PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1-QUARTER 1-MODULE 2

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH AND ITS IMPORTANCE IN DAILY LIFE

Lesson 1: The Value of Qualitative Research Its Characteristics, Strengths, Weaknesses and Kinds

Introduction
What makes human race distinct from each other, specifically on its uniqueness of traits,
similarities and differences? In a way, qualitative research can respond to such questions.
According to Silverman (2013); Litchman (2013); Walliman (2014); and Suter (2012), qualitative
research is an act of inquiry or investigation of real-life events. It is concerned with own
experiences of a life event, and the aim is to interpret what has been said in order to explain
why it is said. This is called natural setting. Qualitative research is important practically because
most things cannot just be quantified: they need to be described. Appreciating the nature of life
and experience is vital than simply counting things .We need to understand the quality of some
things in order for them to have meaning.
This module will assist you in understanding….

Lesson 1 The Value of Qualitative Research Its Characteristics, Strengths, Weaknesses and Kinds
Lesson 2 The Importance of Qualitative Research Across Fields of Inquiry
Learning Objectives
After going through this module, you are expected to: 1. describe the characteristics, strengths
and weaknesses and kinds of qualitative research; and
2. Illustrate the importance of qualitative research across fields

The Value of Qualitative Research Its Characteristics, Strengths,

Weaknesses and Kinds

The general purpose of qualitative research is to develop concepts which help you to understand social
phenomena in, wherever possible, natural rather than experimental settings, to gain an understanding of
the experiences, perceptions and/or behaviours of individuals, and the meanings attached to them. The
effective applications of qualitative methods to other disciplines, including health and education
research have expanded. This module outlines the nature and potential value of qualitative research
features its various parameters.

I. Definition of Qualitative Research Qualitative Research is a scientific method of observation to gather

non-numerical data. It refers to the meanings, concepts, characteristics, metaphors, symbols and
description of phenomena, and not to their counts or measures.

1
II.Purpose of Qualitative Research Qualitative Research promotes a deep, holistic understanding of a
particular phenomenon.

III.Characteristics of Qualitative Research

1. Human understanding and interpretation in data analysis

2. Active, powerful and forceful in data gathering and rephrasing interview questions

3. Multiple research approaches and methods that allows you to plan your study and being multi-
method research

4. Specificity to generalization on specific ideas will lead to generalizations or conclusions.

5. Contextualization - context or situation of individual’s life

6. Diversified data in real-life situations on collecting data in a natural setting

7. Abounds with words and visuals that presents people’s view in a picture, video, drawing or graphs.

8. Internal analysis on examining the data yielded by the internal traits of the subject persons.

IV.Strengths of Qualitative Research

1. It adopts a naturalistic approach to its subject matter.

2. Promotes a full understanding of human behavior/personality traits in their natural setting.

3. It is instrumental for positive societal changes.

4. It engenders respect for people’s individuality.

5. it’s a way of understanding & interpreting social interactions.

6. Increases researcher’s interests in the study.

7. Offers multiple ways of acquiring and examining knowledge about something.

V.Weaknesses of Qualitative Research

1. It involves a lot of researcher’s subjectivity in data analysis.

2. It is hard to know the validity/reliability of the data.

3. It is open-ended questions yield “data overload” that requires long-time analysis.

4. It is time-consuming.

5. It involves several processes, whose results greatly depend on the researcher’s views or
interpretations.

VI. Kinds of Qualitative Research2

1. Case Study - Long time study of a person, group, organization or situation and an empirical inquiry
that investigates current phenomenon. Example: “Teenage Pregnancy in the Public High Schools”

2. Ethnography- a study of a particular cultural group. Example: “Cultural Awareness and Integration of
Peace Education in the Indigenous Peoples (IP) Communities” .

3. Phenomenology- “live-experienced” of a phenomenon. Example: “Life without Gadget”

2
4. Content and Discourse Analysis-  Content Analysis- is a research technique that analyzes the modes
of communication such as letters, e-mails etc.  Discourse Analysis- is the study of social life, understood
through analysis of language it includes face-to-face talk, non-verbal interaction, images and symbols.
Materials for Discourse Analysis include books, newspapers, periodicals, brochures and advertisements.
Example: “A Discourse Analysis on the Impact of Modern Technologies on Communication”

5. Historical Analysis- is a qualitative method where there is an examining of past events to draw
conclusions and make predictions about the future. Example: “The Impact of Ferdinand Marcos’
Speech”.

