Having boldly gone where I had never gone before in my last post, I thought I'd update the blog with some further notes. My plan of action, by the way, is to finish the Shank book, read Salah's notes and then get on with the online task (all of which I hope to accomplish in a couple of weeks)... phew!..
Well, after venturing into the wonderful world of statistics and Quantitative literacy, this post looks at basic qualitative literacy (through the eyes of Shank and Brown) and begins with the notion of meaning. I can't promise that this will be a joy to read - it is just a brief record of what I have been reading.
Qualitative Educational Research
Meaning is core to understanding.
In the scientific world, meaning is a 'thing' (their word not mine) in the world. Meanings like facts are discovered by scientific researchers (e.g. the laws of nature). We're not so much interested in what something is but rather what its practical effects are (also referred to as operationalization). There are the abstract meanings of the world and more specifically meaning of individual things through the way they operate in the world. Of course in science, these meanings tend to be addressed quantifiably. The key to quantitative enquiry is to create a set of theories and findings that are universally applicable despite the fact that researchers may be influenced by family, country, creed and culture. This is where the qualitative notion of meaning differs.
Qualitative researchers may understand that the facts of nature may not just be what we wish or think them to be. Qualitative researchers look at meaning before testing hypotheses and prioritise the examination of processes and types of meanings that we might discover or create in the world.
While the empirical world looks at simplicity being the key to understanding order, complexity is usually a composite of chunks of simplicity. Qualitative researchers look at natural and complex settings and so do not see things mechanically; this may be analogous to quantitative researchers looking at the world like a cuckoo clock while a qualitative researcher looks at it like a danish pastry. Quantitative research is concerned with a more mechanical understanding whereas qualitative research sees understanding as incomplete or poor. In qualitative research we are looking for patterns in the search for meaning often found in the form of themes; underlying principles that help coherence and intelligibility. Researchers are often observers and participants. Whereas quantitative research is about the outside looking in, qualitative reseach can also mean the inside looking out. Qualitative researchers, may be intervierwing, taking notes and staying out of the action.However, there are also those who take part in autobiographical research, give an in-depth personal perspective on research, documenting and reflecting on their experiences. Then there is also what is known as action research pioneered by Friere. Action research is using the research itself to make the world a better place. So what tools do qualitative researchers use?
Tools and procedures for gathering qualitative data.
Tools range from observations where a researcher goes somewhere and pays attention to what is happening around them using all of their senses. Interviews, nothing more than a specialised form of conversation which allows researchers to gather in opinions and insights from participants. Interviews can also come in the form of focus groups - a highly specialised group of six to eight participants interviewed. Materials analysis allows the investigation of materials cultures generate (e.g. buildings to classroom objects). Archival and Historical records analysis builds on from materials analysis and looks at governmental records and newspapers. Furthermore there is Interpretive analysis which involves understanding within a framework and participant observation, where a researcher goes in when and where they need, in order to understand (like ethnographies and action research).
Methods used to conduct qualitative studies.
Here is a list of methods common in qualitative literature:
Ethnography - This is the notion of doing work in the field; researchers are placed somewhere and then told that they have to fend for themselves and report on their findings. There is also what is known as microethnography which means that this is done over a shorter period and autoethnography which combines field research and autobiography.
Grounded Theory - Born withins sociology, it is based in precise and focused field methods and is considered to be the most analytic and scientifically based qualitative research.
Case studies - Researchers take time to probe and observe, gathering information from a variety of sources. there is also what is known as a portraiture where artistic modes and methods are deliberately combined to give readers a unique look at research targets.
Narrative and Oral Historical Analysis - Involves recording stories and accounts and can include analysing word patterns, gestures, and intonation and pauses.
Critical Theoretical Analysis - This uses a an explicit framework to help people on conscious awareness raising; they embark on a journey which are deceiving themselves into believing certain destructive ideologies which will then allow then to move on and progress.
Action Research - At one end of the scale this involves the empowerment of teachers and learners and at the other end, the teacher acts as a researcher.
Qualitative Educational Evaluation - This respects the need to find the truth while realising that new paths and methods are essential to get to the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth (whatever that means for you).
Categories of Qualitative Articles.
There are several categories qualitative research is divided into this is mainly to do with its diverse nature. Here are the four that Shank and Brown mention:
Investigative - Here we focus on depth. We are looking at situations that just don't seem to make sense and then investigating them, bringing in our own frameworks waiting for things to fall into place.
Interpretive - This type of article clarifying our focus. We are putting together pieces of a puzzle and looking for the best way to come up with the clearest picture.
Illuminative - Here, our primary goal is insight. We look at a phenomenon in a new way or from a different perspective.
Participatory - Here we are trying to make things better and research helps us to do this.
I think it is important to stress that Shank and Brown stipulate that articles can fall into a number of these different types and we are not just limited to one. Furthermore, a qualitative perspective to research is different to empirical research. Qualitative research tends to examine what role meaning takes on and how people understand the world around them and they do this in many different ways.
