2. 2
Qualitative Research in Business
Job Analysis
Advertising Concept
Development
Productivity
Enhancement
New Product
Development
Benefits Management
Retail Design
Process
Understanding
Union Representation
Market Segmentation
Sales Analysis
3. 3
The Roots of Qualitative Research
Psychology
Anthropology
Communication
Sociology
Semiotics
Economics
Qualitative
Research
6. 6
Qualitative Research Question
Exploratory foundation
How? Why?
Phenomenology
Essence of experience; affect on meaning and
behavior
Grounded theory
Elements of experience; generating models or
theories
Adopt from Dr. John L. Hoffman, CSUF (2012)
7. 7
Qualitative Research Question
Narrative Inquiry
Analyzes people’s stories about experience;
creates a collaborative story for a purpose
Ethnography
Uses an ethnic group as the unit of analysis
Case study
Uses a program, event, or process as the unit
analysis
Adopt from Dr. John L. Hoffman, CSUF (2012)
8. 8
Mixed methods Research question
Convergent
In what ways do the quantitative and qualitative
findings complement or contradict one another?
Explanatory/Exploratory
Based on an intentional sequence (e.g. QUAN
QUAL)
In what ways do the qualitative findings confirm,
disconfirm, and/or extend the quantitative
findings?
20. In-depth or semi-structure
To help you decide whether or not to use in-depth or
semi-structure interview
Does the purpose of your research suggest to use in-depth or
semi-structure interview?
Will it help to seek personal contact in terms of gaining access
to participants and their data?
Are your data collection questions large in number, complex or
open-ended?
Will there be a need to vary the order and logic of
questioning?
Will it help to be able to probe interviewees responses to build
on or seek explanation of their answer?
Will the data collection process with each individual involve a
relatively lengthy period?
20
23. 23
IDI vs Group
Individual Interview Group Interview
Research Objective
Explore life of individual in depth
Create case histories through repeated
interviews over time
Test a survey
Orient the researcher to a field of inquiry and
the language of the field
Explore a range of attitudes, opinions, and
behaviors
Observe a process of consensus and
disagreement
Topic Concerns
Detailed individual experiences, choices,
biographies
Sensitive issues that might provoke anxiety
Issues of public interest or common concern
Issues where little is known or of a
hypothetical nature
Participants
Time-pressed participants or those difficult to
recruit (e.g., elite or high-status participants)
Participants with sufficient language skills (e.g.,
those older than seven)
Participants whose distinctions would inhibit
participation
Participants whose backgrounds are similar or
not so dissimilar as to generate conflict or
discomfort
Participants who can articulate their ideas
Participants who offer a range of positions on
issues
24. 24
Types of Research Using IDIs
Cultural
interviews
Sequential
interviewing
Types
Life histories
Critical
incident
techniques
Oral histories
Ethnography
26. 26
Determining the Number of Groups
Scope
Number of distinct segments
Desired number of ideas
Desired level of detail
Homogeneity
Level of distinction
29. 29
Case Study
Yin (1984:23) defines the case study research method
“as an empirical inquiry that investigates a contemporary
phenomenon within its real-life context; when the
boundaries between phenomenon and context are not
clearly evident; and in which multiple sources of
evidence are used.”
Through case study methods, a researcher is able to go
beyond the quantitative statistical results and understand
the behavioral conditions through the actor’s
perspective. By including both quantitative and
qualitative data, case study helps explain both the
process and outcome of a phenomenon through
complete observation, reconstruction and analysis of the
cases under investigation (Tellis, 1997).
30. 30
Case Study Design
single-case where events are limited to a
single occurrence
multiple-case design numerous sources of
evidence through replication
Generalisation of results from case studies, from
either single or multiple designs, stems on
theory rather than on populations (Yin,1994)
31. 31
Case Study Design
case study method, through interviews or journal
entries, must be able to prove that:
it is the only viable method to explore implicit and
explicit data from the subjects
it is appropriate to the research question
it follows the set of procedures with proper
application
a ‘chain of evidence’, either quantitatively or
qualitatively, are systematically
recorded and archived particularly when
interviews and direct observation by the
researcher are the main sources of data
the case study is linked to a theoretical framework
(Tellis, 1997)
32. 32
Action Research
Action research is “learning by doing”: a group of
people identify a problem, do something to
resolve it, see how successful their efforts were,
and if not satisfied, try again. While this is the
essence of the approach, there are other key
attributes of action research that differentiate it
from common problem-solving activities that we
all engage in every day.
