SW 300 Chapter Notes - Chapter 13: Qualitative Property, Michael Williams (Geographer), Participant Observation
Document Summary
It can also be collected during many different steps in the research process. Qualitative data are collected to build a story or understanding of a concept or variable. This data is generally bulkier than quantitative data. Four data collection methods: narrative interviewing, participant observation, secondary content data, historical data. Goal: to have research participants tell stories in their own words. Usually begin when we ask our identified research question. Not bound by strict rules and procedures. Interviewers make every effort to engage research participants in meaningful discussions. The direction the interviews take may deviate from the original research problem being investigated. Data collected in one interview can be used to develop or revise further research questions in subsequent interviews. Trustworthiness and truth value of narrative data understand what our research participants were telling us from their points of view: can check with triangulation and member checking, triangulation: comparing data from multiple perspectives.
