Understanding the Value of Qualitative Research

Understanding the Value of Qualitative Research
Qualitative researchers have a number of different research strategies available to them, including case studies, phenomenology, grounded theory and ethnography. Each of these research strategies has its respective strengths and weaknesses, but ethnography in particular represents a special challenge since it seeks to learn more about a group of people from the perspective of an insider. The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the relevant literature to identify and describe and benefits of ethnographical research as a strategy for developing a better understanding concerning the lived experiences of others. A critique of Dr. Loïc Wacquant’s ethnographical work and a discussion concerning its implications for social change are followed by a description concerning the potential impact of research in supporting positive social change through public policy in the paper’s conclusion.
Review and Discussion
Role of the qualitative researcher
The role of the qualitative researcher is to examine, in-depth, a wide array of textual data, various documents, pictures, music and virtually any other non-numeric human artifact to gain a better understanding of the issues of interest and interpret these in ways that can facilitate social and organizational change (Neuman, 2008). The overarching role of ethnographic researchers is that of an “insider” closely observing a group of people from a different culture. In this regard, Neuman (2008) advises that, “Ethnography is an approach to field research that emphasizes providing a very detailed description of a different culture from the viewpoint of an insider of that culture in order to permit a greater understanding” (p. 534). In addition, addressing any ethical issues that may be involved and securing permission to enter a research site are part of the qualitative researcher’s role (Creswell & Creswell, 2018).
Although Neuman (2008) specifies that ethnography is used with groups from other cultures, Creswell (2003) does not make this distinction. For instance, Creswell maintains that, “An ethnography is a description and interpretation of a cultural or social group or system [in which] the researcher examines the group's observable and learned patterns of behavior, customs, and ways of life" (p. 58). In sum, and notwithstanding these slightly different definitions, the role of the ethnographical researcher is to develop an insider perspective of a group of interest. Not surprisingly, though, this qualitative research method in particular has some unique issues that researchers should take into account and these are discussed below.
Discuss the unique issues that researchers should be concerned about in qualitative research
Any qualitative research methodology has some unique issues that researchers must consider, including potential threats to the trustworthiness or credibility of research and the findings that emerge (Asselin, 2009). There are also some unique issues with respect to interpreting qualitative data appropriately and accurately. As Creswell and Creswell (2018) point out, “In the entire qualitative research process, the researchers keep a focus on learning the meaning that the participants hold about the problem or issue, not the meaning that the researchers bring to the research or that writers express in the literature” (9.1).
In addition, in contrast to the longstanding quantitative research tradition, qualitative research remains emergent and dynamic in application. For instance, according to Creswell and Creswell (2018), this means that, “the initial plan for research cannot be tightly prescribed, and some or all phases of the process may change or shift after the researcher enters the field and begins to collect data” (p. 3). This issue, of course, means that the qualitative researcher is succeeding in developing a better understanding of the phenomenon of interest, but this aspect is in sharp contrast to the quantitative method which maintains the same protocols throughout the research.
Moreover, the qualitative research method is also inherently subjective in nature, and there is always the potential for researcher bias to influence the interpretation of the results (Creswell & Creswell, 2018). Notwithstanding the foregoing issues; however, qualitative research provides a valuable framework in which to develop fresh insights about an issue of interest that might not otherwise be possible using a quantitative research design. As Creswell and Creswell (2018) emphasize, “The key idea behind qualitative research is to learn about the problem or issue from participants and to address the research to obtain that information” (p. 4). Besides these unique issues, ethnographical research in particular also presents a number of challenges to qualitative researchers as discussed below.
Explain the challenges researchers face in ethnographical research.
One of the main challenges facing ethnographical researchers is the need to develop an authentic understanding of what participants actually believe about an issue of interest, and this challenge is further exacerbated when those participants are from a dramatically different cultural group (Neuman, 2008). Furthermore, each ethnographical researcher views the world through a unique lens that is colored by a lifetime of experiences and beliefs, and it may be extremely difficult to overcome these constraints to gain the insights that are needed to achieve the desired research outcomes. There are some steps that ethnographical researchers can take, however, to help ensure the conform to relevant ethical standards and retain a neutral stance during the data-collection and interpretation processes as discussed further below.
Discuss specific actions researchers can take to ensure they retain their ethical and neutral stance in performing qualitative research and reporting their qualitative research results
One of the most important actions that researchers must ensure is addressed when performing studies with human subjects is to obtain appropriate informed consent using an approved institutional review board instrument. In addition, permission must be obtained from the gatekeepers of any field research site, and to protect the anonymity of participants when reporting their qualitative research results (Creswell & Creswell, 2018).
