As You Make Your Way Through The Readings And Resources

As You Make Your Way Through The Readings And Resources For This Week

As you make your way through the readings and resources for this week’s Discussion, you begin to realize that social and political forces as well as scientific curiosity shaped the development of modern qualitative research. These readings also make it clear that qualitative research is not a single, homogenous endeavor. Rather, qualitative researchers: come from a variety of disciplines, engage their objects of study from multiple perspectives, present their results in numerous formats, extend scientific knowledge beyond the confines of the experiment or survey, engage the audience to be self-reflective, and potentially illuminate opportunities for social change. This week’s course of study provides you with a contextual understanding of qualitative research, which will form the foundation for understanding the methods and rationale.

These will also help you begin a thoughtful process for considering the choice of qualitative research as your methodology for your doctoral research. For this Discussion, you will explore the foundations and history of qualitative research methods. You also will consider the unique characteristics that distinguish qualitative research from other forms of inquiry. To prepare for this Discussion: Review the Learning Resources related to qualitative research and consider the reasons researchers choose qualitative research methods for exploring a phenomenon of interest. Use the Course Guide and Assignment Help in the Learning Resources to help you search for other books, encyclopedias, or articles that introduce and describe qualitative research.

Consider the statement: Qualitative researchers study people in their natural settings, attempting to make sense of phenomena in terms of the meanings people bring to them. Using the Learning Resources and other academic sources you found, expand on this simple statement. In 3–4 paragraphs, explain several dimensions of this paradigm that make qualitative research interesting and unique. Be sure to use the terminology you are learning (including but not limited to “phenomena,” “constructivist,” and “naturalistic”), and provide historical context. Be sure to support your main post and response post with reference to the week’s Learning Resources and other scholarly evidence in APA style.

Paper For Above instruction

Qualitative research is a distinctive approach within the broader landscape of social science inquiry, distinguished by its focus on understanding human experiences within their natural contexts. Central to this paradigm is the concept of “phenomena,” which refers to the complex, subjective experiences and social realities that individuals construct. Unlike quantitative methods that often seek to measure and analyze variables in controlled settings, qualitative research aims to explore the richness of human behavior, perceptions, and meanings as they occur naturally. This approach is rooted in a constructivist epistemology, which posits that knowledge is not an external absolute but is constructed through interactions and interpretations by individuals and researchers alike (Ravitch & Carl, 2016). Consequently, qualitative researchers prioritize understanding how people make sense of their worlds, emphasizing subjective perspectives over objective measures.

The historical development of qualitative research is deeply intertwined with shifts in social and philosophical thought. In the early 20th century, inquiry was predominantly positivist, emphasizing objective measurement and experimental control. However, as social scientists and educators increasingly recognized the complexities inherent in social phenomena, a paradigm shift occurred. Erickson (2011) traces the emergence of qualitative inquiry as a response to the limitations of positivism, emphasizing naturalistic observation and interpretive methods. This paradigm, often described as “naturalistic,” underscores the importance of studying phenomena in their real-life settings—contexts where social behaviors naturally unfold—rather than in artificial laboratory environments. The development of ethnography, phenomenology, and narrative inquiry further exemplifies this tradition, highlighting how researchers seek to “make sense” of human experiences from the perspectives of those being studied.

Qualitative research's emphasis on authenticity, depth, and context aligns with its potential to contribute to social change. By engaging participants in their natural settings and interpreting their lived experiences, qualitative researchers can uncover underlying social structures, cultural norms, and individual motivations that influence behavior. This approach lends itself to empowering marginalized voices and highlighting issues that quantitative data might overlook. Moreover, the flexibility of qualitative methodologies—such as participant observation, interviews, and textual analysis—allows researchers to adapt their approaches to diverse phenomena, reflecting the complexity and fluidity of human life. This characteristic aligns with the constructivist view that reality is multiple and subjective, challenging the notion of a singular, “truth” and encouraging a deeper understanding of social dynamics.

References

• Ravitch, S. M., & Carl, N. M. (2016). Qualitative research: Bridging the conceptual, theoretical, and methodological. Sage Publications.
• Erickson, F. (2011). Chapter 3: A history of qualitative inquiry in social and educational research. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), The SAGE handbook of qualitative research (4th ed., pp. 43–58). Sage Publications.
• Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2013). Chapter 1: Introduction: The discipline and practice of qualitative research. In The landscape of qualitative research (4th ed.). Sage Publications.
• Yob, I., & Brewer, P. (n.d.). Working toward the common good: An online university's perspectives on social change.