Getting Started with Qualitative Research
Topic Overview
Case Study Research
One of the most prominent types of qualitative research is case study research, where researchers get very close to a small set of cases of a phenomenon. The results of this may then be transferred to other cases (though not generalized to absolute truths), or used as the foundation for subsequent quantitative research. Note that qualitative research is often used in nursing and medicine as well, and you may see sources that talk about it in those domains; generally, the concepts are relatively transferable.
- Case Studies, from the Writing Studio at Colorado State University
- Qualitative Case Study Methodology: Study Design and Implementation for Novice Researchers, from Pamela Baxter and Susan Jack of McMaster University
- The Case Study as a Research Method, from Sue Soy of the University of Texas
- Case Study Research Design, from Martyn Shuttleworth of Explorable
- Naturalistic Observation, from Martyn Shuttleworth of Explorable
- How to Do Case Study Research, from Donna Zucker of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst
- A (Very) Brief Refresher on the Case Study Method, from Applications of Case Study Research
For more comprehensive information, see:
- Research Methods in Education (Chapter 9)
Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research
Choosing between qualitative and quantitative research is not always an easy task. There are some variables and phenomena that seem like they may be measurable numerically, but that really should be described qualitatively before trying to create valid constructs. The sources below should help you choose whether qualitative or quantitative research is right for you. Note that qualitative research is often used in nursing and medicine as well, and you may see sources that talk about it in those domains; generally, the concepts are relatively transferable.
- Quantitative and Qualitative Research: A View for Clarity , from Catherine Castellan of Loyola University Maryland
- Quantitative and Qualitative Inquiry in Educational Research: Is There A Paradigmatic Difference Between Them?, from Katrin Niglas of Tallinn Pedagogical University
- Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Research, from Burke Johnson of the University of South Alabama
- Qualitative versus Quantitative Research, from Xavier University
- Nursing Research/Theory — Quantitative vs. Qualitative
- Nursing Resources: Qualitative vs. Quantitative, from the University of Wisconsin
- Quantitative and Qualitative Research, from Explorable
- Quantitative Vs. Qualitative Research – When to Use Which, from SurveyGizmo
- Qualitative and Quantitative Research: Comparison of Qualitative and Quantitative Research, from Atlasti
- Qualitative and Quantitative Research, from the British Library
Scholarly Resources
These are scholarly resources useful for starting a deep dive into the topic. You’re welcome to use some of these in your assignments, although everyone will need to find many resources far beyond those listed on this web site.
Qualitative research has been the subject of much meta-research into its reliability and usefulness. Below are some scholarly sources that talk about the value of qualitative research, and especially how to use it in education. Note that qualitative research is often used in nursing and medicine as well, and you may see sources that talk about it in those domains; generally, the concepts are relatively transferable.
- Qualitative Research Issues and Methods: An Introduction for Educational Technologists, from Wilhelmina Savenye of Arizona State University and Rhonda Robinson of Northern Illinois University
- Choosing Qualitative Research: A Primer for Technology Education Researchers , from Marie Hoepfl of Virginia Tech
- Qualitative Research, from Peter Woods of the University of Plymouth
- Qualitative Data Analysis, from John Seidel of Qualis Research
- Making Use of Qualitative Research Techniques, from Michael Berkwits of the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center and Thomas Inui of Harvard Medical School
For more comprehensive information, see:
- Research Methods in Education (Chapters 6, 7, and 9)
Additional resources can be found in the following general journals:
General Media
These sources would generally not be suitable for use in your assignments, but they may provide a useful general overview of the topic if you find yourself struggling with the more scholarly resources.
Qualitative research is an enormous field. Below are some resources to get you started, followed by some more in-depth (but still novice-friendly) sources and courses.
- Qualitative Research Methods Overview, from Qualitative Research Methods: A Data Collector’s Field Guide
- A Guide to Using Qualitative Research Methodology, from Michael Patton and Michael Cochran of Medecins Sans Frontieres
- What is Qualitative Research?, from Qualitative Research Consultants Association
- When to Use Qualitative Research, from Qualitative Research Consultants Association
- Qualitative Research, from Burke Johnson of South Alabama University
- What is qualitative research?, from The Marketing Donut
- Qualitative Measures, from the Web Center for Social Research Methods
- Qualitative Research Methods, from Michelle Saint-Germain of California State University-Long Beach
- Qualitative Research Design, from Martyn Shuttleworth of Explorable
- Qualitative Research Guidelines Project, from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- Qualitative Research, from the University of Surrey
Additional sources for learning more about qualitative methods include:
- Qualitative Research Methods, a free on-demand Coursera course from the University of Amsterdam
- Resources for Qualitative Research, from Martin Ryder of the University of Colorado at Denver
- Qualitative Research: Design and Methods, an MIT OpenCourseWare
- Qualitative Research, a compendium of resources from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada