Approaches of Different Research Methods - Assignment Example

Introduction with thesis statement Qualitative research methods involve the researcher locating the subject in their context (Joubish et al., 2011). It basically incorporates a set of interpretive practice that presents the world as one legible field. Information is gathered through recordings, memos, photographs, interview and conversations where the research subjects are allowed to express themselves in their own description (Astalin, 2013). The information gathered is used to change the perspective about the world or particular scenario in the world. Among many methods used in delivering data in qualitative research is content analysis, case studies, phenomenological research, and grounded theory research. Thesis statement An analysis of qualitative research method shows that it incorporates different methods suitable for different scenarios in research. Dq2.1 What are the similarities and differences between case studies and phenomenological research? Case studies as well as phenomenological studies are both appropriate for qualitative research (Astalin, 2013). The two research designs start with research questions that direct the type of data to be collected. Interview and observations as well as review of documents are the main sources of information/data to both designs (Cheneli, 2011). Despite being similar in some aspects, case studies and phenomenological studies have differences that make them unique from each other. Phenomenological study gathers information on the life experience of research subjects (Kafle, 2011). This research design is used to illuminate the reaction of the subjects to a specific phenomenon. Case study on the other hand relates to an event or a program that have specific influence on the research subjects in a given environment (Cheneli, 2011). The data collected aim at investigating the exact benefits of a subject being in one environment compared to the other. What types of questions are appropriate for each design? Due to the nature of the research design, phenomenological study ask questions that aim at exposing inner perceptions of a subject on a particular issues (Kafle, 2011). The interpretation to such information paves way to attaching meaning to reaction. For example, a phenomenological researcher may ask a question like; what is the importance of going through formal education to an individual? This question gives room to the research subject to express their view based on experience. The person will respond to such questions using their live world. A case study on the other hand asks questions whose focus is evaluating the effect of the different surroundings to the research subjects (Hyett et al., 2014). A typical question in a case study could be; what is the best approach to addressing negative external influence in an organization? This question directs the subject to think in line with different methods that can be applied to the same workforce as a way of mitigating the negative influence. With that in mind, the subject is allowed to rate the methods as they seek to arrive at an optimal solution to the answer in the research question. Dq2.2 What differentiates grounded theory research from other forms of qualitative research? In many qualitative research methods, researchers begin with understanding the theory behind a particular topic. The theory is then verified and the data collected is used to understand the theory better (Sbaraini, Carter, Evans, & Blinkhorn, 2011). However, grounded theory research takes a very unique approach. The method is acceptable where a researcher wants to investigate a condition that has no previous theories (Jones & Alony, 2011). Instead of starting with theory to the data, like the case in other methods, grounded theory research seeks to find theory within the data collected. Grounded theory research is thus a concept that needs no methodology to conduct research. The data collection method is open to any approach as long as data is gathered. It is in the analysis of the data collected that the researcher finds substantive evidence to come up with a theory (Holton 2011). Grounded theory research, unlike other qualitative methods, is very intensive and lengthy. The fact that data will be collected through whichever methodology makes it overwhelming to be adopted that easily. The method is thus subjective of the user since substantial amount of data whose analysis will increase ground on which a given theory emanate from is required (Holton 2011). This is different from the normal qualitative analysis whose hypotheses become the guide to data collection and analysis. These research methods collect data to verify already existing theory. In other qualitative methods, data is collected and the analysis is done as the last thing to reporting. Grounded theory research collects and analyzes the data collected simultaneously. The research data thus keeps dictating the theory since any change in results will mean a change in the theory structure. This method is used in analytical studies that require new findings. For example in medical research, questions on what happens and how people interact are common to examining psychological approach to human action (Sbaraini, Carter, Evans, & Blinkhorn, 2011). Dq2.3 What is content analysis? In qualitative research methods, data collected is normally not numeric. Content analysis is thus applied to a number of texts that have keywords relevant to the research (Yu et al., 2011). The method utilizes large amounts of texts from which frequencies of words will be systematically established. The analysis aims at establishing the main themes and ideas in the text considering the context under which the content was documented (Macnamara, 2011). The main content materials that are normally analyzed are recordings, images, and writings (Yu et al., 2011). These materials are regarded as the basics of human communication through which particular information ought to be passed through. The analysis is more objective since it seeks to establish the relationship between subjects, reliability of information and general idea under discussion. Through the analysis, the researcher aims at coming up with valid and dependable inferences about a scenario. When is content analysis appropriate in qualitative research? Content analysis is mostly used when questions on who, to whom, why, and to what magnitude need to be answered in a research context. The analysis method is thus appropriate when an emphasis on a view shared by a huge text need to be put to context. This is because, the method goes beyond identifying objectives in the content to establishing meaning, themes and patterns visible from the text under analysis (Macnamara, 2011). For example, content analysis can be used when studying religious materials like the bible. To understand a certain area of the bible, the context of the text helps in the gathering insights into why the text was written, to whom and what needed to be communicated. Dq2.4 How does the concept of philosophical assumptions relate to qualitative research? Philosophical assumptions are based on beliefs and theories that certain actions are a result of certain works (Wahyuni, 2012). Qualitative research on the other hand is based on established information. The method attempts to uncover certain realities about a theory. Philosophical assumption are based on already known themes that are assumed to be applicable in the research scenario. The method aims and objectives are directed at gaining enriched understanding of subject’s attachment of their experience, circumstances, and views to their social world (Astalin, 2013). Through its wide view of the available knowledge, the method provides explanations on certain scenarios as a way of validating or negating already established theories. This method aims at having outputs that will be describable through the set phenomenon under research. The method thus relies on open theories and interpretations that had been discovered before. The theories which are used in qualitative research form the philosophical assumptions in the study. Conclusion Different research methods have different approaches when applied in a research scenario. Some may have similarities but some are totally different. For example, case studies and phenomenological use research questions based on existing theory as the guide to data collection. This is different when considering grounded theory research that is based on no theory. However, case studies and phenomenological are different in that while case study investigates reaction to different environments, phenomenological study will gather information on the life experience of research subjects. The guiding principle will the data collected to create theory. Content analysis does not involved field research. It majorly involves analysis information in text by use of themes and common phrase. The key findings explain why certain behaviors are exhibited under certain conditions. The same could be said about philosophical assumptions. The assumptions are based on information proved to hold under a number of circumstances. These assumptions regarded as theories in other settings form the theories for many qualitative research exercises. References Astalin, P.K. (2013). Qualitative research designs: A conceptual framework. International journal of social sciences & international research, 2(1), 118-124. Cheneli, R. J. (2011). Research studies in a pragmatically curious manner. The qualitative report, 16(6), 1713-1730. Holton, J. (2011). The grounded theory review: AN international journal. The grounded theory review, 10(2), 1-151. Hyett, N., Kenny, A., & Dickson-swift, V. (2014). Methodology or method? A critical review of qualitative case study reports. International journal of qualitative study health, 9, 1-12. Jones, M., & Alony, I. (2011). Guiding the use of grounded theory in doctoral studies-an example from the Australian film industry. International journal of doctoral studies, 6, 95-114. Joubish, M. F. (2011). Paradigms and characteristics of a good qualitative research. World applied sciences journal, 12(11), 2082-2087. Kafle, N. P. (2011). Hermeneutic phenomenological research method simplified. An interdisciplinary journal, 5(2011), 181-200. Macnamara, J. (2011). Media content analysis: Its uses; benefits and best practice methodology. Asia pacific public relations journal, 6(1), 1-34. 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