LIS Qualitative_1

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LIS 570

Sessions 3.1, 3.2

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LIS 570_Measurement Mason; p. 2

Objectives• Have some experience with early

steps in research design• Understand the distinction

between qualitative and quantitative research

• Understand the relationships among quantitative-qualitative and positivist-constructionist philosophies

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LIS 570_Measurement Mason; p. 3

Agenda• Q/A last session; readings• Exercise & Discussion: Life on

Campus• Discussions: deduction-induction;

qualitative-quantitative; positivist-interpretive (or positivist-constructivist)

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LIS 570_Measurement Mason; p. 4

Readings, Assignments

Updates/Announcements– Text: requested to be on reserve– Research methods:

• 1pp; font at least 10pt; margins—1” L & R, min. 0.6” top/bottom

• Post not later than 8PM Tuesdays

– Email anytime w/ questions/issues/clarifications Reflections: focus on learning

Q/A

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LIS 570_Measurement Mason; p. 5

Short Exercise

Life on Campus• In groups, discuss 1st group of

questions– 10 minutes– Report back on each of the questions

• Observers – Observe– Make notes on how the team

operated

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LIS 570_Measurement Mason; p. 6

Teams• SGHR: Kate Sellers, Rachel Howard, Jonathan Rochkind,

Brian Greene

• JAO: Serin Anderson, Karen Jaskar, Stacey O'Shea

• OEH: Solveig Ekenes, Heather Higgins, Erin Ostrander

• EJM: Laurel Evans, Ben Johnson, Liz Melson

• BBW: Hannah Burke, Beth Barrett, Amy Wilcox

• SST: Jennifer Seib, Esti Shay, Kyla Tew

For today, “observers” of teams will be: Anne, Scott, Adam, Shawn, Rose, John, Dani

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LIS 570_Measurement Mason; p. 7

Qualitative Methods• Definition• Researcher’s role• Features of qualitative research

– Context– Description– Process– Participant perspective– Induction

• Implications of research setting• Some qualitative field research

frameworks

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LIS 570_Measurement Mason; p. 8

Definition - Qualitative Research

A process of enquiry that draws from the

context in which events occur, in an attempt

to describe these occurrences, as a means of

determining the process in which events are

embedded and the perspectives of those

participating in the events, using induction to

derive possible explanations based on

observed phenomena.

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LIS 570_Measurement Mason; p. 9

Researcher’s role

In qualitative field research:fly on the wall vs. complete

participant “scientific” detachment immersing into subjects’ “world”

Personal involvement and partiality•Reflexivity•Discuss considerations of local culture

Empathetic understanding

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LIS 570_Measurement Mason; p. 10

Features of Qualitative Research

Context

Description

Process

Participant perspective

Induction

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LIS 570_Measurement Mason; p. 11

Context• Draws from the context or environment

in which events occur

• Uses the natural setting

• Researcher does not remain remote

•enters the context or situation to collect data

•enhances this data through insights gained onsite

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LIS 570_Measurement Mason; p. 12

Context

Identify with your subjectsExperience what they are experiencing

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LIS 570_Measurement Mason; p. 13

DescriptionDescribes occurrencesthe ‘flavor’ of events is included in the

research

– Instruments: researcher, tape recorders, video cameras, notes, camera, diaries, memos

– Collection: verbal narratives from the participants, observations. diary.

– Report: narrative, themes, corroborated by other analyses

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LIS 570_Measurement Mason; p. 14

ProcessNot just the result of events but the

events themselves

•understanding the process of events

•how ideas become action

• the reactions to actions

•components of a process

• richer and fuller understanding through immersion in the entire activity

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LIS 570_Measurement Mason; p. 15

Participant perspective

What do the people involved in a particular process think

• what people believe• how people feel• how people interpret events

Often involves participant involvement in or comment on the researchers observations and interpretations

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LIS 570_Measurement Mason; p. 16

Exercise• What is the next number in these

sequences?

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, ?

1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, ?

How did you decide the next number in the sequence?

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LIS 570_Measurement Mason; p. 17

InductionAnalysis of observations in a

coherent and meaningful mannera ‘bottom-up” approach after data

have been collected• from the particular to the general

• evidence is used to develop an explanation of events - to establish a theory based on observed phenomena

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LIS 570_Measurement Mason; p. 18

Deduction

Collection of data based on prior assumptions

“Top down” approach– From general to specific– Typically begins with theory– Data are used to support or question

theory

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LIS 570_Measurement Mason; p. 19

Grounded Theory• Approach data collection with little or

no theory (“let data speak for themselves”)

• Once some data are collected, review and see what theories might match

• Theory development (or matching) is “grounded” in the observations/data

• Theory-data collection are interactive

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LIS 570_Measurement Mason; p. 20

Definition - Qualitative Research

A process of enquiry that draws from the

context in which events occur, in an attempt

to describe these occurrences, as a means of

determining the process in which events are

embedded and the perspectives of those

participating in the events, using induction to

derive possible explanations based on

observed phenomena.

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LIS 570_Measurement Mason; p. 21

Research setting

Effect of the research agenda • E.g. R & D in industry

Effect of the research institution• Power relationship?

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LIS 570_Measurement Mason; p. 22

Data recording sheet (Bouma: 182)

What you observe Your reactions/ thoughts

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LIS 570_Measurement Mason; p. 23

Actor Network Theory• Network structure emerges from

interactions among “actants,” who may be both human and non-human

• Analyst looks at issues such as – Translation– Enrollment– Delegation

• Example: consortium of universities

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LIS 570_Measurement Mason; p. 24

Qualitative research• Researchers work within the natural setting of

the data, and the key data collection instruments are the researchers themselves

• The data (collected) are verbal, not numerical

• Researchers are concerned with the process of an activity, not only the outcomes of that activity

• Researchers usually analyze their data verbally rather than statistically

The outcomes are often the generation of research questions and conjectures, not the verification of predicted relationships or outcomes

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LIS 570_Measurement Mason; p. 25

A

B

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Particular Behavior SystemsUniversal Behavior Systems

Unobtrusive Research

Operations

Obtrusive Research

Operations

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LIS 570_Measurement Mason; p. 26

Uses of Qualitative Research

• Phase 1: Essential First Steps

• Phase 2: Data Collection

• Phase 3: Analysis and Interpretation

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LIS 570_Measurement Mason; p. 27

Qualitative Research and Essential First

Steps

Phase 1– Select, Narrow, and Define Problem

• Exploratory Qualitative Research• Refine “problem statement”

– Select a Research Design– Design and Devise Measures for Variables

• “Operationalization” of the variable• Measurement Process

– Select Tables for Analysis– Select a Sample

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LIS 570_Measurement Mason; p. 28

Qualitative Research and…

Purpose– Descriptive

•What is ….

– Exploratory—seek Relationships•Association Between Ideas (Concepts)

– Explanatory and predictive•Cause and Effect Relationships

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Summary – Qualitative Research Often Goes from Bottom Up in

Ladder of Abstraction

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LIS 570_Measurement Mason; p. 30

For more readings in

Qualitative Research in IS

http://www.qual.auckland.ac.nz/