Qualitative Research Approaches of the Understanding of Human Behavior - Assignment Example

Qualitative research approaches Introduction The aim of qualitative research is the understanding of human behavior and the explanation for the reasons for these behaviors. There are several approaches focused on this goal. These include the grounded theory, case study, ethnography, phenomenology and narrative approaches. Narrative research This research approach uses a number of analytical practices in inquiring about qualitative research. This concept lays emphasis on the stories narrated by individuals. It focuses on the experiences and stories told by these individuals to capture details concerning the research (Amia et al, 1998). This approach lays emphasis on the details of stories and life experiences of individuals. This attainment achieved through the analysis of the story of an individual or as small number of individuals. The approach also looks in the context of the stories provided by individuals. According to Molly, Corinne and Maria (2008) the process involve restructuring the narratives provided by individuals in a framework that makes chronological sense. It is, however, important that the success of this approach rely on the extensity of information collected. The research question applicable here includes; what are the explanations for the change in culture of the Mongolian inhabitants regarding food production. The research problem as presented here involves explaining the change in the culture of the study group with a focus on the experiences of these individuals that necessitated the change. The outcome, therefore, relies on the stories and the experiences of the individuals. The purpose of research in this area is to gather information through narratives, summarize the stories provided, and map the change in the group. The approach is relevant in this scenario as the research aims at providing information and its findings based on the experiences of the study group. This approach takes the accounts of the study group in arriving at the findings of the research. Phenomenological research This approach tends to describe the meaning of various individuals and their experiences more so what these participants have in common. The primary objective of this approach is that it reduces individual experiences to the phenomena of describing the universal essence. It involves the identification of phenomena followed by a collection of data from individuals with the same experiences with an aim of developing a composite experience for all individuals. This approach provides a deeper understanding of a phenomenon as experienced by several people (Martin & Daniel, 2005). The knowledge of some common experiences among individuals helps professionals such as therapists, teachers, and health care personnel in addressing similar issues (Jonathan et al, 2009). What is the meaning and use of carbon credits in the reduction of global warming by cooperates is an example of a research question using this approach. The problem of the study would be to come up with an explanation and the meaning of carbon credits and relate this concept to the reduction of global warming more so by corporate entities. The purpose of this research, therefore, would be to come up with the explanation of the concept. This would entail the discovery, exploration and uncovering of ideas that support the concept6 of carbon credits in relation to the reduction of global warming. This approach is appropriate as the research aims at exploring the contribution of carbon credits to reduction of global warming. This is in respect with an aim of providing a profound consideration of the concept of carbon credits as is the case with phenomenological approach. Grounded theory The goal of grounded approach is to come up or generate as theory and an analytical schema of a process. Cathy (2012) posits that the framework adopted helps in the development of a theory that facilitates further research. The research generated from data collected from participants who have experience of the process and the development of the theory further assists in the exploration of a theory. The views of the research using this approach develop through the collection of data and generation of a theory supported by a hypothesis of interactions, actions, or processes through the interrelation of categorized information obtained from individuals. Julianne (2012) provides that the grounded theory take two approaches that are the systematic procedures where the researcher aims to develop a systematic theory that elaborates the process, interaction, or action of a subject. The other approach is the constructivism approach, which emphasizes on diversity, views, actions, and the complexities of worlds. The grounded theory approach best fits situations that lack theories explain the process. The grounded theory generates a theory that assists in the development of the research. With regard to this approach, it becomes necessary to set aside the theoretical notions and ideas and develop an evolving or an inductive form of inquiry. What theory clarifies the process of ethical responsibility in the workplace forms a research question in relation to this approach. The problem of the research would be to provide a theory that sets in place ethical responsibilities, in the workplace. The purpose of such a research entails the explanation of the factors that necessitate adoption of ethics in the work environment. The grounded approach is appropriate in this circumstance as it provides the formulation of a theory to support the process of ethical responsibility in the workplace. Ethnographic research An ethnographical research has an interest in the examination of shared patterns beliefs or behavior among the study group. According to Margaret and Jean (2010), this approach focuses on the entire study group and its findings attributed to samples. The researcher endeavors to interpret the shared and learned patterns, values, beliefs of a group that shares the same culture (Stephanie, 2002). This approach is a method of studying the culture in a group and the observation of the group in order to derive an outcome of the study. This approach becomes necessary if the research needs to give a description of how a cultural group operates and the exploration of other aspects concerning the group. The researcher needs grounding with concern on cultural anthropology in order to sustain an appropriate ethnographical research. A probable research question in this regard would be; what are the cultural sharing patterns of illegal immigrants from Africa to America? The research problem here focuses on how the cultures of the illegal immigrants relate to each other. The research problem is to find the common ground for these immigrants. The purpose of this research, therefore, takes an explanatory approach, which involves the testing and consideration of the relationships between the cultures of these individuals. The situation best fits ethnographical approach, as the aim of the research is to establish the connection or common ground between the cultures of these immigrants. The approach is interested in the examination of shared patterns, beliefs or behavior among a group and, therefore, appropriate. Case study Case study research focuses on the study of an issue with an emphasis on the exploration of cases within the field. The investigator in this circumstance looks into the bound system, systems, or cases in order to come to the findings of the research. It involves the collection and analysis of these issues over time with observations, interviews, reports, and documents. According to Robert (2008), the case study approach adopted relies on the size of the bounded case. The case study may take the approach a single and instrumental case study where the investigator uses one bounded case to illustrate the issue of concern. The approach may also adopt the collective case study approach where the researcher selects several cases to illustrate the issue. Case study approach also may adopt the approach of intrinsic case study. This approach becomes necessary when the researcher has clearly identified cases with boundaries. It is essential where the researcher aims to provide a deep understanding of the case or cases in relation to the issue addressed (Peter, 2010). This approach faced with the hurdle of identification of the bounded case to study in respect to relevance and contribution to the issue addressed. A research question using this approach takes the example of; what are the issues that necessitate adoption of strict measures to curb human trafficking. The research problem here concerned with how these issues culminate in the formulation and the use of measures aimed at reducing human trafficking. The purpose of the research in this regard would be to explore the issues that result in the adoption of these measures. This best fits the case study approach as the research aims at exploring cases in the field in order to come up with the findings. These findings support the reasons for adoption of strict measures in reducing human trafficking. The main objective of the research would be to collect and analyze relevant literature in the subject in order to arrive at a conclusion. It is essential to note that the collection and analysis of the information is characteristic to case studies. Reference list Amia, L., Rivka, T. M., & Tamar, Z. (1998). Narrative Research: Reading, Analysis, and Interpretation. SAGE. Cathy, U. (2012). Grounded Theory for Qualitative Research: A Practical Guide Jonathan, A. S., Paul, F., & Michael, L. (2009). Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis: Theory, Method, and Research. SAGE. Julianne S. O. (2012). Grounded Theory. Oxford University Press. Margaret, D., LeCompte, J. & Schensul, J. (2010). Designing & Conducting Ethnographic Research: An Introduction. Rowman Altamira. Martin, H. & Daniel, O. D. (2005). Introduction to Phenomenological Research Studies in Continental Thought Series. Indiana University Press. Molly, A, Corinne, S., & Maria, T. (2008). Doing Narrative Research. SAGE. Peter, S. (2010). Case Study Research: What, Why and How? SAGE. Robert, K. Y. (2008) Case Study Research: Design and Methods. SAGE Publications. Stephanie Taylor. (2002). Ethnographic Research. SAGE. Read More