what two categories can qualitative methods be split into?
experiential- captures and validates meanings, views perspectives and prioritises interpretations
critical/discursive- interrogates meanings or experiences expressed in data, analysts' interpretations become more important than participant interpretation. Language is used to interpret meaning and construct reality
what is ontology?
all research is underpinned by this
branch of philosophy concerned with the nature of reality
our assumptions of what things are
describe the ontological continuum
realism- mind independent reality. Existence and structure of this reality doesn't depend on our knowledge of it, and there are objective facts
idealism- everything is mind-dependent. What is perceived is dependent on the one doing the perceiving. In qualitative psychology, subjective idealism is common- everything is subjective construction
what is epistemology?
all research is underpinned by epistemological assumptions
branch of philosophy concerned with nature of knowledge
what counts as knowledge determines the way knowledge can be generated (methodology)
Describe the epistemological continuum
Positivism- true knowledge only attained from direct experience. Linked to realist ontology. Verificationism- inductive inference
Post-positivism- grew out of positivism. Karl Popper- verificationism by induction doesn't work, science proceeds by deductive falsification. Reality known imperfectly. Knowledge is never certain and is influenced by contextual factors eg beliefs of observer
Critical realism- similar to post positivism- objective reality which we can only know imperfectly because context influences knowledge creation. Knowledge is from observable and unobservable phenomena, abductive inference, common in experiential qualitative research.
Constructivism- knowledge constructed by knower, perception. Rejects objective knowledge, rejects ontological realism, type of critical qualitative approach, accepts epistemic relativism
Out of positivism, post positivism, critical realism and constructivism, which one represents knowledge that is objective, verifiable, of which truth can be obtained?
positivism
Out of positivism, post positivism, critical realism and constructivism, which one represents knowledge that is created by humans, shaped by context, and fallible?
post positivism
critical realism
constructivism
what are the differences between constructivism, and critical realism and post positivism?
constructivism- all knowledge is constructed and relative to the knower. Focuses heavily on contextual factors relative to the knower
critical realism and post positivism- knowledge is constructed, but by identifying and discarding contextual factors we can gain a true understanding of the world.
describe what is meant by methodology
How to best investigate and understand phenomena based on your ontological and epistemological position
what is the difference between inductive inferences and deductive falsification?
inductive inferences- I COMES AFTER D- the theory comes after the observations- going from the observed to the unobserved. You notice something, and when you conduct an investigation on it you can propose a theory (hypothesis testing)
deductive falsification- D COMES BEFORE I- the theory comes before the observations- you make an "assumption" almost based off what you've already seen, assuming things about what you haven't, then do an investigation and test that theory, which can then be refined
what are the general principles of post-positivism?
inductive inferences are fallible and unfavoured, because deductivefalsification provides more certainty of conclusions