A psychological analysis of a psychological phenomenon: the dialogical construction of meaning

2000 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid E. Josephs
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Psychological Phenomena ◽  
Psychological Phenomenon ◽  
Psychological Analysis ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
Data Collection And Analysis ◽  
Psychological Inquiry ◽  
Adequate Method

It is the task of psychologists to describe and explain psychological phenomena, though the meaning of both description and explanation varies widely. One way to deal with psychological phenomena is to transform them as soon as possible into data (by which is meant quantitative data), which then can be analysed by ready-made methods (by which is meant inferential statistics). An unfortunate result of this politically fortified procedure is that the availability of methods (for data “collection” and analysis) comes to dictate the whole research process, including the construction of the phenomenon and its operationalization. As a consequence, various opponents of this non-scientific procedure have challenged psychology with a new dogma: the need to replace quantitative methods by their qualitative counterparts. Recently appearing “new turns” in psychology (as the narrative, the hermeneutic, the discursive turn, etc.) in particular, define qualitative approaches as the via regia for psychological analyses. I argue that both “schools” are caught in the same trap: ready-made methods and belief in the superiority of one rather than the other dominate all other aspects of methodology and psychological inquiry in general. I suggest that it is the theoretically derived phenomenon that - depending on the specific research question under consideration - requires the construction (rather than the application) of an adequate method for its analysis - be it qualitative or quantitative. I give an extended example for a psychological analysis of a psychological phenomenon - the construction and reconstruction of meaning - with the help of a qualitative experimental approach.

scholarly journals Using Constructivist Case Study Methodology to Understand Community Development Processes: Proposed Methodological Questions to Guide the Research Process

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi Lauckner ◽  
Margo Paterson ◽  
Terry Krupa
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Community Development ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Methodological Choices ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
Decision Making Processes

Often, research projects are presented as final products with the methodologies cleanly outlined and little attention paid to the decision-making processes that led to the chosen approach. Limited attention paid to these decision-making processes perpetuates a sense of mystery about qualitative approaches, particularly for new researchers who will likely encounter dilemmas and uncertainties in their research. This paper presents a series of questions that assisted one Ph.D. student in making key methodological choices during her research journey. In this study, a collective case study design informed by constructivist grounded theory data analysis methods was used to develop a framework of community development from an occupational therapy perspective. Ten methodological questions are proposed regarding research question development, research paradigm, design and analysis, and trustworthiness. Drawing on examples from this research project, these questions are used to explicate the decisions made “behind the scenes”, with the intention of providing both theoretical and practical guidance to others embarking on similar research journeys.

scholarly journals Images differentiation of high status and low status person among young people

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 197-207
Author(s):  
T.V. Folomeeva ◽  
S.V. Fedotova
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
High Status ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Psychological Analysis ◽  
Typical Specimen ◽  
Data Collection And Analysis ◽  
Two Stages

The study focuses on the socio-psychological analysis of images of typical specimen of high status and low status person identified using qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and analysis. On the basis of the two stages of the study, using miscellaneous research methods, (n=120) the main relevant characteristics were identified: objective sources of social status, behavioral peculiarities, personality qualities, appearance peculiarities, nonverbal behavior and experiences of such people. These characteristics may reflect important for young people areas of life and their perception of the society model.

scholarly journals PsyCuraDat: Designing a User-Oriented Curation Standard for Behavioral Psychological Research Data

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarina Blask ◽  
Lea Gerhards ◽  
Maria Jalynskij
Keyword(s):  
Research Design ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Data Reuse ◽  
Analysis Process ◽  
Data User ◽  
Data Collection And Analysis ◽  
Conceptual Research

Starting from the observation that data sharing in general and sharing of reusable behavioral data in particular is still scarce in psychology, we set out to develop a curation standard for behavioral psychological research data rendering data reuse more effective and efficient. Specifically, we propose a standard that is oriented toward the requirements of the psychological research process, thus considering the needs of researchers in their role as data providers and data users. To this end, we suggest that researchers should describe their data on three documentation levels reflecting researchers’ central decisions during the research process. In particular, these levels describe researchers’ decisions on the concrete research design that is most suitable to address the corresponding research question, its operationalization as well as a precise description of the subsequent data collection and analysis process. Accordingly, the first documentation level represents, for instance, researchers’ decision on the concrete hypotheses, inclusion/exclusion criteria and the number of measurement points as well as a conceptual presentation of all substantial variables included in the design. On the second level these substantial variables are presented within an extended codebook allowing for the linkage between the conceptual research design and the actually operationalized variables as presented within the data. Finally, the third level includes all materials, data preparation and analyses scripts as well as a detailed procedure graphic that allows the data user to link the information from all three documentation levels at a single glance. After a comprehensive presentation of the standard, we will offer some arguments for its integration into the psychological research process.

