metaphor, Rhonda C. Sommers

The Qualitative Report

This paper uses the art of quilting as a metaphor for the research process. Two very different stories are revealed by Amish women at a quilting bee as they explore their purposes, thoughts, and experiences in producing their first quilts. The metaphor is used to contrast the goals, involvement of the researcher, and descriptions utilized by qualitative and quantitative researchers. The tales of these Amish women both contribute to an understanding of the art of quilting just as both qualitative and quantitative researchers have contributions to make to the field of education.

Mixing Qualitative And Quantitative Methods In Sports Fan Research, Ian Jones

The Qualitative Report

Sports fandom consists of cognitive and affective, as well as behavioural components. Existing sports fan research utilises either strong qualitative, or more often, strong quantitative methodologies. The strengths and weaknesses of each approach are outlined, developing the argument that the use of a single methodology often fails to explore all of these components. The use of a mixed methods approach is suggested to counteract this weakness and to enhance research into the sports fan.

Reflective Critical Inquiry On Critical Inquiry:A Critical Ethnographic Dilemma Continued, Barry Kanpol

The Qualitative Report

This manuscript argues that there is an intimate connection between a "critical" ethnographer's personal history and the data collected. The author traces elements in his personal life, such as school, religion, immigration and forms of discrimination, and connects dominant values within the above to the various studies he has conducted over the last decade. The author reflects back on how he may have unconsciously been seeing the everyday experiences of subjects he was studying as a reflection of his own personal experiences at various times in his life - all which relate to forms of institutional and cultural political resistance. …

Application Of A Case Study Methodology, Winston M. Tellis

The Qualitative Report

In the preceding article (Tellis, 1997), the goals and objectives were presented and explained in detail. In this article, the methodology to accomplish those goals and objectives will be examined. The reader will become familiar with the specific techniques that are used in the current study, and supported by the literature that was reviewed in the previous article. That methodology will follow the recommendation of Yin (1994) and has four stages: Design the case study, Conduct the case study, Analyze the case study evidence, and Develop the conclusions, recommendations and implications. The article begins with an introduction, that includes some …

Organizational And Developmental Dynamics Of Project Review Teams In Technology Environment, Anthony D. Wilbon

The Qualitative Report

This paper is the result of a week long participant observation of a technical project review team within a large organization. A detailed log was maintained during the study and the results were analyzed to understand the relationship of the observations to prior research in organizational dynamics. Some of the existing literature implies that the current research on organizational development may be applicable to entities of various sizes. In some cases the observations from this research fell within the framework of the existing theories. However, alterations must be made to the current theories to apply specifically to small work groups …

Keeping Things Plumb In Qualitative Research, Ronald J. Chenail

The Qualitative Report

As qualitative research projects are conceptualized and conducted, they can grow out of alignment as researchers make choices as to their Area of Curiosity, Mission Question, Data Collected, and Data Analysis. This phenomenon of being muddled is a natural, and sometimes necessary, part of the overall process. The important part of being in a muddle is to recognize it and to work to tidy it up. In this paper, a way to keep qualitative research projects plumb is presented. A case study is also shared to show how one project was found to be out of alignment and how it …

Multi-Visual Qualitative Method: Observing Social Groups In Mass Media, George Tsourvakas

The Qualitative Report

In reviewing the bibliography upon which qualitative method is based, the author refers to ethnography, ethnomethdology, symbolic interactionism and cultural studies, and argues that a combination of the qualitative methods is actually possible. To enforce his point, he gives the example of research that was recently conducted about the National Television Channel of Greece. Moreover, through the theoretical review, he asserts that the application of all qualitative methods is a way to transfer ourselves from observation to focusing and depth interviews. He believes that such an application can be really effective while collecting data as well as while analyzing and …

European Politics Of Citizenship, Juan M. Delgado-Moreira

The Qualitative Report

During the past five years, the European Union has been trying to sponsor a coming of age of European Identity awareness across national borders. In doing so, EU administration intends to square the circle of European Union as the super nation-state of the nation states of Europe. However prompted or justified by the political or economic context, it is noteworthy to what extent the texts of European statutes and policies lack theoretical alternatives to the territorial and relatively homogeneous state. In order for it not to become a threat perceived by the population in identity terms, the apparently forthcoming idea …