Learning People to be Qualitative Researchers

Terrible grammar; great concept.

A presentation for anyone who has to train others in qual.

Joanna Chrzanowska, FMRSGenesis Consulting/QualitativeMind

Notice ‘to be’ qualitative researchers.

You can just do it, but excellence in qual demands you be one. Because the researcher is the research instrument and therefore

influences the quality of the research for better or worse.

So some self-awareness and personal development is eventually part of the job.

What do you think Training

is?

Training is something we do to others.

They learn what the trainer wants them to learn.

Learning is different

As children we learnt very easily. We can all still find learning easy and enjoyable.

Learning is about taking responsibility and using it to go somewhere. It’s a very important change of perspective.

Learning is about the construction of skills and meaning, using ‘scaffolding’, language, practice, engagement, and encouragement out of the comfort zone.

It is not just transmitting information.

Your learners will already know a lot about building relationships, asking questions, listening well and interpreting meaning. They have done it since they could talk.

But they don’t know they know it. So much of the training is about formalising the knowledge, and building awareness of the skills, in theory and in practice.

Principles of learning: 1

Get their attention!

Give a good reason to listen and participate.

I find that looking at qual skills as life skills, that will help in a variety of situations, is a good start.

Principles of learning: 2

Signpost and share objectives.

They don’t know what they don’t know, so they feel a little lost.

Telling them what will happen and what they will get from it will give them confidence.

Principles of learning: 3

Remind them of what they already know.

For example: do a group exercise about what skills are needed for managing a discussion, and they will come up with a number of relevant points, just from life experience.

Principles of learning: 4

Present the content.In chunks, with exercises in

between.

Include video if you can, or at the very least, do an interviewing demonstration yourself, giving them an observation sheet to give feedback.

Principles of learning: 5

Practice.

Give clear instructions and developmental feedback.

Start with simpler exercises; end up with a practice group discussion. Ideally video-record it so you can all watch later and analyse what happened.

You should leave them with a set of principles and a cognitive map that they can apply to all the work

they do.

In this way, grasshopper, they can carry on learning for themselves..

Here is an example of a ‘map’ that can be applied to project design, guide design and even analysis.

Culture Shared meanings, values, ‘rules’, symbols, discourses.

Social

Group attitudes and behaviourSocial influence, group norms

Individual Rational and conscious

What people say they think and do; conscious perceptions, attitudes and behaviours

Individual Emotional

What people really mean, do, need, desire, engage with. Sometimes out of

conscious awareness.

Result: constantly increasing confidence