Qualitative Research Method

➱ 1.Ethnography 

Involves immersing oneself in a particular cultural or social setting to observe and understand behaviours, beliefs, and practices.

Ethnography is a form of qualitative study that involves immersing oneself completely in a certain community or organisation to closely watch people's behaviour and interactions. The written documentation that the ethnographer creates after conducting the investigation is also known as ethnography. Ethnography, as a versatile study approach, enables one to acquire a thorough comprehension of a group's collective culture, customs, and social dynamics. However, there are also ethical and practical challenges associated with it (Ugwu & Eze, 2023). 

This practice originates from the field of cultural and social anthropology and includes the researcher fully immersing themselves in the the environment of the participant. The researcher or ethnographer can use this approach to examine a certain social or cultural group in order to gain a deeper comprehension. They can employ various methods of data collecting to create a comprehensive record of the situations observed during the research period. Therefore, the objective of ethnographic research is for the researcher to fully engage with the research population and record their behaviours, actions, and events from the perspective of someone who is part of or connected to the group being studied (Grossoehme, 2014 as cited by Oranga & Matere, 2023). Ethnography encompasses both the method of conducting research and the results that are the product of that research. Moreover, the active engagement with the target population is a benefit of ethnographic studies as it allows the researcher to acquire data that would otherwise be difficult to gather and document. In ethnographic research, the ethnographer actively engages with the group in order to obtain an insider's perspective and share similar experiences with the group. When creating ethnographies, the ethnographer presents a detailed description of the group by drawing on their own involvement in the group, analysis of group records and artefacts, and interviews conducted with the group members (Oranga & Matere, 2023). 

➱ 2.Phenomenology: 

Focuses on understanding individuals' lived experiences and how they make sense of the world around them.

Phenomenology is a philosophical approach that primarily focuses on individuals' subjective interpretations and experiences of the universe. The Phenomenologist tries to comprehend and articulate the manner in which the world manifests itself to others, avoiding from employing reasoning, theory, or assumptions derived from other disciplines. Phenomenology, as defined by Smith (2003 as cited by Oranga & Matere, 2023), is the examination of the organisation of consciousness as it is perceived from an individual's point of view. Therefore, the phenomenological study design focuses on the personal perceptions of the observer, without being limited to the individual level. While it may initially appear comparable to grounded theory, phenomenology seeks to ascertain experiences from the viewpoint of the individuals. The focus of this study is on the participants' "lived experiences," which aims to shed light on the motivations and strategies that underlie their actions as they see them. Another distinction is that phenomenology focuses on understanding and describing phenomena from the standpoint of those who experience them, while grounded theory seeks to create a theory from social phenomena by examining multiple data sources. Therefore, in phenomenological research, the primary origin of all significance and purpose is the firsthand encounter of the individuals involved (Oranga & Matere, 2023).

➱ 3.Grounded Theory: 

Aims to develop theories by systematically analyzing data and identifying patterns and themes that emerge from qualitative interviews or observations.

Grounded theory is a qualitative research approach that allows for the investigation of a particular event or process and the development of new ideas based on the collection and analysis of empirical data. Grounded theory is an inductive research strategy that involves deriving new theories from evidence, rather than using typical hypothesis-deductive methods where a hypothesis is formulated and then tested for confirmation or rejection. Iterative methods are employed to collect data, analyse data, and build theories. Information is gathered and examined repeatedly until theoretical saturation is achieved, which is the stage at which additional facts do not contribute any additional knowledge to your new theory (Ugwu & Eze, 2023, as cited by Oranga & Matere, 2023).

Grounded theory aims to develop and build theory by systematically collecting and analysing data. Grounded theory is a research method that involves developing a theoretical framework by observing a specific group of people. This research is characterised as inductive, in contrast to the deductive approaches commonly used in quantitative studies. Its primary objective is to investigate experiences and social interactions. Grounded theory studies are designed to clarify the causes and mechanisms behind events and human behaviour. By closely observing the population, a researcher who adopts the grounded theory technique can subsequently formulate a theory that explains the phenomena being investigated (Folley, 2015; Corner et al., 2019 as cited by Oranga & Matere, 2023). Grounded theory may help the understanding of social acts, experiences, and the significance of individuals' relationships. Significantly, the explanations are based on the participant's own explanations and perceptions (Oranga & Matere, 2023).

➱ 4.Case Study: 

Involves an in-depth exploration of a specific individual, group, or organization to gain insights into particular phenomena or contexts.