scholarly journals Wargame as a combined method of qualitative and quantitative studies

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-37
Author(s):  
Juhani Hämäläinen ◽  
Jari Sormunen ◽  
Jari Rantapelkonen ◽  
Juha-Pekka Nikkarila
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
Military Planning ◽  
Qualitative Models ◽  
The Military

Abstract Wargames are important methods for military planning, education and research. Qualitative models have a long tradition in wargaming for improving and practising the military skills as well as enhancing the military planning based on the experiences and understanding of the experts. Quantitative models are included in simulations and technical studies. Traditionally, the relations between the qualitative and quantitative research have been described as opposites. We shall consider both the approaches, their challenges and possibilities, and their combination for producing more exhaustive wargame and for answering to the criticism of wargame as a mainly qualitative method. Our main research question is: How to combine quantitative and qualitative approaches and methods to improve quality of results of military wargames? Our main objective is to clarify and illustrate how qualitative and quantitative methods can be combined through the wargame. We shall emphasize the importance of the model selection at the beginning as it limits and guides the form (not the content) of the obtained results. We shall illustrate a combined wargame within different steps and the modelling themes of the game. Our results and findings should be useful for improving and focusing wargames to answer given research questions.

A Comparative Analysis of Two Qualitative Methods: Deciding Between Grounded Theory and Phenomenology for Your Research

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-40
Author(s):  
Masoodi Marjan
Keyword(s):  
Grounded Theory ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Historical Development ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Applied Approach ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Research Students

Abstract The purpose of this article is to compare two qualitative approaches that can be used in different researches: phenomenology and grounded theory. This overview is done to (1) summarize similarities and differences between these two approaches, with attention to their historical development, goals, methods, audience, and products (2) familiarize the researchers with the origins and details of these approaches in the way that they can make better matches between their research question(s) and the goals and products of the study (3) discuss a brief outline of each methodology along with their origin, essence and procedural steps undertaken (4) illustrate how the procedures of data analysis (coding), theoretical memoing and sampling are applied to systematically generate a grounded theory (5) briefly examine the major challenges for utilizing two approaches in grounded theory, the Glaserian and Straussian. As a conclusion, this overview reveals that it is essential to ensure that the method matches the research question being asked, helps the researchers determine the suitability of their applied approach and provides a continues training for the novice researchers, especially PhD or research students who lack solid knowledge and background experience in multiple research methods.

The Science and Art of Interviewing

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen Gerson ◽  
Sarah Damaske
Keyword(s):  
Social Research ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Science And Art ◽  
The Social ◽  
Interview Guide ◽  
Hidden Patterns ◽  
User Friendly ◽  
Depth Interviews

Qualitative interviewing is one of the most widely used methods in social research, but it is arguably the least well understood. To address that gap, this book offers a theoretically rigorous, empirically rich, and user-friendly set of strategies for conceiving and conducting interview-based research. Much more than a how-to manual, the book shows why depth interviewing is an indispensable method for discovering and explaining the social world—shedding light on the hidden patterns and dynamics that take place within institutions, social contexts, relationships, and individual experiences. It offers a step-by-step guide through every stage in the research process, from initially formulating a question to developing arguments and presenting the results. To do this, the book shows how to develop a research question, decide on and find an appropriate sample, construct an interview guide, conduct probing and theoretically focused interviews, and systematically analyze the complex material that depth interviews provide—all in the service of finding and presenting important new empirical discoveries and theoretical insights. The book also lays out the ever-present but rarely discussed challenges that interviewers routinely encounter and then presents grounded, thoughtful ways to respond to them. By addressing the most heated debates about the scientific status of qualitative methods, the book demonstrates how depth interviewing makes unique and essential contributions to the research enterprise. With an emphasis on the integral relationship between carefully crafted research and theory building, the book offers a compelling vision for what the “interviewing imagination” can and should be.

