Download SOCW 671 #9

SOCW 671: Week 9
Discuss 3rd
Assignment
Qualitative Methods: Action Research Field
Studies, Case Studies & Survey Research
Qualitative Social Work
Research
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Goal is to find meaning, not quantify
When in doubt, observe and ask questions
No burden of proof, only want to experience
and understand
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From Patton (2002)
Phases: A Very Brief History
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Traditional (up to WWII) – influenced by positivism, objectivity
in fieldwork
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Modernist (to the 1970s) – emphasis on rigor and formalism
Blurred Genes (1970-1986) – alternative approaches emerged
Crisis of Representation – focus on issues of power, privilege,
race, gender. Undermined traditions of validity and neutrality
 Fifth Movement – triple crisis of representation, legitimization,
and praxis in which process was examined. Importance of
perspective and how to evaluate
 Postexperimental – boundaries includes creative nonfiction,
autobiographical, ethnography, poetic representations, and multi
media presentations
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Denzin & Lincoln (2000)
Theoretical Underpinnings
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Exploratory
Lived experience
Multiple realities
Philosophical models
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Constructivist – how people create reality
Postmodernism – multiple realities and viewpoints
to oppression
Themes to Consider with
Qualitative Inquiry
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Design Strategies
Data Collection and Fieldwork
Strategies
Analysis Strategies
Design strategies
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Naturalistic inquiry – real world situations as
naturally unfold.
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Emergent design flexibility – adapting inquiry
as understanding deepens
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Purposeful sampling – cases are selected
because they are “information rich”
Data collection & fieldwork
strategies
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Qualitative data – observations detailed, depth, direct
quotes, etc.
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Personal experience and engagement – researcher in
close contact, personal experiences and insights
useful
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Empathic neutrality and mindfulness – seeks vicarious
understanding without judgment
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Dynamic systems – attention to process, change
ongoing, system and situation dynamics
Analysis strategies
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Unique case orientation
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Inductive analysis & creative analysis
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Holistic perspective
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Context sensitivity
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Voice, perspective, and reflexivity
Qualitative Methods
Action Research
Field Studies
Case Studies
Focus Groups
Content Analysis
Action Research
Foundations of Action
Research
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Involves
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Change experiments on real problems in social
systems
Iterative cycles of identifying a problem, planning,
acting and evaluating
Re-education, or changing patterns of current
thinking with participation of client
Challenges to status quo
Simultaneous contributions to basic knowledge
and social action
Action Research Cycle
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Pre-step: Context and purpose
Main Steps
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Diagnosing
Planning action
Taking action
Evaluating action
Meta Learning
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Planning action
Taking action
Evaluating action
Premise
Process
Content
Rigor in Action Research
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As the researcher, demonstrate how you:
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Engage in multiple and repetitious action research
cycles
Challenge and tested own assumptions and
interpretations
Access differing views
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Confirming interpretations
Contradictory interpretations
Ground interpretations and diagnoses in scholarly
theory
Experiential Learning in Action
Research
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As insider action researcher, you have a role
in the organization, including:
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Experiencing
Reflecting
Interpreting
Taking action
Reflection in Action Research
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Stepping back from experience to process what it
means
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Two critical elements of self-reflection
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Ability to critique own thought process
Attend to your feelings
Two useful constructs
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Noticing personal inferences and checking them
Becoming aware of your distorting of reality
Journaling: Helps Action
Researchers Develop Reflective
Skills
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Helps reflect on own experiences
Journal imposes discipline by providing a
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Systematic record of events, dates & people
Interpretative and self-evaluative account of
researcher’s experiences
Way of dumping painful experiences
Reflective account to tease out interpretations
Analytic tool where data can be examined and
analyzed
Researching Own
Organization
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Focus of researcher and system
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Differentiate between researcher and system
Determine whether for self-study or not
Role, access and pre-understanding
Learning by both the system and self
You are engaged in both:
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1st person research – using pre-understanding for personal
development
2nd person research – working on practical issues for
organization with colleagues and relevant others
SOCW 671: Week 10
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Field Studies
Case Studies
Focus Groups
Survey Research
Topics Appropriate for Field
Research
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Topics defying simple quantification
Attitudes and behaviors best understood
within their natural setting
Social processes over time
Purposive sampling methods used,
including
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Quota sampling
Snowball sampling
Deviant cases
Critical incidents sampling
Maximum variation sampling
Homogeneous sampling
Case Study Research
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Rationale for Case Study Research
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Having only one or a few cases, or
phenomenon that occurs rarely
Investigating complex social phenomenon
Finding how things are related in some depth
Discovering insights into the meanings that
people give to reality
Embarking on a new line of inquiry
Focus of Case Studies
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Study of individuals
Types of role relationships
Historical events
Occupational categories
Communities or neighborhoods
Various organizational settings
Categories of behaviors, norms, or beliefs
Typically Choose This Design:
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In settings where behavior takes place
Where you have collective or set of role
relationships
Where you have thick descriptions or
voluminous observational records
Rationale for Case Study
Research
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When have only one or a few cases
For phenomenon that occurs rarely
To investigate complex social issues
How things are related in some depth
To find insights into the meanings people
give to reality
When embarking on a new line of inquiry
Strengths of Case Studies
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Greater detail about social phenomenon
May lead to holistic & contextualized
characterization of a case
Useful in exploratory research
Useful in studying rare or inaccessible cases
Less expensive than survey research
Useful for detailed theoretical contrasts
Allows for more dynamic process
Useful for detailing a process over time
Weaknesses of Case Studies
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Cannot be generalized
Usually cannot use statistical tools
Lack of control for what happens in field
May require too much effort and skill
Difficult to measure latent variables or
constructs
Gaining entry may be difficult
Focus Groups
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Typically includes 6 - 12 people
Usually not representative of population
Able to gather a large amount of information
in a brief period
Commonly uses key informants
Ask about 3 to 6 questions
Record information
Content Analysis
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Refers to data reduction and sense-making
effort that takes qualitative material and
attempts to identify core consistencies and
meanings
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Includes
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Text searching
Analysis of text such as interviews, transcripts,
diaries
Visual analysis of images
Topics Appropriate for Survey
Research
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Use individuals as the unit of analysis
Collect original data on a population too large to
observe directly
Measure attitudes and orientations in a large
population
Use to describe, explore or explain
Collect information with
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Questionnaires
Interviews
Self-administered
Questionnaires
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Mail distribution and return
Include a cover letter
Monitor returns
Send follow-up mailings
Interview Surveys
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Role of interviewer
Rules for interviewing
Appearance and demeanor
Familiarity with questionnaire
Follow question wording exactly
Record responses exactly
Probing for responses
Interview Surveys (continued)
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Coordination and control
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Training interviewers
Supervising interviewers
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Telephone surveys
Pluses and minuses
Computer assistance
Comparing Self-administered
Tests versus Interviews
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Advantages of self-administered
questionnaires
Cheaper and quicker
Same cost for national or local survey
Appropriate for sensitive issues
Can offer anonymity
Advantages of Interviews
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Fewer incomplete answers
Higher return rate
Interviewer can observe
Appropriate for complicated issues
Can conduct with a sample of addresses
Strengths of Survey Research
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Strengths
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Reliability
Describes characteristics of a large
population
Flexibility in analysis
Same questions to all respondents
Large samples
Weaknesses of Survey
Research
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Weaknesses
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Validity
Standardization may yield superficiality
Doesn’t deal with context
Cannot be modified in the field
Its artificial, it cannot measure action