Qualitative Research: An Overview

Quantitative research

• Representative: Results are representative of some known universe

• Reliability: Results are the result of standardized application; quality does not vary much by skills of researcher

• Replicability• Socializing/ teaching questionnaire:

forcing responses. • One-shot interaction• Speedy production

Example of quantitative question

55. Actualmente, ¿qué tan peligroso es cruzar la frontera, sin papeles?

Muy peligroso 1Algo peligroso 2Poco peligroso 3Nada peligroso 4N/A 8888NS/NQR 9999

Qualitative research

• High-quality data about a few cases• Informal, conversational, naturalistic• Partial insider• Detail/ nuance• Narrative• Explanation of mechanisms• Member’s meanings (emic over etic

understandings)• Emotion, subjectivity• Potentially multiple interactions with

subject

Examples of qualitative questions

• Hablando de su experiencia más reciente cruzando la frontera…– ¿Con quién cruzó la frontera?– ¿Cómo consiguió su coyote?– ¿Cómo les fue en el viaje? – Con todo lo que conoce, y todo lo que le

pasó, ¿volvería a hacerlo otra vez? ¿Por qué?

A research question best answered with quantitative data• Do Tunkaseños who have lived in the

United States for more than 5 years have higher rates of diabetes than Tunkaseños who have lived in the United States for fewer than 5 years?

A research question best answered with qualitative data• Why do Tunkaseños who have lived in

the United States for more than 5 years have higher rates of diabetes than Tunkaseños who have lived in the United States for fewer than 5 years?

MMFRP qualitative interviews

• Semi-structured interview guide for each group (~ 20 questions)

• Plan who you intend to interview:– Key informants; experts; ordinary people– Don’t be afraid to take advantage of

opportunistic interactions;

• When possible, record with digital recorder• You will transcribe recordings in San Diego

and make the transcriptions available to the team

• Most qualitative interviews in second half of fieldwork

Conclusion

• Quantitative and qualitative research offer very different modes of thought

• The best approach to take depends on the question being answered

• In your final analysis, you can combine both quantitative and qualitative data to make a compelling argument