Data Collection for Qualitative Research

Research topic: Peer Influence on Teenagers in Emotional Distress

Data Collection for Qualitative Research

TYPE OF DESIGN

Tell the reader specifically about the design of the study— the approach to data collection, analysis and report writing

Describe the characteristics of design

o Typical unit of measure

o Any other specific characteristics of design

o Subjects or informants in the study (may need to be especially conscious of anonymity here)

RESEARCHER’S ROLE

Steps taken to gain access to the subjects – if Institutional Review Board Permission was required indicate it here

Comment on any sensitive ethical issues that need to be taken into consideration to maintain anonymity of subjects

DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURES

Indicate types of data collection used

o Observations

o Document Analysis (Meeting Minutes, Newspapers)

Qualitative data analysis procedure can be eclectic—unlike quantitative procedures which make distinct separations between procedures qualitative procedures can simultaneously engage in numerous procedures

o Collecting from the field, sorting into categories, formatting the information

Describe the process of “reduction” or interpretation that you will use to organize the data

Discuss matrices or coding systems/ programs you will be using

VERIFICATION

Discuss the issues of internal validity—accuracy of the information and whether it matches reality

o Member checks

o Inter-rater procedures

o Triangulation

Discuss limitations to generalizability

o Remember that the purpose of qualitative data is not to generalize findings but to form an interpretation of events, but you still need to indicate limitations to generalizability.

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