Loïc Wacquant’s Research
The research by Wacquant studied the ghetto environments and individuals involved in amateur and professional boxing, with a view towards developing a better understanding concerning the challenges that are faced by minority youths in inner-city settings where few viable employment opportunities exist for them. According to Abrahams (2011), Wacquant’s research to date concerning boxers’ lived experiences can be summarized using three idioms: (1) the first likens the fighter-manager combo to the prostitute-pimp duet; (2) the second depicts the ring as a plantation and promoters as latter-day slave masters; and (3) the third intimates that boxers are used in the manner of livestock (para. 3).
Determine whether or not Wacquant maintained an ethical and neutral stance
While it is reasonable to conclude that Wacquant maintained an ethical stance throughout his research based on his conformance with accepted informed consent practices and the exhaustive reviews of his work by other scholars, it is less likely that he was able to completely maintain a neutral stance given his heavy emotional investment in the “sweet science,” and the fact that he has been accepted by the cadre of participants who were involved in his studies.
Justify the research approach Wacquant chose to take
In reality, Wacquant is especially qualified as an ethnographical researcher interested in the plight of inner-city minority youths based on his extensive empirical observations during his 3-year boxing apprenticeship in an African American ghetto (Ishioka, 2015). Furthermore, Wacquant’s impressive educational credentials and scholarship also serve to justify the ethnographical approach he chose to take. In this regard, Burress (2003) points out that Wacquant “may be the only man on the planet who fought in the famous Golden Gloves competition and writes books quoting heavy-duty French intellectuals in company with Karl Marx, Muhammad Ali and Ludwig Wittgenstein” (para. 2).
Explain whether or not this could have been possible with a quantitative research study
While a carefully crafted questionnaire could have provided some useful data concerning the lived experiences of the participants studied by Wacquant, the insights that emerged from his research were only possible using an immersive ethnographic research design. For instance, Ishioka (2015) emphasizes that:
By becoming a boxer himself, Wacquant became part of the target of his analysis as well as the analyst. The ethnographic account produced by this experimental method differed from social research in boxing up until that point in that it did not explain phenomena from an externalist perspective but rather detailed the seduction of boxing from the collective disposition of boxers inhabiting a gym. (p. 93)
Impact of Research
Besides boxing enthusiasts, few mainstream Americans likely know about – or care about – the challenges that are faced by young minority members, many of whom probably view the sport as their only alternative to a life as a drug-dealing gang member or flipping burgers. While there are some real “Horatio Alger”-type success stories that include minority members, many privileged white Americans also may not realize that real opportunities are not equally available to everyone, a harsh reality that is underscored by Wacquant’s research.
Discuss how qualitative research and, in particular, ethnographic research, can inform our understanding of unique social worlds
Properly used and interpreted, ethnographical research can produce insightful results that are not available using other research methods or traditions (Wacquant, 2013).
Conclusion
The potential impact of the type of qualitative research conducted by Wacquant can be used to support positive social change through public policy by informing lawmakers concerning the challenges that are faced by demographic segments of society, most especially members of minority groups, that are frequently overlooked when formulating new policy initiatives. Despite impressive gains of employment and social mobility opportunities, far too many Americans remain mired in a situation from which there are few viable options. The research by Wacquant provided some invaluable insights concerning these issues, and helped provide some useful guidance for other qualitative researchers seeking to apply ethnography in meaningful ways.
References
Abrahams, M. (2011, March 10). Boxing proves a hit for French sociologist. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/education/2011/jan/10/improbable-research-boxing-sociologist.
Asselin, M. E. (2009, March-April). Insider research: Issues to consider when doing qualitative research in your own setting. Nurses in Professional Development, 19(2), 99-103.
Burress, C. (2003, December 8). UC’s ‘boxing sociologist’ / Combative French professor spent 3 years in ring. SFGate. Retrieved from https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/UC-s-boxing-sociologist-Combative-French-2509824.php#photo-2684464.
Creswell, J. W. (2003). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five traditions. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu
Ishioka, T. (2015, March). How can one be a boxer?: Pain and pleasure in a Manila boxing camp. International Journal of Japanese Sociology, 24(1), 92-105.
Neuman, W. L. (2003). Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches, 5th ed. New York: Allyn & Bacon.
Wacquant, L. (2011). Habitus as topic and tool: Reflections on becoming a prizefighter. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 8(1), 81-92.