A case study is an extensive and comprehensive investigation into the progression of a certain occurrence, person, or circumstance over a duration, within an authentic setting. Case studies are frequently employed to investigate and expose sophisticated medical disorders and social problems. Researchers deploy case studies to investigate societal issues such as drug addiction, prostitution, poverty, and unemployment (Zamawe, 2015). It is worth mentioning that case studies can encompass both quantitative and qualitative aspects. Medical case studies often examine a single illness or individual, while business case studies typically analyse the strategy of a particular firm. Case studies were among the initial qualitative research methods employed and are prevalent in papers and books across various disciplines such as medicine, psychology, education, and history. It appears that a substantial amount of our current knowledge about the real world originated from case studies. Furthermore, case studies are often regarded as the most highly regarded classics in various academic disciplines (Oranga & Matere, 2023). 

➱ 5. Narrative Inquiry: 

Examines the stories or narratives individuals share to understand their experiences, identities, and perspectives.

Narrative research involves the integration of a series of events, typically centred around one or two individuals, with the primary aim of constructing a coherent narrative that discusses the views, emotions, and experiences of these individuals regarding a particular phenomena. Narrative researchers employ small participant samples to acquire comprehensive and unrestricted discourse, frequently empowering, emancipating, and amplifying the voices of marginalised communities. It effectively validates individuals' stories as valuable sources of empirical knowledge. Narrative research, as defined by Overcash (2018), involves the systematic collection and analysis of individuals' accounts to characterise their experiences and offer insights. Hence, the design is implemented across other fields, such as oncology, where clinicians collect anecdotes/stories while examining the quality of life, coping mechanisms, and clinical outcomes, all in relation to cancer therapy. Narrative research is evidently useful for delving into personal emotions and experiences that go beyond the limitations of a questionnaire. It offers valuable insights into decision-making processes related to screening, treatment, and other health practices. Ultimately, these insights inform the development and provision of healthcare services (Overcash, 2018 as cited by Oranga & Matere, 2023). Narrative research has broad applicability in several contexts beyond the health industry (Oranga & Matere, 2023).

➱ 6. Action Research: 

Action research is a form of qualitative research that seeks to enhance practice by analysing the outcomes of the actions implemented. Within a particular hospital or healthcare environment, efforts are made to find resolutions for practical challenges. Similar to quantitative research studies, there is no effort made to generalise the conclusions of the study. Implementing solutions is a crucial stage in the action research process. The remedies are being promptly implemented. Action research became increasingly popular during the 1940s. Kurt Lewin, born in 1946, popularised action research. He arrived with the purpose of enhancing the performance of social workers in their duties. Although Lewin's work in action research is not widely recognised, it is worth noting that many individuals are acquainted with him and his significant contributions to change theory (Ugwu & Eze, 2023).

                         In qualitative research, research questions are typically dependent on ongoing assessment and restructuring. The fundamental question and its related subquestions are expressed more frequently than the hypotheses. To show participants' diverse perspectives, the central questioning explores a complicated range of factors around the central phenomenon.

                            Qualitative research questions are produced to serve diverse objectives. These questions can serve multiple purposes, such as qualitative research questions that can be based on current literature and serve as working guidelines for ethnographic research. Research questions can be broadly formulated without explicit reference to existing literature like phenomenological research questions. They can also aim to develop a theory of a particular process, known as grounded theory questions. Furthermore, research questions can focus on describing a case and identifying emerging themes, such as qualitative case study questions (Barroga & Matanguihan, 2022). 

❍ Exploratory Questions (Sirisilla, 2023) ❍

This type of question aims to understand things without exerting any influence on the outcomes. The purpose of exploratory questions is to acquire further knowledge about a subject without introducing any bias or prior ideas into the process (Sirisilla, 2023).

Research Question Example: What are the perceptions of teachers regarding the effectiveness of online learning?

❍ Predictive Questions (Sirisilla, 2023) ❍

Predictive research questions refer to survey questions that utilise the content of the question to automatically generate the most accurate response possibilities. Furthermore, these questions aim at understanding the purpose or potential result related to a subject (Sirisilla, 2023).

Research Question Example: How might advancements in artificial intelligence change the nature of customer service jobs in the coming decade?

❍ Interpretive Questions ❍ 

This sort of question permits the examination of humans in their native habitat. The questions shed light on the process by which a group interprets its collective experiences in relation to different phenomena. These studies collect data on how a group acts without changing the result (Sirisilla, 2023).

Research Question Example: How do you feel when it’s time to put your toys away and start the next activity?