Talk:Qualitative research

How is your research grounded within a paradigm?

How important is it for you to have your research grounded in a well defined paradigm?

When is it necessary for you to declare where you stand in terms of research paradigms? When not?

Other issues that attracted interest

Generalising findings

Involving participants in the data analysis process

Anyone interested may want to check the follwoing papers: Constructions of survival and coping by women who have survived childhood sexual abuse. By: Morrow, Susan L., Smith, Mary Lee, Journal of Counseling Psychology, 0022-0167, 1995, Vol. 42, Issue 1 I quote from the methodology section in this paper (p25): After the initial interviews, 7 of the 11 interviewees became focus-group participants. Four were excluded from the group: 2 who were interviewed after the group had started and 2 who had other commitments. The group provided an interactive environment (Morgan, 1988) that focused on survival and coping. In the initial meeting, participants brainstormed about the words victim, survivor, and coping. Subsequent group sessions built on the first, with participants exploring emerging categories from the data analysis and their own research questions, which had been invited by Morrow. Morrow took a participant–observer role, moving from less active involvement in the beginning to a more fully participatory role toward the end (Adler & Adler, 1987).

The following book is available from National Library and talks about this (you may want to see which more recent texts refer to their work). Adler, P. A., & Adler, P. (1987). Membership roles in field research. Newbury Park, CA: Sage. Abstract: There are a range of possible roles that can be played by ethnographers in field research, from the detached observer to the the fully-fledged participant. The choice of role will affect the type of information available to the researcher and the kind of ethnography written. The authors discuss the problems and advantages at each level of involvement and give examples of modern ethnographic studies.

Another useful book is Rosaldo, Renato., c1993. Culture & truth : the remaking of social analysis : with a new introduction Boston : Beacon Press It is available at UC Library GN345.R67 1993