6. Grounded Theory- takes place when there is a discovery of new theory which underlies your study at
the time of data collection and analysis. Example: “The Story Behind the Migration of Christians from
Visayas and Luzon to Mindanao”

7. Narrative Report - designed to present things or events that have happened in the past through a
logical progression of the relevant information. The main purpose of a narrative report is to present a
factual depiction of what has occurred. Example: “Vocabulary Building of Students through Proper Solid
Waste Management”

8. Biography- is the study of an individual’s life and struggles and how they reflect cultural themes of the
society. It deals with an interesting story found in documents and archival materials. It is concerned with
the reconstruction of life histories and the constitution of meaning based on biographical narratives and
documents.

Five common types of biography are

(1) Scholarly Chronicles -focus on the historical portrayal of an individual life. e.g. “Biography of Gloria
M. Arroyo, the First Woman President of the Philippines”

(2) Intellectual Biography- narrative of a life through the conceptual analysis of the subject’s motives and
beliefs within the world of ideas. e.g. “Life and Works of Dr. Jose Rizal”

(3) Life History Writing- recording of life memories, experiences, whether one’s or another’s. e.g. “The
Hardships of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW’s)”.

(4) Memoir Biography- stylistic presentation of the biographer’s reflections and insights in relation to the
factual account of life. e.g. “The Experiences of Stranded Students in the COVID-19 Pandemic”

(5) Narrative Biography-a nonfiction account of life experiences of a person.

9. Action Research- is a classroom-based or school-based research seeks transformative change through

the process of taking action and doing research, which are linked together by critical reflection. This type
of research is commonly conducted by the teachers to give solutions to the existing problems to improve
students’ academic performance and positive attitudes.

3
 Lesson 2: The Importance of Qualitative Research Across Fields of
Inquiry
Research in Different Areas of Knowledge Research studies happen in any field of knowledge:
Anthropology, Business, Communication, Education, Engineering, Law and Nursing.

A. Basic Research Approaches in a Specific Area of Discipline

1. Scientific or Positive Approach

-Deals with empirical data instead of personal views, feelings or attitudes.

-Allows control of variables or factors affecting the study (Laursen 2010).

-Express and records findings quantitatively.

-Presents structured interviews, questionnaires and observational checklists.

2. Naturalistic Approach

 A people-oriented approach focusing on discovering the real concept or meaning behind people’s
lifestyles and social relations.

4
 Present things qualitatively through verbal language. Using words as unit of analysis.

 Bases determining universal social values to define ethical and unethical that society ought to know,
not only for the benefit of individual and community but also for the satisfaction of man’s quest for
knowledge.” (Sarandakos 2013; Ransome 2013)

Example: Talking to ethnic groups or people with other culture in a natural setting. In this case, the
researcher uses unstructured interviews and the participants’ answer/response is not scripted.

3. Triangulation/ Mixed Method

 Allows a combination or a mixture of research designs, data collection and data analysis techniques.

 Enhance the validity and reliability of qualitative research design.

 Enhances accuracy of interpretation.

 Has an opportunity to view every angle of the research from different perspectives.

(3) Main Methods of Data Collection

a. Interactive interviewing- people asked to verbally described their experiences of phenomenon.

b. Written descriptions by participant- people asked to write descriptions of their experiences of

phenomenon.

c. Observation- descriptive observations of verbal and non-verbal behavior.

In the field of Humanities, researchers ought to focus not to man’s social life but instead studies it’s
meanings, significance and visualizations of man’s experiences in the field of Fine Arts, Literature, Music,
Drama, Dance and other artistically inclined subjects.

Humanistic Categories

1. Literature and Art Criticism Focus on language depends on interpretative and reflective thinking.

2. Philosophical Research The focus of inquiry is on knowledge and principles of being and on the
manner human beings conduct themselves on Earth.

3. Historical Research Investigation centers on events and ideas that took place in man’s life at a
particular period.

 Qualitative and Quantitative Research can go together in a research approach.

 There is a symbiotic relationship between these two research methods, in which they reinforce or
strengthen each other.

5
 Moreover, any form of knowledge, factual or opinionated and any statistical or verbal expression of
this knowledge are deduced from human experience that is subjective. (Hollway 2013; Letherby
2013)

6
7
 PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1 Quarter 1- Module 3: Identifying the Inquiry and Stating the Problem

Lesson 1: The Subject Matter of the Research

Developing a good research topic may not be easy for you but it is an important skill. Your teacher
may assign you a particular topic but often requires you to choose a topic that interests you .In this
lesson you are given the guidelines in choosing a topic when you begin your research work. These
pointers will guide you in selecting a good topic. Other factors affecting in choosing and writing your
research are topics that need to be avoided this will help you focus clearly on your subjects. Likewise
the sources of information are important for you to know where your research topic may come from.