36. Data recording - Converting Raw Data to
Computer Files
Audio Recording
transcribing all tapes and typing the transcriptions into
computer files
Before transcription, the tabs on the tapes should be
punched to prevent them from being recorded over.
36
37. 37
Converting Raw Data to Computer Files
Handwritten field notes: handwritten notes include a
wide range of information:
casual and structured observations
verbatim quotes
paraphrases of participant responses
interview and focus group backup documentation
the researcher’s questions
questions, conclusions, and observations discussed during
the staff debriefing sessions
Transcription of recordings and typing of field
notes should begin as soon as possible after the
data collection event.
38. 38
Converting Raw Data to Computer
Files
Use standard conventions for identifying the researcher
and individual participants throughout the transcript.
These conventions should be detailed in a transcription
protocol which precisely outlines procedures and formats
for transcribing recorded data.
Transcription protocol you develop for your own study
should reflect any formatting or other requirements of the
software that you will use.
39. Data Analysis Strategies
Identifying themes
Begin with big picture and list “themes” that emerge.
Events that keep repeating themselves
Coding qualitative data
Reduce data to a manageable form
Often done by writing notes on note cards and
sorting into themes.
Predetermined categories vs. emerging categories
40. EDUC 7741/Paris/Terry
Coding Data
Open Coding
Assign a code word or phrase that accurately
describes the meaning of the text segment
Line-by-line coding is done first in theoretical
research
More general coding involving larger segments of
text is adequate for practical research (action
research)
42. Systematic Coding
Categories are created ahead of time
from existing literature
from previous open coding
Code the data just like open coding
Ron Wardell, EVDS 617 course notes
43. How to make coding manageable
Make photocopies of original data
Why?
Read through all of the data.
Attach working labels to blocks of text
Cut and paste blocks of text onto index cards.
Group cards that have similar labels together
Revisit piles of cards to see if clusters still hold
together.
44. Affinity Diagramming
Goal: what are the main themes?
Write ideas on sticky notes
Place notes on a large wall / surface
Group notes hierarchically to see main themes
Holtzblatt et al., 2005
45. Example: Calendar Field Study
Neustaedter, 2007
Families were given a digital calendar to use
in their homes
Thoughts / reactions recorded:
Weekly interview notes
Audio recordings from interviews
46. Example: Calendar Field Study
Step 1: Affinity Notes
go through data and write observations down on
post-it notes
each note contains one idea
47. Example: Calendar Field Study
Step 2: Diagram Building
place all notes on a wall / surface
48. Example: Calendar Field Study
Step 2: Diagram Building
move notes into related columns / piles
49. Example: Calendar Field Study
Step 3: Diagram Building
move notes into related columns / piles
50. Example: Calendar Field Study
Step 2: Diagram Building
move notes into related columns / piles
51. Example: Calendar Field Study
Step 2: Diagram Building
move notes into related columns / piles
52. Example: Calendar Field Study
Step 2: Diagram Building
move notes into related columns / piles
53. Example: Calendar Field Study
Step 3: Diagram Building
move notes into related columns / piles
54. Example: Calendar Field Study
Step 2: Diagram Building
move notes into related columns / piles
55. Example: Calendar Field Study
Step 3: Affinity Labels
write labels describing each group
56. Example: Calendar Field Study
Step 3: Affinity Labels
write labels describing each group
Calendar placement
is a challenge
57. Example: Calendar Field Study
Step 3: Affinity Labels
write labels describing each group
Calendar placement
is a challenge
Interface visuals
affect usage
58. Example: Calendar Field Study
Step 3: Affinity Labels
write labels describing each group
Calendar placement
is a challenge
Interface visuals
affect usage
People check the
calendar when not
at home
59. Example: Calendar Field Study
Step 4: Further Refine Groupings
Calendar placement
is a challenge
Interface visuals
affect usage
People check the
calendar when not
at home
60. EDUC 7741/Paris/Terry
Why themes?
