Methodologies in Qualitative Research

• Participant Observation

  • Demands immersion in the natural setting of the research participant. This is commonly used in ethnographic type of research.
• Observation

  • Systematic recording of events, behaviors, artefacts in the social setting of the study.
• In-depth Interviewing

  • resembles conversation, but with predetermined response categories.
• Focus Group Interviewing

  • involves 7-10, at times 6-8 people who are unfamiliar with one another and have been selected because they share certain characteristics that are relevant to the research problem or inquiry.
• Content Analysis

  • calls for systematic examination of forms of communication to document patterns objectively as shown in letters, emails, minutes of meetings, policy statements and a lot more.
• Narratology

  • Inquires a great deal of sensitivity between participant and researcher. Ideally, a friendly atmosphere pervades during the story telling, retelling and reliving of personal experiences
• Films, videos, and photographs

  • These provide visual records of events, especially the films and videos which capture the perspective of the filmmaker and videographer. Pictures, on the other hand, manifest the intent and values of the intent