Qualitative Approaches in Internet-Mediated Research: Opportunities, Issues, Possibilities

2020 ◽  
pp. 632-673
Author(s):  
Claire Hewson
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Viable Alternative ◽  
Design Practice ◽  
Good Design ◽  
Practical Advice ◽  
Research Opportunities ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
Research Domains

Internet-mediated research (IMR) has grown expansively since the start of the 21st Century in scope, range of methodological possibilities, and breadth of penetration across disciplines and research domains. However, the use of IMR approaches to support qualitative research has lagged behind its application in supporting quantitative methods. This chapter discusses the possibilities of using IMR methods in qualitative research and considers the issues and debates that have led some qualitative researchers to be reluctant to consider IMR as a viable alternative to traditional offline methods. The chapter adopts an optimistic stance on the potential for qualitative IMR and outlines a range of possible methods and strategies, as well as examples of successful (and less successful) studies. Practical advice on tools, procedures, and guidelines for good design practice is offered. A comment on likely future scope, methods, emerging techniques, and developments in qualitative IMR is presented.

scholarly journals Enacting Feminist Methodologies in Research Toward Reproductive Justice

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 160940692110161
Author(s):  
Krista Johnston ◽  
Christiana MacDougall
Keyword(s):  
Research Question ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Feminist Research ◽  
Clear Understanding ◽  
Reproductive Justice ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Related Services ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Political Praxis

Reporting on the development of an ongoing qualitative research project with clients of midwifery care in New Brunswick, Canada, this article details the ways that methodology is complexly interwoven with political praxis. Working through the development of this project, this article models one way to enact politically engaged feminist research at each stage of the research process, from developing the research question, through research design, data collection, analysis, and theory generation. In the process, three core principles of feminist research methodologies are extended: co-construction of knowledge, researcher reflexivity, and reciprocal relationships in research. This research is caught up in and responds to a fraught political context where supports for reproductive healthcare are limited, and midwifery, abortion, and gender-affirming care are all framed as “fringe” services that exceed the austerity budget of the province. Participants engaged in this study with a clear understanding of this political terrain and approached interviews as an opportunity to share their experiences, and to advocate for the continuation and expansion of midwifery and related services in the province. Through the research process, it has become evident that midwifery must be understood as part of the struggle toward reproductive justice in this province. These reflections will direct further stages of the project, including ongoing research and dissemination.

Is lodging research suffering from methods bias? An assessment of published research during 1990-2016

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Faizan Ali ◽  
Mehmet Ali Koseoglu ◽  
Fevzi Okumus ◽  
Eka Diraksa Putra ◽  
Mehmet Yildiz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Data Collection And Analysis ◽  
Hospitality And Tourism ◽  
Method Bias ◽  
Published Research

Purpose The study aims to investigate if lodging research suffers from a method bias by comprehensively reviewing the research methodology used in lodging related research articles. Design/methodology/approach In all, 2,647 published papers in 16 leading hospitality and tourism published between 1990 and 2016 are analyzed using bibliometric technique. Findings In all, 69% of the empirical studies in lodging research across 26 years period used quantitative methods, with an increasing reliance on regression-based analysis and structural equation modeling, a disturbing plunging trend in methods diversity. Findings also suggest an increasing trend of using secondary data. Research limitations/implications Based on the findings of this study, theoretical and practical implications for hospitality and tourism researchers are provided. Originality/value This is the first study that reviewed a large corpus of published research (2,647 papers in 16 hospitality and tourism journals from the last 27 years) to highlight (a) methodology used, (b) methods employed and (c) data collection and analysis procedures.

Podcasting as an Alternative Method of Social Research

MEDIASI ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 241-252
Author(s):  
Rocky Prasetyo Jati
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Social Research ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Research Subject ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
Alternative Method ◽  
Implementation Stages ◽  
Information And Communication

This study examines the use of podcasting as a method in social research. The development of information and communication technology allows the use of various media in the research process. This article introduces podcasting as part of the method and not just as a research subject. Through strategies commonly used in qualitative approaches, such as ethnography, phenomenology, or case studies, podcasts can be used as innovative tools to support researchers in finding research answers and presenting research results. This article uses an example of implementing a “rock cast” podcast to illustrate this method's potential and implementation stages. Thus, this article argues that podcasts can be considered as an alternative method for social research.

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