The Cambridge Handbook of Research Methods and Statistics for the Social and Behavioral Sciences Volume 1: Building a Program of Research
Book contents
- The Cambridge Handbook of Research Methods and Statistics for the Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Cambridge Handbooks in Psychology
- The Cambridge Handbook of Research Methods and Statistics for the Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- Preface
- Part I From Idea to Reality: The Basics of Research
- Part II The Building Blocks of a Study
- Part III Data Collection
- 13 Cross-Sectional Studies
- 14 Quasi-Experimental Research
- 15 Non-equivalent Control Group Pretest–Posttest Design in Social and Behavioral Research
- 16 Experimental Methods
- 17 Longitudinal Research: A World to Explore
- 18 Online Research Methods
- 19 Archival Data
- 20 Qualitative Research Design
- Part IV Statistical Approaches
- Part V Tips for a Successful Research Career
- Index
- References
20 - Qualitative Research Design
from Part III - Data Collection
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 May 2023
Book contents
- The Cambridge Handbook of Research Methods and Statistics for the Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Cambridge Handbooks in Psychology
- The Cambridge Handbook of Research Methods and Statistics for the Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- Preface
- Part I From Idea to Reality: The Basics of Research
- Part II The Building Blocks of a Study
- Part III Data Collection
- 13 Cross-Sectional Studies
- 14 Quasi-Experimental Research
- 15 Non-equivalent Control Group Pretest–Posttest Design in Social and Behavioral Research
- 16 Experimental Methods
- 17 Longitudinal Research: A World to Explore
- 18 Online Research Methods
- 19 Archival Data
- 20 Qualitative Research Design
- Part IV Statistical Approaches
- Part V Tips for a Successful Research Career
- Index
- References
Summary
The social world is fascinating – full of complexities, tensions, and contradictions. Social scientists have long been interested in better understanding the social world around us. Unlike quantitative research, that focuses on collecting and analyzing numerical data to make statistical inferences about the social world, qualitative research contributes to empirical and theoretical understandings of society by examining and explaining how and why people think and act as they do through the use of non-numerical data. In other words, qualitative research uncovers social processes and mechanisms undergirding human behavior. In this chapter, we will discuss how to design a qualitative research project using two of the most common qualitative research methods: in-depth interviewing and ethnographic observations (also known as ethnography or participant observation). We will begin the chapter by discussing the what, how, and why of interviewing and ethnography. We will then discuss the importance of interrogating one’s underlying ontological and epistemological assumptions regarding research (and the research process) and the steps to follow in designing a qualitative study. We conclude the chapter by reviewing the different elements to consider when developing a qualitative research project.
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- The Cambridge Handbook of Research Methods and Statistics for the Social and Behavioral SciencesVolume 1: Building a Program of Research, pp. 420 - 440Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2023
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