Qualitative Research Approaches in Social Sciences (original) (raw)

Abstract

This article presents a comprehensive exploration of commonly utilized qualitative research methods in the social sciences. Covering essential methodologies such as ethnography, phenomenology, grounded theory, case study, content analysis, and ethnomethodology, the article delves into their ontological and epistemological foundations, objectives, applications, and specific approaches to sampling, data collection, and analysis. The discussion navigates the constructivist and interpretive paradigms that underlie these methods, emphasizing the subjective understanding of human behaviour within socially constructed realities. Each method's unique objectives are delineated, from unravelling social order construction in ethnography to exploring individual lived experiences in phenomenology and developing theories grounded in qualitative data in grounded theory. The article highlights the practical application of these methods in social science. Emphasizing the flexibility and purposive nature of sampling, coupled with iterative data analysis techniques, the article underscores the common thread uniting these approaches. It emphasizes the profound significance of these qualitative methods in unravelling intricate social phenomena that defy easy quantification, ultimately contributing to a nuanced understanding of the dynamic facets of the human condition in the field of social research.

Figures (2)

Figure: Qualitative research approaches in Social Sciences occupying a central and indispensable position. 1. Ethnographic Research Design: The term "ethnography" has its linguistic roots in ancient Greek, originating from "ethnos", meaning "folk, people, nation", and "grapho", signifying "I write". Historically, it encompassed how ancient authors described and analyzed foreign cultures, tracing its etymological and methodological origins. Ethnography, as a qualitative research design, however, is indebted to pioneering anthropologists such as Franz Boas, Bronislaw Malinowski, Alfred Radcliffe-Brown. and Marcel Mauss. These four figures are collectively referred to as The term "ethnography" has its linguistic roots in ancient Greek, originating from "ethnos"

Figure: Qualitative research approaches in Social Sciences occupying a central and indispensable position. 1. Ethnographic Research Design: The term "ethnography" has its linguistic roots in ancient Greek, originating from "ethnos", meaning "folk, people, nation", and "grapho", signifying "I write". Historically, it encompassed how ancient authors described and analyzed foreign cultures, tracing its etymological and methodological origins. Ethnography, as a qualitative research design, however, is indebted to pioneering anthropologists such as Franz Boas, Bronislaw Malinowski, Alfred Radcliffe-Brown. and Marcel Mauss. These four figures are collectively referred to as The term "ethnography" has its linguistic roots in ancient Greek, originating from "ethnos"

Source: Based on Arnold & Lane (2011), Creswell & Poth(2016), Frost (2021), and Higginbottom (2004)

Source: Based on Arnold & Lane (2011), Creswell & Poth(2016), Frost (2021), and Higginbottom (2004)

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