Please Answer One Of The Two Prompts Below Your Posts
Please Answer One Of The Two Prompts Noted Below Your Posts This Week
Please answer one of the two prompts noted below. Your posts this week should demonstrate critical reflection upon the assigned readings.
1. This week we focused on developing an understanding for some different qualitative methods. What are two or three assumptions that are made specific to qualitative research? Be specific in your description of each one. When considering some of the various qualitative methods that are out there, what challenges might they pose to a study's validity, reliability, and generalizability?
2. A tremendous amount of research is conducted each year through secondary analysis. What is secondary analysis and what are the advantages and disadvantages of using secondary data? Give an example of a study that was done using secondary data analysis and summarize the findings briefly. Be sure the study is peer-reviewed. Finally, what are some additional questions that you have about the different qualitative methods that are out there? Use this as an opportunity to gain some clarity on the research methods discussed this week.
Paper For Above instruction
Understanding Assumptions in Qualitative Research and Challenges to Validity
Qualitative research is a crucial approach in social sciences, emphasizing understanding human behavior and social phenomena through rich, contextual data. Several assumptions underpin qualitative methodologies, shaping how researchers approach their studies. Among these, three key assumptions are interpretivism, researcher subjectivity, and contextuality.
Interpretivism posits that reality is subjective and constructed through human interactions and interpretations. Unlike quantitative approaches that seek objective truth, qualitative research assumes that multiple realities exist, and understanding is achieved by exploring participants' perspectives (Denzin & Lincoln, 2018). This assumption allows researchers to delve deeply into complex social phenomena but introduces challenges in establishing objective validity, as findings are often context-dependent and interpretive.
Researcher Subjectivity assumes that researchers bring their own perspectives, biases, and experiences into the research process. Acknowledging this subjectivity is essential for reflexivity, which involves critically examining how one's background influences data collection and interpretation (Berger, 2015). While subjectivity can enrich understanding, it can also threaten reliability and validity if not properly managed, as personal biases may distort findings.
Contextuality assumes that social phenomena are inherently embedded within specific contexts that influence outcomes. Qualitative research emphasizes that findings are context-bound and may not be easily generalized to other settings (Patton, 2015). This assumption challenges traditional notions of reliability and validity, which often seek universal applicability, and raises questions about the transferability of qualitative findings.
Considering these assumptions, various qualitative methods face distinct challenges related to validity, reliability, and generalizability. Methods like ethnography or phenomenology involve in-depth, context-rich data but pose challenges in replicability—affecting reliability. The interpretive nature may also limit the generalizability of findings beyond the studied context. Ensuring validity involves rigorous triangulation, member checking, and transparent documentation of analytic processes.
In conclusion, understanding these assumptions helps clarify the strengths and limitations of qualitative research. Recognizing how interpretivism, researcher subjectivity, and contextuality influence study outcomes enables researchers to design robust studies, while also acknowledging limitations inherent to qualitative approaches.
References
- Berger, R. (2015). Now I see it, now I don’t: Researcher’s position and reflexivity in qualitative research. Qualitative Research, 15(2), 219–234.
- Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2018). The SAGE handbook of qualitative research. Sage.
- Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative research & evaluation methods: Integrating theory and practice. Sage publications.