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Modular Overview Introduction to module 2 objectives During Module 1, qualitative research was defined and compared to quantitative research. The characteristics of qualitative research were also described, as well as two disciplinary perspectives on qualitative research namely phenomenological and critical social theory research. This module will continue to explore four common research methods that are used in qualitative research: ethnographic research, case studies, grounded theory and action research. Qualitative methods: In this module, we will discuss four qualitative research methods: i) ethnography ii) Grounded theory iii) The case study iv) Action research Ethnographic research Ethnographic research is a method used for investigating cultures. It involves collecting and describing data which are intended to aid in the development of a theory. This type of research method is also called ethnomethodology or "methodology of the people." An example might be the study of a particular culture and their understanding of the role of a particular disease in their cultural. This description of an urban
ethnography can help you construct a basic understanding of one approach to an
ethnographic study: An urban
ethnography of Latino street gangs Grounded Theory Grounded theory is inductive research, that is based on or “grounded” in the observations or data from which it was developed. Therefore, grounded theory research uses a variety of data sources, including quantitative data, review of records, interviews, observation and surveys. The outcome of grounded theory research is the development of a theory that explains the study phenomenon. The Case Study Case studies in education are likely to be qualitative. A researcher will use a case-study design to get an in-depth understanding of the situation and the meaning for those involved. The interest is in the process rather than outcomes, in context rather than a specific variable, in discovery rather than confirmation. Insights that a researcher gets from case studies can directly influence policy, practice and future research. Action Research Rory O'Brien gives the following description of action research on his website: "Action research...aims to
contribute both to the practical concerns of people in an
immediate problematic situation and to further the goals of social
science simultaneously. Thus, there is a dual commitment in action
research to study a system and concurrently to collaborate with
members of the system in changing it in what is together regarded
as a desirable direction. Accomplishing this twin goal requires
the active collaboration of researcher and client, and thus it
stresses the importance of co-learning as a primary aspect of the
research process." Module learning objectives: By the completion of this module, you should be able to:
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