For the last theme we investigated qualitative methods and case studies, and did so by once again reading articles using these techniques. Since we touched upon the subject of qualitativeness last week, we did not have much new to discuss. We did talk about objectivity again (a recurring theme!), and my argument was that it’s probably more difficult to be objective when doing a qualitative research using a more intimate approach, such as interviews, than investigating samples from afar where you can distance yourself. However, does one really have to be objective? I would argue that yes, scientific research would benefit from that, but then again, we have already noted that it probably is impossible to be entirely objective. And many articles does come with a personal analysis, so yeah.
We also talked about the definition of qualitative methods as being a research with a select few test subjects, as opposed to quantitative methods where there can be many test subjects. However, the conclusion was that this definition is false, as there can actually be quantitative researches where only one subject is used and qualitative researches where a lot of subjects are involved (which would probably require a bit more time to conduct though). An example of the first option could be a person who has a very rare illness, like “the only one in the world with that illness”-sort of rare, and you could do a quantitative research on that person where the biological levels for each day are used as samples.
Moving on to case studies. First off, we tried to define the term and got stuck since the line between a case study and any other study is a bit blurry. I mean, for every research there is a case being investigated, right? Furthermore, I was under the impression that a case study was about watching test subjects do something, but that doesn’t necessarily have to be the case either. After discussing a bit we decided that case studies is a method investigating the specifics. It’s also about finding out new things, and not about proving old theories. In that aspect, case studies are also a good way to begin a research and establish a theory which you can further investigate using quantitative and qualitative measures. Ilias had a rather funny example where strange purple people wearing visual headgear suddenly appear and walk around on the street. We don’t know what questions to ask them, so instead we go around and take of their headgears to see what’s underneath first.
To summarize this week and the previous, I think that I’ve actually learned a lot, even though I previously thought that I already knew enough about all these terms and subjects. There is always more knowledge to acquire, and different ways to perceive things, which is important to acknowledge in whatever business field we choose in the future.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI think that you have written a really interesting reflection. I liked that you for example discuss objectivity in scientific research.
To add to your discussion: I think that you are right in that all studies require a more or less defined case in order to do research.
I interpret the difference between a case study to for example a qualitative research study to be that a case study focuses on choosing a setting, or case, to make observations in. A qualitative method on the other hand I interpret to focus on having a hypothesis or research question that will help define the setting, or case, in which this study will take place.
Great reflection with interesting discussions!
Hi!
ReplyDeleteI think it is always intresting to discuss about objectivity. I agrre with you that it is really difficult to be objective when conducting interviews. But at the same time quantitative measurements can miss some important parts of the conducted experiments. Especially in fields like psychology. In other words if we it is also hard to be objective in the planing/creation of quantitative research.
I also agree with you that the line between case studies and other studies is a bit blurry. Because as you said almost all investigations is in some kind of settings that we investigate in.
Good work! Och njut av två lite lättare veckor nu!
Hello, good reflection. For this theme, I think everybody will find it's hard to write the reflect post, since we only have seminar, but it's good to see you summarized a lot from the seminar, and take a lot of examples, I agree with what you say about case study, "It’s also about finding out new things, and not about proving old theories". I think after the seminar talk, Ilias also mentioned about this in his perception. And he also mentioned a link of case study example, which is the previous case study always link to a new one, which is same as what you said, "case study is a good way to begin a research and establish a theory which you can further investigate using quantitative and qualitative measures". Keep on good work!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you, it is difficult or maybe impossible to be 100% objective in a qualitative research. That being said, precisely as you mentioned, achieving 100% objectivity is impossible in almost any kind of circumstance.I experienced similar situation in defining case study before, during and after the seminar. It is quite a lucid term to define and pinpoint exactly what they are. I grappled with similar questions as you talk about in your reflection.
ReplyDeleteI am glad, as you talked about, that you learnt a lot in this week. I gotta say I experienced the same. Enjoyed reading your reflection. Cheers!
Hi Ellinor!
ReplyDeleteVery nice reflection on the nature of case studies! Another thing I thought was interesting about case studies and related to the part where you say case studies can be used to begin research is that a case study also doesn't need to be as defined from the beginning as other studies.
When undertaking a case study you don't necessarily know exactly how to conduct your case study (for example who should be interviewed and what they should answer or how to collect other types of data). Instead the case study may grow more organically where the more you learn, the more you know how to further conduct your case study. This makes case studies ideal for newly developed scenarios we do not know much about.
I also think that objectivity is an important motive which could have been discussed within all of the themes. I agree with you that objectivity can hardly be reached with qualitative methods or that it is at least one of its major difficulties. But then again you are also right when you say that objectivity is an utopian goal anyway. Nevertheless, it is something worth to strive for.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing Ilias’ funny example! It is a rememberable description to illustrate when someone should use case studies. If you do not have a clue which questions to ask - do a case study to find out!
Hello Ellinor!
ReplyDeleteJust like you I also had a hard time figuring out what a "case study" exactly meant what properties it had. You have some sort of picture in your head of what a case study is, mine was similar to yours. But I learned that a case study means researching something in a field were little is known and is often used to learn what questions to ask in a later study. This is something that has occurred multiple times in this course. We learn about a scientific concept that we think we understand but then we learn that our understanding is very limited, like the concept of "theory" for example.
Hi Ellinor!
ReplyDeleteIt seems you've grasped the theme this week again! I enjoyed your discussion on objectivity and how it can be more difficult in qualitative research due the "intimacy" in the method form, and also how you connect the discussion on objectivity to the one we had early on in the course. I think you can distance yourself if you're a good interviewer, the same way I think a good interviewer knows how to follow up questions in a way that makes the participant explain his thoughts and experiences.
I also found articles with a lot of personal reflections, which made the quality of the article poorer in my eyes..
Good job with the course, it's been interesting to follow your reflections!
Hey!
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you made progress in your understanding of these topics. I have also felt that there is nothing new to be learned about this subjects, but as you said, there is always more knowledge to be acquired.
Case studies were also little confusing for me to, I was not sure what kind of research method is it or is it a research method at all?! My conclusion from the seminar is that it is more a research category than a method. Case studies use other methods (like qualitative and quantitative methods) to investigate specific cases or pointing to new and unresearched topics and fields.
Hi!
ReplyDeleteIt obvious that you have gained a good understanding of theme 6 and your text are interesting to read. Your discussion of difference between qualitative research and quantitative research is well performed. Thank you!
/Paul
Hi,
ReplyDeleteInteresting thoughts of yours that you questioning the sense of pure objectivity. In my opinion and in order to have replicable results a researcher should at least strive for objectivity. However, and as you have mentioned despite the fact that he or she will never reach it. Nevertheless I liked the critical approach of your reflection as it helps to question the already fixed perspectives, which I have acquired during this last topic.
Hi, thank you for your final reflection.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading some blog post I can see that many had the impression that qualitative methods are conducted with few test subjects. Great that you reflect on what you have learned and that you explain it with examples. Indeed case studies can be hard to grasp, I think that case studies are conducted in specific contexts where we observe an unfamiliar event that we can produce new knowledge from.