How to Make Informed Decisions About Qualitative Research Designs
Today, researchers have advocated for and provided guidance on numerous research designs, stemming from various needs in the social sciences. These needs range from participatory designs to designs that are sensitive to gender, race, ethnicity, minorities, and seek to empower participants. This is truly an amazing time to be a qualitative researcher!
Unfortunately, the ever-changing and evolving nature of qualitative research can lead to many questions regarding which research design is most appropriate for your study. To avoid problems and confusion associated with research design decisions, I provide a brief overview of what you need to know to make informed decisions about research design.
First, consider the nature of the research problem, your research questions, and what you want to know.
Second, know the basic aims and features of the designs.
Traditional Research Designs |
- basic qualitative research – understand individuals’ experiences (from regarding a certain topic (phenomenon)
- case study – understand a current phenomenon within a particular context or contexts for one or more people–the assumption here is that the context matters and is important to explore the phenomenon.
- ethnography – understand the culture of a group of people regarding a certain topic (phenomenon)
- grounded theory – understand a process people go through relating to a certain topic (phenomenon)
- narrative study – understand the stories of an individual or small group of people related to a certain topic (phenomenon)
- phenomenology – understand the essence of a group of people’s lived experiences related to a certain topic (phenomenon)
Non-Traditional Research Designs |
- appreciative inquiry – understand what is working within an organization related to a phenomenon; seeks to empower participants by building on participants’ experiences and beliefs
- arts-based designs – using arts-based methods to highlight and understand individuals’ experiences related to a certain topic (phenomenon)
- participatory action research – collaboration or partnership between researchers and participants to explore a phenomenon; seeks to empower participants
- portraiture – understand the goodness within individuals’ experiences regarding a certain phenomenon, using a focus on context, voice, metaphor, aesthetic whole.
Third, determine alignment between your purpose statement, research questions, and the various research designs.
Fourth, communicate with your chair, faculty advisor, or supervising professor. Ask if they support traditional and non-traditional research designs.
Are you in the process of making these important methodological decisions? Email us for a free consultation today!