What is ontology?
Assumptions we HAVE about the nature of the world and phenomena within it
What is epistemology?
Assumptions about HOW we can learn about the world, investigate issues, gain knowledge
* Theory of knowledge
Why does ontology and epistemology matter on our research approach (3 assumptions)?
They rest on a set of assumptions about
1. how the world works
2. how people think
3. relationship between people and the world
What 3 things do our assumptions shape?
- How we know what’s claimed to be true is true
- How we judge between competing claims about truth
- How knowledge is produced
What are some examples of ontology?
- There is a real world
- World constructed by a set of meanings / is a shared understanding
Under epistemology, what is positivism?
There is a a true world
* objectively investigated (factual information)
* independent of researcher
Under epistemology, the position of critical realism provides an example of social constructivism.
What do they mean?
- Knowledge is subjective
- Critical realism: no absolute truth, knowledge is constructed between investigator and objects of the world
- Social constructivism: findings are constructed /shaped historically, socially, and culturally
Under epistemology, the position of phenomenology provides an example of subjectivism.
What do they mean?
- Phenomenology: knowledge is created by observer, INDEPENDENT of objects in the world (individual experiences)
- Subjectivism: Knowledge is a shared understanding of experiences
Qualitative research is concerned (to some degree) with ____ understandings of phenomena
subjective
Qualitative research argues nature of social world is not wholly amenable to _______
quantification
What are the 2 main assumptions/positions of qualitative research?
- Critical realism: there IS a fixed reality, open to subjective interpretation
- Constructionism: there IS NOT a fixed reality, it’s all subjective
What are the 2 common qualitative approaches and what positions do they have?
- Reflexive thematic analysis (critical realism)
Real world, open to subjective interpretation - Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) (phenomenology)
Reality is given meaning through individual experiences
Which research approach does this research question use?
Do competent drivers have less accidents on rainy days
Quantitative
Which research approach does this research question use?
How does rain impact drivers?
Qualitative
Sampling in qualitative research are often..
Non-probability sampling, can’t be generalized to broader population
Is sampling in qual research on the basis of competence or representativeness?
Competence: represents ISSUES under investigation, not representativeness of population
What are 4 types of sampling strategies in qualitative research?
- Opportunistic / convenience
- Snowball / network
- Purposive (based on sampling criteria)
- Theoretical (informed by data analysis e.g new info from interviews)
Is random sampling possible in qualitative research?
No
Most of the time, sample size is decided by ____ factors and nature of RQ
Pragmatic: time, money, deadlines
What are 3 types of qualitative data sources?
- Pre-existing: documents, social media posts, videos
- Collected: open-ended surveys, interviews, focus groups
- Observational
What are 3 types of interviews?
Structured, open, semi-structured (can change qs across interviews)
Active listening (pause silence), probe for detail, cautious of non-verbal behaviour, reflexivity, reciprocity, empathy are skills of what research approach?
Interviews
What are focus groups used for?
Gather information on collective views from people with similar backgrounds.
Explores variety and diversity in responses
Providing space for all voices, active listening, mindful of power hierarchies within groups, guiding discussion are skills for what research approach?
Focus groups
