Qualitative Research / Flexible Design Research in Social Sciences: Field Challenges, Problems and Opportunities

Year 2019, Volume: 1 Issue: 1, - , 31.12.2019

Fatih Ertugay

Abstract

This paper primarily focuses on a number
of prejudices regarding qualitative research and the challenges faced in
qualitative research processes. In particular, it aims to examine certain aspects
of a set of problems, accompanied by a series of discussions around the
question “for what reasons is a qualitative research method preferred?”. In
addition, despite increased interest in qualitative research in recent
years in Turkey, problems arising from the general dominance of quantitative
methods amongst researchers will be touched upon. The paper will then use these
discussions and evaluations to attempt to make inferences about the current
situation of qualitative research.

It is relatively recently that qualitative
research has been accepted as a remarkable and widespread research method.
Nevertheless, it should be emphasized that if social sciences disciplines such
as educational sciences and psychology, where qualitative methods are frequently
used, are excluded, negative and discouraging attitudes towards qualitative
methods continue to exist as a reality. Within academic circles focussed on
quantitative research what distinguishes qualitative research from quantitative
research and makes it worthwhile (although this expression includes a
subjective judgment) is that it deals with the phenomena that are the subject
of research, in their natural environment. Therefore, each phenomenon,
situation and attitude can be interpreted in terms of the meanings attributed
to them by individuals through qualitative research. It also makes it possible
to capture the emotionsal aspect of these subjective meanings, albeit to a
certain limitation.

In qualitative research processes guided
by the intention and purpose to present perceptions and events in a realistic
and holistic way, there are some problems. These exist both in the choice of
the method, in the application phase of the research, and in the sharing of the
study via academic platforms. While some of these problems arise from the
nature of qualitative research, some of them appear to be the product of
external factors. In both cases, qualitative research processes are adversely
affected. Especially in a developing academic environment like Turkey, said
problems may become even more complicated, annoying and discouraging.

A large reason why qualitative research
can in some contexts be preferable to quantitative research, is the
researcher's expectations about the research aims. In other words, the main
determinant of a researcher's preference for a qualitative study over
quantitative research should not be merely to avoid the handicaps of
quantitative research, but as a result of an assessment of what kind of
findings (can it be figurative-statistical, generalizable, etc., or is it away
to make an in-depth assessment possible, to reveal meaning?) the research hopes
to achieve.

Although the advantages and disadvantages
to both qualitative and quantitative research should always be taken into
consideration, the preferred research method ought to be determined primarily
by the researcher's interests, the results he wants to achieve and his
priorities (for example, revealing patterns of behavior or identifying the
meanings imposed on events and situations.). Therefore, the question “why
qualitative or quantitative research”, ought to be answered by considering
these contextual issues, as well as general advantages and disadvantages.

Although the use of qualitative research
methods in fields such as education, anthropology, and psychology have gained
momentum in Turkish academia, with interest growing amongst researchers at
various levels, especially postgraduate students, this preference is limited.
Resources, examples of local research, theoretical background, presentations,
articles evaluating the implementation process, undergraduate and graduate
courses made available in response to this increasing demand are relatively
few.

In some fields, such as political science,
qualitative research is almost non-existent, compared to other fields of social
sciences. This lack of research and theoretical studies available to form a
methodological path in the application process makes it difficult to start and
conduct qualitative studies in the field. Beyond this specific problem for
developing environments, it is possible to group the emerging challenges
related to qualitative studies in the social sciences under two main headings:
internal problems and external problems. The first constitutes the challenges
and problems arising from the nature of qualitative research itself. The second
comprises the challenges and problems in which the qualitative research
processes, components and the researcher are not the underlying causes (for
example, problems encountered during the publication of a final article).
Qualitative research, once it has been thoroughly comprehended, is not a method
for maintaining standardized uniformity across the research. Although this may make the design more difficult, it also represents a great opportunity for qualitative
researchers to develop themselves continuously at any level.

Qualitative research is mainly based on
understanding, description, and interpretation. Qualitative research can also
provide more promising results in terms of understanding socio-political issues
and providing healthier solutions in terms of trying to understand phenomena
within its habitat. For example, in political events (elections, street
demonstrations, etc.), what percentage of people participate in these events,
what percentage of the preferences they choose, and what percentage of these
reasons are explained are superficially examined by some studies. However,
qualitative research makes it possible to elaborate on the motives that guide
people to these preferences/reactions, exploring the why not just the how
many.

People’s basic motivations and
expectations contain subjectivities that qualitative research can reveal.
Qualitative research also addresses questions such as how people are influenced
by events and how those events affect them- situations involving understanding,
interpretation and interpretation. It is therefore clear that such research is
highly functional in order to enable a better understanding of the nature of
socio-political issues, and the heterogeneity of human experience, behaviour
and attitudes.

Keywords

qualitative research, flexible design, quantitative research, real world research.

Sosyal Bilimlerde Nitel Araştırma/Esnek Desen Araştırması: Alana İlişkin Zorluklar, Sorunlar ve İmkânlar

Abstract

Makale
öncelikli olarak, nitel araştırmalara ilişkin birtakım önyargılar ile nitel
araştırma süreçlerinde karşılaşılan zorluklara odaklanmaktadır. Özellikle bir
çalışmada “hangi nedenlerle nitel araştırma yönteminin tercih edileceği” sorusu
etrafında şekillenen bir dizi tartışmanın eşlik ettiği bir sorunlar bütününün
belli boyutlarının irdelenmesi amaçlanmaktadır. İlave olarak Türkiye’de
özellikle son yıllarda nitel araştırmaya dönük ilginin artmasına rağmen, nicel
araştırmanın/araştırmacıların akademik egemenliklerinin/tahakkümlerinin neden
olduğu zorluklar ve sorunlara da değinilecektir. Tüm bu tartışmaların ve
değerlendirmelerin nihayetinde ise nitel araştırmanın hali hazırdaki durumuna
ilişkin çıkarımlarda bulunulmaya çalışılacaktır.

Keywords

Nitel araştırma, esnek desen, gerçek dünya araştırması

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