Qualitative Research:

The 5 Traditions

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 Qualitative Traditions of Inquiry

1. Biography--Life history
2. Phenomenology--The lived
experience
3. Grounded theory
4. Ethnography
5. Case Study

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Biographical Study
⚫ The study of an individual and her or his experiences
as told to the researcher or found in documents and
archival material.

⚫ Life history--The study of an individual’s life and

how it reflects cultural themes of the society.

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Biographical Study cont.

⚫ The writer, using an interpretive approach, needs to be

able to bring himself or herself into the narrative and
acknowledge his or her standpoint.

⚫ The researcher needs to collect extensive information

about the subject of the biography

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 Phenomenology
⚫ Menjelaskan arti dari suatu pengalaman, tentang
sebuah konsep atau fenomena dari beberapa
individu.

⚫ Moustakas, 1994, p. 13: “Untuk menjelaskan apa

arti dari sebuah pengalaman dari seseorang yang
telah memiliki pengalaman dan mampu
memberikan penjelasan yang komprehensif. “

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Phenomenology

⚫ Describes the meaning of the lived experience about a

concept or a phenomenon for several individuals.

⚫ It has roots in the philosophical perspectives of Husserl,

Heidegger, Sartre, Merleau-Ponty, etc.
--Max Van Manen, Munhall (Nursing)

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 Grounded Theory
⚫ Based on Symbolic Interactionism which
posits that humans act and interact on the
basis of symbols, which have meaning and
value for the actors.
⚫ The intent of grounded theory is to generate
or discover a theory that relates to a
particular situation. If little is known about a
topic, grounded theory is especially useful

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 Grounded Theory cont.
⚫ Usually have a question, don’t do
a literature review in the beginning.
⚫ Usually do 20-30 interviews (maybe
more than one time for each person)
⚫ Data collection and analysis occur
simultaneously, until “saturation” is
reached.
⚫ Data reviewed and coded for categories
and themes.
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 Grounded Theory cont.
⚫ Data analysis generates a visual picture, a
narrative statement or a series of
hypotheses with a central phenomenon,
causal conditions, context and
consequences.
⚫ The researcher needs to set aside
theoretical ideas or notions so that
analytical or substantive theories can
emerge from the data.
⚫ Systematic approach
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Ethnography
⚫ A description and interpretation of a cultural or
social group or system. The researcher examines the
group’s observable and learned patterns of behavior,
customs, and ways of life.

⚫ Involves prolonged observation of the group,

typically through participant observation.

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Ethnography

⚫ Field Work
⚫ Key Informants
⚫ Thick description
⚫ Emic (insider group perspective) and Etic
(researcher’s interpretation of social life).
⚫ Context important, need holistic view.
⚫ Need grounding in anthropology.

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 Ethnography cont.

⚫ Need extensive time to collect data

⚫ May incorporate quantitative data and
archival documents.
⚫ Many ethnographies may be written in a
narrative or story telling approach which
may be difficult for the audience
accustomed to usual social science writing.

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 Case Study
⚫ A case study is an exploration of a case (or multiple
cases) over time through detailed, in-depth data
collection involving multiple sources of information
rich in context.

⚫ The context of the case involves situating the case

within its setting. which may be physical, social,
historical and/or economic.

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 Case Study cont.

⚫ Data collection strategies include direct observation,

interviews, documents, archival records, participant
observation and audiovisual materials.

⚫ Analysis of themes, or issues and an interpretation of

the case by the researcher.

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 Feminist Research
⚫ Uses feminist theory as the philosophical
underpinning of the approach.
⚫ Assumes most formal knowledge is generated by
men.
⚫ Assumes that patriarchy and the use of power is
harmful to women.
⚫ Some feminists also recognize social class and race
as socially generated constructs that are used to
oppress others.

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Feminist Research is often classified in the “qualitative
research” family because:

⚫ It is used to generate new knowledge.

⚫ It’s purpose is to create social change.
⚫ Respondents often participate in the research
process.
⚫ The perspectives or standpoint of the subject and
researcher are central in data collection and
analysis.

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