Qualitative research, traditionally used in social sciences and market research investigates the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of decision making. It attempts to carry out an in-depth study in order to understand human behaviour and the reasons for that behaviour. It makes use of smaller but focused samples to collect its data.
This type of research collects a lot of evidence which the researcher analyzes. There are several methods one can use to collect data, such as interviews, focus groups, group discussions, observation, reflections. One of the main advantages of using this research method is that it gives the participant the opportunity to respond in their own words. It also allows the researcher some flexibility to probe the participant further based on their initial responses: they are able to ask ‘why’ and ‘how’.
In the research paper, College Students Social Networking experiences on Facebook, the researchers study how much, why and how young adults use social networking sites. It found that on average, students spend at least 30 minutes observing content and creating and disseminating content. The students also use Facebook to express their identity and would only use it to communicate with friends whom they have a pre-established relationship offline.
The paper applies the use of qualitative research very well. One of the main methods that they employed was a diary to collect the data. The respondents [students] were asked to fill in a diary every day for 7 days. In the diary, they were asked to fill in the total amount of time that they spent on Facebook, check off specific activities that they did while on social networking sites. The diary also had some open-ended questions about social networking sites: why the students used the social networking sites and how they used them. When the 7-day diary research period was over, the students were then given 24 hours to complete a follow-up survey with some open-ended questions.
Further reading led me to a paper that gives an in-depth understanding into using diaries as a data collection method. Diary methods involve intensive, repeated self-reports that express events, reflections, moods, pains or interactions near the time that they occur. This method, like all other qualitative research methods is systematic and highly structured. It produces findings not determined in advance.
Researchers have to decide on a diary design before they begin their research. With changes in technology, diaries can now log additional information about the location of the respondent and integrate that data with physiological measures.There are three most commonly used formats of diaries: paper and pencil, brief telephone interviews and electronic based e.g. Internet-based diary, handheld computers and/or mobile phones. In the investigation into students experiences of Facebook use, they employed both electronic and paper and pencil diary formats.
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Research design is research undertaken to support the strategic design and development of products, services, programs. Its used to develop effective solutions. It’s purpose is to generate utility for the user by cumulatively gathering of human experiences. A lot of the data collection is done with the use of multimedia presentations.
The research paper, Comics, Robots, Fashion and Programming: outlining the concept of actDresses, the investigators study the design of physical languages used for controlling and programming robotic consumer products. It explores basic research theories represented in the field of comics and fashion and how these two are used in the development of physical languages.
I like the idea of a diary as a qualitative method, especially the opportunities that come with new technology (such as information about location as you wrote). We talked about this during the qualitative methods seminar and discovered one negative side about diaries: it’s easy to forget when something happened. Have you been thinking about how one could go around that problem?
ReplyDeleteI agree that forgetting what one wrote is a disadvantage. It may not be full-proof but I would suggest that events be recorded as and when they happen to avoid forgetting things.
DeleteIt is true that respondents often forget to write their diary. One approach is to stay in close contact with the respondents and remind them now and then. The researcher also needs to have a plan on what to do if some of the respondents forget. For example, if you ask a number of people to write a diary, you can expect that not all of them will complete it. The response rate is also a major issue with surveys, especially online surveys.
DeleteBridget, this is very interesting paper, you are writing about. Could you please give me the link of it - I have a feeling that it could be good for my master thesis =)
ReplyDeleteMary, it was a very interesting paper. Here you go: http://www.sciencedirect.com.focus.lib.kth.se/science/article/pii/S0193397308001408. I hope you find it useful/helpful.
DeleteIt was interesting to read your in-depth description of the diary approach. It is a method that is not used that much, but one can get very valuable data. Often it is argued that we need more longitudinal studies that understand changes over time, and the diary can be one of the methods for doing this.
ReplyDeleteYou write that: "This method, like all other qualitative research methods is systematic and highly structured. It produces findings not determined in advance." I would like to clarify that qualitative methods can also be very open. Of course the researchers have an aim with the research. However, in explorative research one is often very open and it might even be hard to know exactly what to ask. In those cases e.g. observation can be a useful method.