Qualitative Social Research for Rural Development Studies

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Bernadette Carr
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1 Qualitative Social Research for Rural Development Studies Definitions, principles and basic concepts of qualitative social research Universität Hohenheim Inst. 490A 1

2 Outline Day 1 What is qualitative research? Definitions Characteristics of qualitative research Qualitative research in the agricultural sciences Reasons for doing qualitative research Principles of qualitative research Theory in qualitative research 2

3 What is Qualitative Social Research? Any type of research that produces findings not generated by statistical procedures or other means of quantification Qualitative data analysis is a non-mathematical process of interpretation Qualitative Researchers have a preference for naturally occurring data. have a preference for unstructured rather than structured interviews. have a preference for meanings rather than behavior. have a preference for inductive, hypothesis-generating research rather than hypothesis testing. 3

Communication tools Informant Values, perceptions & decisions Facts & figures Source:

4 Conceptions of research and outputs Natural science research Survey research Qualitative inquiry and data analysis Measurement devices Questionnaire Interviewer Communication tools Informant Values, perceptions & decisions Facts & figures Source: Adapted from Friederichsen, 2006 Facts & figures Concept & theory building, reconstructing realities 4

5 Characteristics of qualitative research Doing qualitative research means - relying on words and language as main data - data can be also visual, songs, artifacts... - some data may be quantified, but the bulk of the data is interpretative Qualitative research is - applied across many disciplines: education research, sociology, anthropology, psychology, criminolgy, health research - not very well known and taught only little in the agricultural sciences Qualitative social sciences are currently one of the most dynamic research fields (next to neuroscience) Qualitative research is often criticized - as imprecise, pseudoscientific, impressionistic, not trustworthy Source: Friederichsen, 2006; Strauss and Corbin,

6 Genetics Molecular biology Qualitative Social Research for Rural Development Studies Botany Physics Zoology Rural Energy Plant protection Irrigation technology Geo(eco)logy Soil Sciences Kinetics Chemistry Agricultural Engineering Crop sciences and agroecology Plant nutrition Farm mechanization Plant physiology Mathematics Food drying Plant breeding Agricultural Sciences Economics Agric. Economics Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology Animal breeding Political Sciences Agric. Policy Law Agric. Extension Animal hygiene Animal husbandry Animal sciences Animal nutrition Physiology Psychology Rural sociology Agroecology Aquaculture Communication Anthropology Sociology Zoology Parasitology Medicine Reality is objective and independent of the observer/researcher, scientists have to find out the truth Epistemology in Agricultural Sciences Reality is constructed, different perceptions of reality are possible, objectivity in science is an illusion 6

7 Reasons for doing qualitative research Disciplinary background and personal preferences/experience Nature of the research problem - Examples Communication and decision-making processes in groups and networks Conflicts in natural resource management Innovation adoption behavior and diffusion processes Functioning of agricultural research and extension organizations Attitudes of scientists towards participatory and interdisciplinary research The research problem should dictate the approach and the research questions should determine the methods. 7

8 Principles of qualitative social research Openness: changes in method and research questions can occur over the whole research process. Appropriateness of the methods for the research object and subjects must be assured. Explicating demands from researchers to describe processes of data collection and to make the stages of analysis comprehensible to the research subjects and readers. Reciprocity means that researchers engage in a relationship with their research subjects that is characterized by equality and certain standards of morality. 8

9 Theory in qualitative research Theory is a set of concepts used to define and/or explain some phenomenon. Theory denotes a set of well-developed categories (e.g., themes, concepts) that are systematically interrelated through statements of relationship to form a theoretical framework that explains some relevant social, psychological [ ] or other phenomenon. Theorizing is the act of constructing from data an explanatory scheme that systematically integrates various concepts through statements of relationship. Source: Silverman 2000; Strauss and Corbin 1998: 22 & 25 9

10 Theory in qualitative research Qualitative research is part of a shift of emphasis from deduction to induction Induction Theory Empirics Deduction Source: Adapted from Friederichsen

11 Frequent confusion of levels and scales in the debate on quantitative vs. qualitative research Theoryempirics relationship deductive approach inductive approach Type of data analysis explicative analysis descriptive analysis Type of data generated quantitative data qualitative data Level and type of stakeholder involvement Degree of applicability of results non-participatory extractive participatory basic strategic applied adaptive 11

BLACKLISTED JOURNALS BY MALAYSIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (MOE)

BLACKLISTED JOURNALS BY MALAYSIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (MOE) 1 African Journal of Agricultural Research Academic Journals 2009 to 2011 2009 to 2010 2 African Journal of Biochemistry Research Academic Journals