Edtpa Reflection

The qualitative research serves to comprehend and explain on what a participant means (Morrow, 2005). In a more elaborate manner, Creswell (1998) defines qualitative research to be an analytical

Both qualitative and quantitative research methods are concerned with an individual’s point of view. Qualitative analysis tends to get closer to an individual’s perspective through the use of interviews and observation (Lincoln, 2003). Quantitative methods are unable to achieve and capture an individual’s perspective as they focus more on remote standardised procedures. Qualitative analysis provides explanations that tend to be rich in detail and capable of showing sensitivity and sequences in social life (Lincoln, 2003).

Qualitative research is conducted in a natural setting and attempts to understand a human problem by developing a holistic narrative and reporting detailed views of informants about the culture of a problem. It forms a report with pictures and words. One of the most important distinctions that sets qualitative research apart from more traditional types of research is that qualitative research is holistic in that researchers study phenomena in their entirety rather than narrowing the focus to specific defined variables” (p. 93). Similarly, Cresswell (1984) indicated that qualitative research “is defined as an inquiry process of understanding a social or human problem, based on building a holistic picture, formed with words, reporting detailed views of informants, and conducted in a natural setting” (p. 2). Cresswell’s definition clearly delineates the major characteristics of qualitative research. Pg. 50 (Smith & Davis, 2010).

As this week is spring break, I think it is a good time to transcribe one of my interviews. I transcribed my first 30 minute interview. To do this, I downloading a free trial of Nvivo. I transcribed the interview by slowing down the audio in Nvivo. I then typed the transcription. I had to replay the audio at least twice to get the correct transcription. After I transcribed the interview once, I went through a second time to ensure I transcribed correctly. It took approximately 1.5 hours to transcribe the interview.

Qualitative research is a method of inquiry employed in many different academicdisciplines, traditionally in the social sciences, but also in market research and further contexts.Qualitative researchers aim to gather an in-depth understanding of

A second reason why qualitative method is appropriate for investigating this question is that it gives the researcher the opportunity to serve as instrument for collecting data either by examining previous or current documents on the issue, observing the behaviour of participants or by interviewing the Creswell (2009, pp.175-6). This points out that the researcher is immersed and in direct contact during the data collection.

Qualitative analysis is very important when undergoing research as it provides theoretical and practical analysis and explanation. Depending on the topic or issue that is being studied the importance of how the qualitative research is conducted is critical for the results that will be used as inputs to support hypothesis or arguments in the research conducted. The following paper will discuss the data production and method, which will explain the different approaches to qualitative analysis that exist, their positive and negative aspects, which will clarify why the method chosen was the most appropriate. This is followed by a brief transcription of the interview conducted where the most relevant aspects are chosen. The questions asked will be provided in the annex attached at the end. Last, a reflection on research findings and process will be presented that will include a key summary of the themes found in the interview, and assessing the quality and success of the interview.

convergence and corroboration through the use of different data sources and methods. Apart from documents, such sources include interviews, participant or non-participant observation, and physical artifacts (Bowen, 2009)”. Taken together, I can understand with that qualitative research focuses on the understanding of study through natural viewpoints and participants' perspectives, the gathering of the main data by the researchers themselves, the understanding of the meaning of the researchers, and focus more on the process of finding the type of the

Qualitative research mostly associated with representational inquiry explains a phenomenon through data collection of narrative provisions using a malleable research design and methodology. Researchers want to collect human experiences in order to describe why and how a specific phenomenon is occurring. This helps the researcher better understand human behavior. Data is usually collected from interviews, surveys and participant observation, which is then analyzed by the language of the informant, not by statistics.

Qualitative research incorporates methods that allow for comparisons and analyses to be made from a context-enriched theory. It is a dynamic process that allots for flexibility in events or situations that can further expound on the studied environment. Additionally, it is a nonlinear, subjective mode of study that engages indigenous voices, perspectives and stories which are rich in detail to explain the studied phenomena. Atieno, in An Analysis of the Strengths and Limitation of Qualitative and Quantitative Research Paradigms (2009) best describes this by emphasizing that “if the purpose is to learn from the participants in a setting or a process the way they describe it, the meanings they put on it, and how they interpret what they experience, the

In this paper an accepted and cultured common agreement and understanding of what Qualitative Research does really means, as it is understood will be presented. Through reflections of the material there’s a need to seek and review established definitions and in doing so there’s a possibility to arrive at a defined understanding of qualitative research. Finally, discussions will be centered on how is the process of qualitative research applied and conducted by a social scientist and what would be the "growth edge" when it comes to educating

There are many different definitions of qualitative research; one definition that defines it well is; “a means for exploring and understanding the meaning individuals or groups ascribe to a social or human problem. The process of research involves emerging questions and procedures, data typically collected in the participant’s setting.” (Creswell, J. 2009)

Qualitative research is non-positivistic. This means that it “does not seek to produce quantified answers to posed research questions” (Madeyski, 2009, p. 5). Pope & Mays (1995) determined that the conclusions in research are interpreted rather than measured or revealed, which is imperative in defining the differences in qualitative research the facts of the research considered relative, rather than absolute. The two types of data collection chosen is face-to-face interview and observation, and telephone survey, these methods are administered by a trained interviewer and can have either a structured or unstructured line of questioning.

The power of qualitative research is its capability to supply complicated definition of how people reacts about the research issue. It supplies data about the “human” side of a topic. Qualitative methods are also useful in labeling abstract factors, such as gender roles, religion and ethnicity. When work with quantitative methods, qualitative research can help to define and better explain the complicated matter of a given topic and the conclusions of quantitative data.

As one compares the work of Creswell (2013), McMillan (2012), and Stake (2010), it becomes apparent that their descriptions of the characteristics of qualitative research hold many similarities. As Creswell points out in his analysis of LeCompte & Schensul (1999), Hatch (2002), and Marshall and Rossman (2010), although there are distinct differences in approaches, “one can arrive at several common characteristics” (Creswell, 2013, p.45).