The nature of qualitative research
A sensitizing concept is one that:
Provides general guidance for more flexible research
Imposes a predetermined theoretical model on the social world
Helps the researcher to investigate sensitive issues
Allows the researcher to measure very small changes in a variable
Provides general guidance for more flexible research
Blumer (1954, cited on pages 382 and 383) made a distinction between definitive concepts, which are used in quantitative research to define a concept in terms of measurable indicators, and sensitizing concepts, which should provide qualitative researchers with just a general sense of reference that is open to revision. The problem with ‘definitive’ concepts is that we may stop thinking further about them once we have established indicators. But, since these are also hypothetical, we really should refine them in the light of collected and analysed data. Quantitative research cannot tolerate this, because of its dependency on measurement validity, but qualitative research makes its unique contribution through willingness to “learn as we go”.
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 382,383
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 382,383
Provides general guidance for more flexible research Blumer (1954, cited on pages 382 and 383) made a distinction between definitive concepts, which are used in quantitative research to define a concept in terms of measurable indicators, and sensitizing concepts, which should provide qualitative researchers with just a general sense of reference that is open to revision. The problem with ‘definitive’ concepts is that we may stop thinking further about them once we have established indicators. But, since these are also hypothetical, we really should refine them in the light of collected and analysed data. Quantitative research cannot tolerate this, because of its dependency on measurement validity, but qualitative research makes its unique contribution through willingness to “learn as we go”.
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 382,383
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 382,383
Related posts
What is meant by the term “grounded theory”?A. Theories should be tested by rigorous scientific experiments
B. As a social researcher, it is important to keep your feet on the ground
C. Theories should be grounded in political values and biases
D. Theoretical ideas and concepts should emerge from the data
Why do qualitative researchers like to give detailed descriptions of social settings?
A. To provide a contextual understanding of social behaviour
B. Because once they have left the field, it is difficult to remember what happened
C. So that they can compare their observations as a test of reliability
D. Because they do not believe in going beyond the level of description
Which of the following is not a criticism of qualitative research?
A. The studies are difficult to replicate
B. There is a lack of transparency
C. The approach is too rigid and inflexible
D. The accounts are too subjective and impressionistic
Respondent validation is the process by which:
A. The validity of an interview schedule can be measured
B. Researchers ask their participants to comment on an account of the findings
C. The problem of low response rates to a survey can be overcome
D. Participants collaborate with the researcher to design the research
Which of the following is not a contrast between quantitative and qualitative research?
A. Distance vs. proximity of researcher to participants
B. Generalization vs. contextual understanding
C. Hard, reliable data vs. rich, deep data
D. Interpretivist vs. feminist
Why has qualitative research been seen to have an affinity with feminism?
A. It allows women’s voices to be heard, rather than objectifying and exploiting them
B. It has always been carried out by female sociologists
C. It allows the researcher to control variables and suppress women’s voices
D. It claims to be value free and non-political
Which of the following is a method that is commonly used in qualitative research?
A. Self-completion questionnaires
B. Surveys
C. Ethnography
D. Structured observation
Leave a Reply