Skip to Main Content

EDUC.: Qualitative Research Methods

Text1

  • The banners and strands of qualitative research are historically, philosophically, and politically diverse, but generally fall under the umbrella of an interpretivist framework.
  • Qualitative researchers seek to understand the tacit or implicit issues within cultural practices and social contexts.
  • The goals of qualitative research can be:
  1. descriptive (to illustrate the actions and activities found in lived experience);
  2. interpretive, (to offer explanations and provide meaning related to an understanding of the lived experience); 
  3. evaluative (to compare the experience to other desired outcomes or expectations); or,
  4. theoretical (to develop broader ideas and generalizations from understanding of the experience).
  • Each qualitative researcher must develop their own set of methodological principles with reference to the history of this methodology, their disciplinary focus, and the problems which they study.

Readings