Category Archives: Qualitative Methods

Mixed Methods

Institution: see Organisers & Acknowledgements

Programme of study: International Research Workshop

Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Udo Kelle & Dr. Elke Goltz (Helmut-Schmidt-University/University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg)

Date: Thursday, 02/10/14 from 09.30-18.00 h

Max. number of participants: 22

Credit Points: 5 CP for participating in the whole IRWS

Language of instruction: English

Contents:

The course will give an overview about current debates regarding the integration of qualitative and quantitative methods in social research and about the most important (agreed-upon and contested) issues in the field. We will discuss different forms of mixed methods, reasons for using such designs and criteria for the assessment of the quality of designs and findings from mixed methods studies. Since mixed methods designs are used to compensate for specific limitations of qualitative or quantitative (mono)methods special emphasis is laid on problems of qualitative and quantitative research –problems of operationalization and measurement, problems of statistical inference, of generalizability and sampling, of (causal) explanation, theory testing and theory generation, both in qualitative and quantitative research. We will demonstrate how such problems can be detected and dealt with in a mixed methods design. Finally, it will be shown how qualitative and quantitative findings from a mixed methods study can be meaningfully integrated and how convergent, contradictory and complementary findings can be dealt with.

Required basic knowledge: Basic knowledge and skills in social research methods and methodology (qualitative and quantitative) equivalent to the level of a Bachelor degree in a Social Science discipline

You have to register for the 8th International Research Workshop to participate in this course.

Introduction to MaxQDA

Institution: see Organisers & Acknowledgements

Programme of study: International Research Workshop

Lecturer: Heiko Grunenberg (Leuphana University Lueneburg)

Date: Thursday, 02/10/14 from 09.30-18.00 h

Max. number of participants: 20

Credit Points: 5 CP for participating in the whole IRWS

Language of instruction: English

Contents:

MAXqda is a software to analyze textual data in a qualitative (but also quantitative) way. The course provides a basic introduction into the logic of the program and its broad possibilities. The goal is to enable you to use this tool accordingly to your own method of analysis. For this reason, everybody can practice our working-steps at an own Computer. We will start at the very beginning and learn about the basic features of the program such as preparation and import of texts, basic analysis strategies and creation of codes, memos and variables. After this, we will focus on analysis strategies, simple and complex text retrievals and strategies of mixed-method-designs.

Recommended literature and pre-readings:

Kuckartz., Udo (2014): Qualitative Text Analysis. Methods, Practice, Computer Assistance. London & Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.

Lewins, Ann/Silver, Christina (2007): Using Software in Qualitative Research: A Step-By-Step Guide. SAGE: London.

You have to register for the 8th International Research Workshop to participate in this course.

Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) and Fuzzy Sets

Institution: see Organisers & Acknowledgements

Programme of study: International Research Workshop

Lecturer: Jonas Buche, (Goethe-University Frankfurt)

Date: Monday, 29/09/14 – Wednesday, 01/10/14 from 14.30-18.00 h

Max. number of participants: 20

Credit Points: 5 CP for participating in the whole IRWS

Language of instruction: English

Contents:

Since the publication of the seminal work “The Comparative Method” by Charles Ragin in 1987, set-theoretic methods and especially Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) have become a common research strategy in the social sciences. Set-theoretic methods analyze cases with regard to the identification of sufficient and necessary conditions and assume causal relationships to be equifinal, conjunctural and asymmetric. Not least since so-called fuzzy sets have been introduced to the method, there has been a rising interest in QCA as a welcome alternative to both small-n case studies and large-n statistical analyses. In short, QCA is recommended if ‘if…then’ hypotheses are analyzed; if the goal is to derive sufficient and necessary conditions; if a comparison is planned; and if there is a mid-sized number of cases (between 10 and 60+).

The course starts off from an introduction into the basics of QCA (sets, set memberships, set operations). Through the notion of necessary and sufficient conditions and of truth tables, the single elements are built into the Truth Table Algorithm. However, this algorithm is not free of problems. Therefore, some pitfalls and strategies how to overcome them are presented.

  1. The course is both conceptually and technically oriented. No prior knowledge is required.
  2. We will use the software fsQCA2.5 which can be downloaded at www.fsqca.com. Please note that the software does not operate on Apple Products!

Recommended literature and pre-readings:

  • Schneider, Carsten Q. and Claudius Wagemann (2012), Set-Theoretic Methods for the Social Sciences. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Ragin, Charles C. (2008). Redesigning Social Inquiry: Fuzzy Sets and Beyond. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
  • Freitag, Markus, and Raphaela Schlicht. 2009. “Educational Federalism in Germany: Foundations of Social Inequality in Education.” Governance 22 (1): 47-72.
  • Emmenegger, Patrick. 2011. “Job Security Regulations in Western Democracies: A Fuzzy Set Analysis.” European Journal of Political Research 50 (3): 336-64.

You have to register for the 8th International Research Workshop to participate in this course.

Expert Interviews

Institution: see Organisers & Acknowledgements

Programme of study: International Research Workshop

Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Betina Hollstein (University of Hamburg)

Date: Monday, 29/09/14 – Wednesday, 01/10/14 from 09.00-12.30 h

Max. number of participants: 20

Credit Points: 5 CP for participating in the whole IRWS

Language of instruction: English

Contents:

Expert interviews are often used in empirical social research. Sometimes they are part of the preparatory stage of a study. Sometimes expert interviews are the main data source. The course will focus on theory and practice of expert interviews, i.e. methodological foundations and practical considerations when conducting expert interviews.

