Abstract
Qualitative research in psychology offers a comprehensive understanding of individuals' experiences, perspectives, and emotions, providing in-depth insights into human behaviour. This approach focuses on the quality and depth of data collected by researchers through interviews, observations, and focus groups. By cultivating inclusivity and self-awareness, participants can express their perspectives, leading to a more profound understanding of human behaviour. Although it has its limitations, such as researcher bias and challenges in generalising findings, it plays a critical role in enhancing our comprehension of psychological phenomena and developing effective interventions and treatments. This chapter delves into the use of qualitative research methods, including interpretative phenomenological analysis, thematic analysis, and Foucauldian discourse analysis.
TopIntroduction
Qualitative research is a comprehensive term that covers various research methods, each with its own distinct epistemological assumptions (Petty et al., 2012). It involves exploring and understanding human behaviour and experiences through non-numerical data, such as interviews, observations, and textual analysis. These procedures are based on different theoretical approaches, such as social constructionism, ethnomethodology, hermeneutics, symbolic interactionism, phenomenology, and psychoanalysis. These approaches offer valuable insights into the social, cultural, and psychological realities experienced by individuals or groups (Flick et al., 2004). The aim of qualitative study is to describe and explain events and experiences, rather than make predictions, and to uncover rich and detailed insights into the subjective interpretations and meanings individuals assign to their experiences. Qualitative researchers engage in the comprehensive examination of individuals within their natural settings, encompassing diverse environments such as educational institutions, residential dwellings, medical facilities, and beyond, where conditions are constantly changing and interacting. The participants' interpretations help in this process. As a result, qualitative research cannot predict outcomes (Willig, 2010). Qualitative methods are crucial for conducting social science research, particularly in the field of psychology. These techniques include thematic analysis, action research, conversation analysis, discursive analysis, ethnography, psychoanalytic approaches, the descriptive phenomenological method, interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), Foucauldian discourse analysis, narrative inquiry, Q methodology, memory work, and grounded theory. Each approach provides unique perspectives and tools for comprehending human behaviour and experiences. Thematic analysis identifies patterns and themes within qualitative data, whereas ethnography involves immersing the researcher in the culture or community being studied. Grounded theory enables the development of theories directly from collected data, facilitating the exploration of new ideas (Eatough & Smith, 2017).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Reflexivity: Reflexivity involves examining one's own judgements, practices, and belief systems during data collection to identify any personal convictions that may have influenced the research.
Diaries: Qualitative research involves participants recording their daily experiences in a log, diary, or journal, focusing on the activity or experience under investigation.
TA: Thematic analysis is a qualitative data analysis technique that identifies patterns and themes, with the researcher's subjective experience playing a crucial role in determining significance.
FDA: Foucauldian discourse analysis is a valuable tool for qualitative data analysis, as it delves into the intricate dynamics of social legitimacy.
IPA: Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) is a qualitative method that aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of individual experiences.
Focus Groups: Focus groups are a valuable method for gaining insights into collective perspectives and their significance, as well as for understanding the experiences and convictions of the participants.
Verbatim: Verbatim transcription is the meticulous conversion of spoken discourse into written form, preserving the speaker's words, grammatical structure, and non-verbal signals, essential for qualitative research.
Semi-Structured Interview: Semi structured in-depth interviews are a popular qualitative research method in health services research, allowing for in-depth exploration of participants' thoughts, emotions, and convictions, often delving into personal and delicate matters, through a dynamic exchange protocol.