I. What is a Research Title1?

1. The most important element that defines the research problem.

2. It is usually read first and the most read part of the research.

3. It contains the least words enough to describe the contents and the purpose of your research
paper.

4. It can be revised any and many times as the research develops and reach its final phase. It
becomes final on its final defence before the panel of judges.

Elements of a Research Title

The research title does not need to be entertaining but informative.

A part of a research title has the following information:

1. The subject matter or topic to be investigated. (“What?”)

2. The place or locale where the research is to be conducted. (“Where?”)

3. The population like the respondents’ interviewees. (“Who”?)

8
 4. The time period of the study during which the data are to be collected. (“When”?)

II. Rules in Choosing a Research Topic1

1. Interest in the subject matter. Interest in a subject drives you to research, investigate, or inquire about
it with full motivation, enthusiasm, and energy.

2. Availability of information. Information will serve as evidence to support your claims about your
subject matter from varied forms of literature like books, journals, and newspapers, among others, is a
part and parcel of any research work.

What to include in the investigation of the available materials?

a. Update and authority of the materials.

b. Copyright dates of the materials? Are they new or old?

c. Expert or qualification of the writers of reading materials about your topic

3. Timeliness and relevance of the topic. How relevant is the topic?

a. It yields results that are useful in society b. Related to the present. (Except for pure or historical
research)

4. Limitations on the subject. Connect your choice with course requirements. You need to decide on one
topic to finish your course.

5. Personal resources. Do an assessment on your research abilities in terms of your financial standing,
health condition, mental capacity, needed facilities, and time schedule to enable you to complete your
research. You have to raise an amount of money needed to spend on questionnaire printing and
interview trips.

III. Research Topics to be avoided

1. Controversial topics. It depends more on the writer’s opinion leading to biases. Facts cannot support
this topic.

2. Highly technical subjects. Not advisable for beginners as these topics require an advanced study,
technical knowledge, and skills.

3. Hard-to-investigate subjects. Happens if there are no available reading materials about it and if such
materials are not up-to-date.

4. Too broad subjects. It prevents you from to focus on the subject matter of the paper. Narrow down or
limit the subject to eliminate the problem.

5. Too narrow subjects. Subjects that are so limited where an extensive searching is necessary.

6. Vague subjects. Titles beginning with indefinite adjectives such as several, many, some, etc., as in
“Some Remarkable Traits of a Filipino” or “Several People’s Comments on the RH Law,” are vague enough
to decrease the readers’ interests and curiosity.

IV. Sources of Research Topics

9
1. Mass media communication – press (newspapers, ads, TV, radio, films, etc.)

2. Books, Internet, peer-reviewed journals, government publications

3. Professional periodicals like College English Language Teaching Forum, English Forum, the Economist,
Academia, Business Circle, Law Review, etc.

4. General periodicals such as Readers’ Digest, Women’s Magazine, Panorama Magazine, Time Magazine,
World Mission Magazine, etc.

5. Previous reading assignments in your other subjects

6. Work experience – clues to a researchable topic from full-time or part-time jobs, OJT (on-the-job
training) experience, fieldwork, etc.

10
11
Lesson 2: The Research Problem and Research Question

12
Having a problem makes you anxious that pushes you to exert efforts on finding a solution. There will be
doubts that you are uncertain of your solutions thus conducting a research is the best thing to do. Doing
a research always begins with a problem which points you to a topic to look out. Getting the background
and establishing your research question that causes the problem is a hint to start knowing what your
problem is all about In this lesson you have to study the concept of research problems and research
questions including its scope and delimitation, cite the significance.

13
 A. Background of the Study

The Do’s and Don’ts of Writing a Research Background Study

14
15
16
17
18
19
20
MODULE 4: Learning from Others and Reviewing the Literature

21
22
Quarter 2 - Module 5: UNDERSTANDING DATA AND WAYS TO SYSTEMATICALLY COLLECT DATA

LESSON 1: QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN

23
24
LESSON 2 SAMPLING

25
26
LESSON 3:THE DATA AND DATA COLLECTION

27
28
29
LESSON 4: GATHERING YOUR DATA

30
31
Quarter 2 - Module 6: Analyzing The Meaning of The Data and Drawing Conclusion

LESSON 1:INFER PATTERNS AND THEMES FROM THE GATHERED DATA

32
33
34
35
36
37
Quarter 2 - Module 7: Reporting and Sharing the Findings

LESSON: DRAWING CONCLUSIONS FROM PATTERNS AND THEMES

38
39
LESSON 2: FORMULATING RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON CONCLUSIONS

40
LESSON 3:SOURCES OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

41
42
43
LESSON 4: PRESENTING A WRITTEN RESEARCH REPORT

TYPES

44
45
LESSON 5: FINALIZING AND PRESENTING BEST DESIGN

46
47
48
49