It is best to write a qualitative report providing
detailed information about a few themes rather
than general information about many themes
Themes can also be referred to as Categories
61. EDUC 7741/Paris/Terry
Naming the Themes or Categories
The names can come from at least three
sources:
The researcher
The participants
The literature
Most common: when the researcher
comes up with terms, concepts, and
categories that reflect what he or she sees
in the data
62. EDUC 7741/Paris/Terry
Themes should…
Reflect the purpose of the research
Be exhaustive--you must place all data in a
category
Be sensitizing--should be sensitive to what is in
the data
i.e., “leadership” vs. “charismatic leadership”
Be conceptually congruent- the same level of
abstraction should characterize all categories
at the same level
For instance, you wouldn’t have produce,
canned goods, and fruit
63. EDUC 7741/Paris/Terry
Types of themes
Ordinary: themes a researcher expects
Unexpected: themes that are surprises and not
expected to surface
Hard-to-classify: themes that contain ideas that
do not easily fit into one theme or that overlap
with several themes
Major & minor themes: themes that represent the
major ideas, or minor, secondary ideas in a
database
Minor themes fit under major themes in the write up
64. 64
Exercise 4 (Group)
Develop qualitative research question(s) for
your group project
Design an in-depth interview protocol:
Interview purpose?
Interviewee? (any selection criteria?)
Questions? (screening, leading, probe questions)
Practice the interview skill
69. 69
Content of Observation
Factual Inferential
Introduction/identification of salesperson and
customer.
Credibility of salesperson. Qualified status of
customer.
Time and day of week. Convenience for the customer. Welcoming
attitude of the customer
Product presented. Customer interest in product.
Selling points presented per product. Customer acceptance of selling points of
product.
Number of customer objections raised per
product.
Customer concerns about features and
benefits.
Salesperson’s rebuttal of objection. Effectiveness of salesperson’s rebuttal
attempts.
Salesperson’s attempt to restore controls. Effectiveness of salesperson’s control attempt.
Consequences for customer who prefers
interaction.
Length of interview. Customer’s/salesperson’s degree of
enthusiasm for the interview.
Environmental factors interfering with the
interview.
Level of distraction for the customer.
Customer purchase decision. General evaluation of sale presentation skill.
73. 73
Nonverbal observation is the most prevalent
and refers to recording physical actions or
movements of participants. These behaviors can
be measured with the human eye and with
several mechanical or digital devices.
Linguistic observation is the observation of
human verbal behavior during conversation,
presentation, or interaction.
Extra-linguistic observation is the recording of
vocal, temporal, interaction, and verbal stylistic
behaviors of human participants.
Spatial observation is the recording of how
humans physically relate to one another.
77. 77
Behavioral Observation
“We noticed people scraping
the toppings off our pizza
crusts. We thought at first
there was something wrong,
but they said, ‘We love it, we
just don’t eat the crust
anymore.”
Tom Santor, Donatos Pizza
86. 86
Errors Introduced by Observers
Halo Effect: inexperience can be an advantage if
there is a risk that experienced observers may have
preset convictions about the topic or if prior
observations will influence what is perceived in a
current observation.
Observer Drift: observers can also introduce error
when fatigued, which can result in observer drift.
Observer drift is error caused by decay in
consistency and accuracy on recorded observations
over time, affecting categorization.
87. 87
Evaluation of Behavioral Observation
Strengths
Securing information that
is otherwise unavailable
Avoiding participant
filtering/ forgetting
Securing environmental
context
Optimizing naturalness
Reducing obtrusiveness
Weaknesses
Enduring long periods
Incurring higher
expenses
Having lower reliability of
inferences
Quantifying data
Keeping large records
Being limited on
knowledge of cognitive
processes