Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Chapter Twelve: Interpretive Research - Coggle Diagram
Chapter Twelve:
Interpretive Research
in interpretive methods, the researcher tries to derive a theory about the phenomenon of interest from the existing observed data
based on the assumption that social reality is not singular or objective; shaped by human experiences and social contexts
researchers ‘interpret’ reality though a ‘sense-making’ process rather than a hypothesis testing process
relies heavily on qualitative data, but quantitative data may add clearer understanding
interpretive and positivist research differ
interpretive research employs a theoretical sampling strategy; positivist research employs random sampling
theoretical sampling:
selection based on theoretical considerations such as fit, certain characteristics, etc.
role of the researcher receives critical attention in interpretive research; in positivist research the researcher is considered to be external
interpretive analysis is holistic and contextual, rather than being reductionist and isolationist; statistical techniques are used in positivist research
data collection and analysis can proceed simultaneously and iteratively in interpretive research; in positivist research, the project cannot be modified or changed once the data collection has started
Advantages of Interpretive Research
suited for exploring hidden reasons behind complex social processes
helpful for theory construction
appropriate for studying context-specific, unique, or idiosyncratic events or processes
can uncover interesting and relevant research questions and issues for follow-up research
Challenges of
Interpretive Research
more time and resource intensive
requires well-trained researchers who are capable of seeing and interpreting complex social phenomenon
all participants or data sources may not be equally credible, unbiased, or knowledgeable
inferences do not lend themselves well to replicability or generalizability
may fail to answer research questions or predict future behaviors
Characteristics of
Interpretive Research
naturalistic inquiry:
social phenomena must be studied within their natural setting
researcher as instrument:
researchers are often embedded within the social context that they are studying; considered part of the data collection instrument
interpretive analysis:
observations must be interpreted through the eyes of the participants embedded in the social context
use of expressive language:
Documenting the language of participants and the analysis of language are integral components of interpretive analysis
temporal nature:
not concerned with searching for specific answers, but with understanding a dynamic social process over time
hermeneutic circle:
an iterative process of moving back and forth from pieces of observations, to the entirety of the social phenomenon, to reconcile their apparent discord, and to construct a theory
Interpretive data collection
interviews:
most frequently used;
face-to-face, telephone, or focus groups
observation
direct observation:
researcher is neutral, passive, external observer
participant observation:
researcher is an active participant in the phenomenon
documentation:
external and internal documents may be used to find further insight into phenomenon of interest
Rigor in Interpretive Research
set of criteria that can be used to judge the rigor of interpretive research
Dependability:
can be viewed as dependable or authentic if two researchers assessing the same phenomenon, using the same set of evidence, independently arrive at the same conclusions
to ensure: provide adequate details about phenomenon of interest and the social context in which it is embedded
Credibility:
if readers find its inferences to be believable
can be improved by providing evidence of the researcher’s extended engagement in the field
Confirmability:
extent to which the findings reported in interpretive research can be independently confirmed by others
demonstrated in terms of ‘intersubjectivity’
Transferability:
extent to which the findings can be generalized to other settings
provide rich, detailed descriptions of the research context and thoroughly describe the structures, assumptions, and processes revealed from the data
Interpretive Research Designs
Case Research:
intensive longitudinal study of a phenomenon for the purpose of deriving detailed, contextualized inferences, and understanding the underlying dynamic process
can be used in an interpretive manner to build theories, or in a positivist manner to test theories
Action Research:
qualitative but positivist research design for theory testing; interactive design that assumes complex social phenomena are best understood by introducing interventions or actions, and observing the outcomes
there are several variations
participatory action research:
most popular; follows an action research cycle consisting of five phases: diagnosing, action-planning, action-taking, evaluating, and learning
diagnosing:
identifying and defining a problem in its social context
action-planning:
identifying and evaluating alternative solutions to the problem, and deciding on a future course of action
action-taking:
implementation of the planned course of action
evaluation:
examines the extent to which the initiated action is successful
learning:
experiences and feedback from action evaluation are used to generate insights and suggest future modifications
Ethnography:
emphasises studying a phenomenon within the context of its culture; researcher must be deeply immersed in the social culture over an extended period of time and should engage, observe, and record the daily life of the studied culture and its social participants within their natural setting
ex: Jane Goodall's study of primates
Phenomenology:
emphasises the study of conscious experiences as a way of understanding the reality around us; concerned with the systematic reflection and analysis of phenomena associated with conscious experiences such as human judgment, perceptions, and actions
some view it as a philosophy rather than a research method; advocates responded with the existencial phenomenological research method