The course starts out with a brief overview on the specific characteristics of qualitative data and methods. We will discuss problems and challenges associated with qualitative interviewing and different ways to deal with these challenges. We will address different types of expert interviews (guided interviews, narrative interview), by highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each approach and discussing the crucial steps when preparing and conducting expert interviews. Finally, we will discuss how to get access to the field, ways of data management and different strategies for data analysis.

Required basic knowledge: Basic knowledge and skills in social research methods and methodology (Bachelor degree in a Social Science discipline).

You have to register for the 8th International Research Workshop to participate in this course.

Qualitative Research Methodology and Design Strategies

Institution: see Organisers & Acknowledgements

Programme of study: International Research Workshop

Lecturer: Dr. Anna Brake (University of Augsburg)

Date: Monday, 29/09/14 – Wednesday, 01/10/14 from 09.00-12.30 h

Max. number of participants: 18

Credit Points: 5 CP for participating in the whole IRWS

Language of instruction: English

Contents:

Methodological rigor is of vital importance for the success of an qualitative research project. Research question, methodological approach of data collection, sampling and strategies of (verbal) data analysis have to be well matched in order to ensure a compelling overall research process. The workshop aims at providing the opportunity to discuss methodological issues and questions of qualitative research designs in the light of the participant’s own dissertation projects. It addresses Ph.D. students who seek further clarification for their methodological rationale in their qualitative study regarding the appropriateness  of the underlying research question, sampling procedures, interview or observation techniques, approaches for data analysis and others. Thus, in the workshop we will not debate on general issues of methodological importance, but will focus on the methodologically demanding topics the participants are facing within their own qualitative study.

Participants should be well advanced in defining the particular purpose of their qualitative research. They are kindly asked to submit a research abstract no later than two weeks before the beginning of the workshop to anna.brake@phil.uni-augsburg.de

You have to register for the 8th International Research Workshop to participate in this course.

Weiterbildung: How to Design a Mixed Methods Research with Validity

The workshop will take place from 9:00 a.m. till 1 p.m., on Wednesday, 19th of March 2014 in Aula at Helmut-Schmidt-University / University of the Federal Armed Forces of Germany (Hamburg)

The primary purpose of this workshop is to introduce workshop attendees to mixed methods research (MMR). An emphasis will be placed on high quality design and validity issues in mixed methods research.  A secondary purpose is to discuss with workshop attendees how mixed methods research can be used to address their research interests and research questions.

Dr. Burke Johnson will briefly cover the following topics, but he will emphasize research design and validity issues:

  • Introduction and definitions of MMR
  • Intellectual history of MMR
  • Philosophies and paradigms in MMR
  • Three major types of MMR: Quantitatively driven, qualitatively driven, and interactive MMR
  • Research questions
  • Major methods of data collection in empirical research
  • Major research methods in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research
  • Sampling methods in MMR
  • Validity or legitimation design in MMR
  • How to determine the dimensions for designing an MMR research study
  • Data analysis in MMR
  • Report writing and publishing in MMR.

Please find further information on the course and application on this website.

MAXQDA Anwendertagung in Berlin

Das MAXQDA-Team macht per Newsletter auf die MAXQDA-Anwendertagung in Berlin aufmerksam:

“Am 6. und 7. März findet die diesjährige MAXQDA Anwendertagung (CAQD) in Berlin statt. Es erwartet Sie ein breites Angebot an Workshops zu MAXQDA und Forschungsmethoden, Vorträgen und Methodendiskussionen. Studierende und Promovierende zahlen einen ermäßigten Preis. Link zur CAQD-Homepage: http://www.caqd.de/

Auszug aus dem Workshop-Programm (17 Workshops an zwei Tagen)
# MAXQDA Starter
# Qualitative Inhaltsanalyse
# Mixed Methods
# Kategorienbildung
# Typenbildung
# Visualisierungen mit den Visual Tools
# Audio-, Video- und Bildanalyse & mobile Datenerhebung mit MAXApp

Hier finden Sie das vollständige Workshop-Programm: http://caqd.de/workshops-zur-caqd

Spannende Keynotes und Möglichkeiten zum Networking:
# Prof. Udo Kuckartz: “New Horizons for Mixed Methods Analysis”
# Clarence C. Gravlee (Ph.D.): “Using QDA software in the context of field work”

Die CAQD bietet neben Workshops auch einen Tagungsteil mit Vorträgen und Methodendiskussionen und dem bewährten User Forum. Profitieren Sie in angenehmer Atmosphäre von Austausch und Diskussionen über MAXQDA sowohl mit anderen Usern als auch mit den Entwicklern. Die Teilnahme am Tagungsteil ist kostenlos!

Abgerundet wird die Veranstaltung durch ein lockeres Get together und eine Poster Session, bei der Sie Ihre eigenen Projekte vorstellen und diskutieren können. Sie können Ihre Poster bis zum 31.01.2014 an cfp@caqd.de einsenden.

Veranstalter ist die Marburger Arbeitsgruppe für Methoden und Evaluation (magma e.V.).”