The Researcher's Role:

• Discuss prior experiences with participants and the phenomenon

• Indicate steps to get permissions

• Discuss steps to gain entry into the setting

• Comment about ethical issues

The Sample Selection and Sample Size

The sample is selected rather than generalized and the sample size is not determined in advance. The theory from the research will be generated as the sampling proceeds, and sampling ends when theoretical saturation occurs. Therefore, the researcher needs to interview enough participants so that no new information emerges from their stories (Auerbach, n.d.).

Aim: To generate a sample which allows understanding of the social process of interest.

Technique: Purposive sampling-selection of the most productive sample to answer the research question and ongoing interpretation of data will indicate who should be approached, including identification of missing voices.

• Snowball/chain sampling

• Extreme/deviant case sampling

• Homogeneous sampling

• Maximum variation sampling

• Convenience sampling

• Opportunistic sampling

Size: The one that adequately answers the research question.

Types of Qualitative Data:

• Structured text

• Unstructured text

• Audio recordings, music

• Video recordings

Data Collection Procedures according to Creswell (2014) :

1. Observation

The researcher takes field notes on the behaviour and activities of individuals at the research site. In these field notes, the researcher records, in an unstructured or semi-structured way (using some prior questions that the inquirer wants to know), activities at the research site. Qualitative observers may also engage in roles varying from a non-participant to a complete participant.

2. Interviews

The researcher conducts face-to-face interviews with participants, interviews participants by telephone, or engages in focus group interviews, with six to eight interviewees in each group. These interviews involve unstructured and generally open-ended questions that are few and intended to elicit views and opinions from the participants. These are the types of interview questions:

• Hypothetical

• Provocative

• Ideal

• Interpretative

• Leading

• Loading

• Multiple 

3. Documents 

The researcher may collect documents such as newspapers, minutes of meetings, official reports or private documents like personal journals and diaries, letters, and e-mails.

4. Audio-visual materials

This data may take the form of photographs, art objects, videotapes, or any form of sound.

Data Recording Procedures:

1. Observational Protocol

• Record descriptive notes, reflective notes, and demographic information during observations.

2. Interview Protocol

• Questions to ask and space to record answers.

• Instructions for the interviewer to follow so that standard procedures are used from one interview to another

• Ice breaker, 4-5 questions, concluding question.

• Probes for the 4-5 questions.

• A final thank-you statement to acknowledge the time the interviewee spent during the interview.

**Note that the qualitative research method is at risk for certain research biases including the Hawthorne effect, observer bias, recall bias and social desirability bias (Bhandari, 2023). The researcher must be aware of these potential biases in collecting and analyzing the data to prevent them from impacting the results.

References

Auerbach, C. F. (n.d.). An introduction to qualitative research methods for studying trauma. ISTSS. https://istss.org/education-research/istss-research-guidelines/trauma-research-methods/an-introduction-to-qualitative-research-methods-fogclid=Cj0KCQjwwISlBhD6ARIsAESAmp7Dgb5SUEJpM9vqkCTGK0FC7b6znKdnb1dWzt8UKD1plgFiscvaD4caAonmEALw_wcB 

Bhandari, P. (2023). What is qualitative research?: Methods & examples. Scribbr. https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/qualitative-research/ 

            Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design. SAGE. http://books.google.ie/booksid=4uB76IC_pOQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=creswell+research+design+third+edition&hl=&cd=1&source=gbs_api