Issues in qualitative research

¶ … biggest ethical dilemmas faced by qualitative researchers?

There are a number of different ethical dilemmas that are faced by qualitative researchers to include: consent, confidentiality and maintaining objectivity. When you look at consent, it is clear that all qualitative researchers must obtain some kind of authorization from the participants of the study. Where, the subjects will normally sign a written document, attesting to the overall risks and giving their permission to participate in the study. Prior to the internet age, most researchers would follow the standard guidelines of the National Research Act of 1974. This would require all researchers to obtain written consent from subjects and to disclose any possible risks that an experiment could pose to their personal safety. However, once the internet began to play a more important role in research, the underlying amounts of consent became more confusing. As this new technology, could be used as an effective medium for conducting a number of different studies. The problem is using this tool, has caused the underlying levels of consent to become vastly different. Evidence of this can be seen with two forms of consent that have evolved (active and passive consent). Active consent is when the subject has been informed of the possible risks and has given their written permission to participate in the study. Passive consent is when the subject has completed the survey and has usually checked off that they give their authorization to participate. This is challenging, because it is creating two different standards of consent. At which point, researchers can have trouble trying to determine how consent should be obtained and how it can apply to various mediums. (Berg, 2007)

Confidentiality is another issue that all qualitative researchers must constantly grapple with. Like with the issue of consent, the internet has made the underlying amounts of confidentiality more confusing, as the information that is obtained through this tool could easily be misused or stolen. This troubling, because researchers have an obligation, in maintaining confidentiality at all times. The fact that their data could be compromised is challenging, as they must struggle to protect the confidentiality of all subjects. (Berg, 2007)

The third issue, objectivity, highlights how all researchers must be able to maintain a sense of neutrality. The problem is: not becoming emotionally involved in the study. This is challenging during various interviews and focus groups, as researchers will often become involved, by relating to their subjects. Once this takes place, is when the overall results of the survey can become tainted. To avoid these kinds of issues, many researchers will often use multiple forms of data collection methods and will limit the time of their interviews. (Berg, 2007)

What are the primary reasons to use qualitative methods? What kinds of questions can qualitative research address?

The primary reasons for using qualitative research are: it helps to provide an overall big picture view of what is taking place and it allows researchers to corroborate, other factors that could be affecting the raw data. These two elements are important, because many researchers will have limited sample sizes or they could have trouble accurately determining, if other external factors (such as social settings) could be affecting the results. When you are using qualitative research, you are able to compare other data with the sample size of the study. At which point, you can be able to determine what specific issues are affecting the results. This will increase the accuracy of the study and improve the objectivity of researchers. (Berg, 2007)

There are a number of different questions that qualitative researchers can ask. Below are a few of the many different questions that could be utilized as a part of this methodology.

What is the underlying meaning of the research?

What definitions can be obtained from the study?

What are the common characteristics of respondents and other information that is being examined?

What do the underlying events symbolize to respondents?

What possible descriptions and interpretations can be drawn from describing the situation? (Berg, 2007)

What do we mean by the triangulation methods? What are the benefits of doing this?

The triangulation method is when researchers are using a number of different tools, to corroborate the underlying meaning of the results. This is because many researchers will often take an assumption, that a particular study will produce certain kinds of results. This is problematic, because these kinds of views could affect the objectivity of the study. To prevent this, researchers will use the triangulation method, to confirm the underlying trends and the findings from previous aspects of the study. The benefits of using the triangulation method are: you can be able to maintain objectivity and improve accuracy. (Lofland, 2006)

What are some of the sampling strategies you can use for qualitative field research?

The different sampling strategies that could be used for qualitative research include: convenience samples, snowball samples, quota samples and purposive samples. A convenience sample is when researchers are using people they know or have a personal relationship with, as a part of the study. Such as: a college professor using their students as the participants of their research project. Snowball samples are when researchers, are looking for respondents that will meet particular qualities or attributes. Once a certain amount of people have been identified, they will be asked for others, who they think would meet the standards for a research project. At which point, researchers can increase the size of the sample, as it will have a snowball effect (hence the name). Quota sampling is when you are selecting particular demographics, based upon the percentage of each group that is being studied (such as: age, sex, nationality or ethnic groups). Purposive sampling is when researchers are looking for particular individuals that will meet certain key attributes that is required. Where, researchers will often interview various individuals and determine, if they meet specific mental attributes of the survey. For example, if researchers are going to be studying the psychological effects of long hours on air traffic controllers, they would need to interview this population group. Where, they are looking for different individuals that are being affected by the long hours. This is more detailed sampling, as researchers are trying to identify specific attributes in particular demographics. (Lofland, 2006)

What are the strengths and weaknesses of qualitative research?

The underlying strengths of qualitative research are: it improves objectivity and focuses the study on the overall scope of the issue. These two elements are important, because they improve the effectiveness of how studies are being conducted. Where, objectivity will increase, because researchers have a number of different tools, to corroborate the findings of the study. This prevents someone from being influenced, by various events and emotions that could cause the results of the survey to be different. When you are using qualitative research, it is improving objectivity, by utilizing different tools to corroborate the underlying trends that are occurring. Once this takes place, it means that any kind of subjectivity from the researchers will be reduced, as the other pieces of information will confirm or refute what is happening with the trend. At which point, researchers can be focused on the overall scope of the issue being studied and the different variables that could be affecting responses. Together, these different elements will ensure that the research methodology will deliver the most accurate results possible, by having a way of independently confirming the underlying effects.

The weaknesses of using qualitative research are: it is time consuming and the various subjects / researchers could create barriers. The different sampling strategies could increase, the overall amount of time involved in identifying and selecting participants. This is problematic, because most studies will often require having an effective procedure for selecting and identifying the sample. At the same time, the approach used by researchers and the attitude of respondents will determine how genuine the data is. This is troubling, because if one of these two elements is taking place, it could cause the study to lose its accuracy. (Lofland, 2006)