Qualitative research is a tool which has been used in modern
times, it came about out of necessity. Qualitative research is used in the
social sciences and market research the most. These are projects which have
large numbers and it is important to be able to use technology along with
qualitative research to make the most sense out of all your studies.
Qualitative research has had a big hand in studying human behavior and it helps
take into account the “why and how” of decision making which is recorded in
research. The history of qualitative research talks about how it came to be in
the 1970’s and 80’s with the help of computers. There was a lot of different
questions with race in the United States and a new method of research was
needed for all of the large data entry.
One of the
main elements of qualitative research is data entry and data collection. There
are many different methods of data collection, some of the methods are grounded theory practice, narratology, storytelling,
classical ethnography, or shadowing. Qualitative methods are also loosely
present in other methodological approaches, such as action research or actor-network
theory. The most used method of data collection is the qualitative
research method to collect data but there is also group discussion and field
notes which are important if the researcher wants to feel more involved in the
research.
I think
that qualitative research will serve me well due to the fact that I am studying
leadership and also military leadership. Qualitative research reports are
typically rich with detail and insights into participants' experiences of the
world, this is a key factor when studying leadership. It is hard to put
leadership into a mathematical equation because there are so many variances in
the outcome when you are dealing with people. When dealing with leadership a
large study is needed so that you can get the most scenarios possible, one
style of leadership will never be sufficient if you are to succeed.
In my life I have learned that this is a fact
throughout my many experiences when leading large groups of people. It is also
said that in qualitative research that if the researchers are not involved with
the group which is at study it will be harder for them to get the best and
deepest understanding. I feel that when I was much more involved with my group
I always seemed to have the best results, I understood the culture of the group
and I was able to bond on a different level. I feel as though having a bond
with your group is similar to the observation portion of quantitative research.
Being able to observe is one of the elements of quantitative research and when
you are able to collect observation data when it is a natural setting I feel
that the great data can also be received. When a researcher is able to make
great observations they are even able to see things that others might not have
noticed nor would they want to discuss. It is also said that when a researcher
is watching the control group from a location which others are not aware of,
the task of seeing these deficiencies might become a bit easier.
Another element of qualitative
research is recording data, this can be done in many different ways. A way that
many researchers rely on recording data are field notes which usually consist
of settings, people, activities and sounds. These types of notes are usually
taken the day of and some of these notes consist of key words which will jolt a
memory when read back. These notes can sometimes be the best in my experience because
they provide you with that feeling and understanding which you might have had
at a certain time. I have had so many great and memorable experiences in my
life which at times tend to slip my mind. Sometimes all I need is a picture or
maybe a smell to remind me of certain things which have occurred in my life. I
think that if I take notes which can bring me back to something I had seen or
heard a couple of days ago my research and observations will be much more
organized
Qualitative
research seems like the type of research which I would like to conduct some
time in my life. It sounds like it is a big adventure, reading about
qualitative research makes me want to travel to a foreign culture and get to
know different types of people by studying them. I would like to get wrapped in
different civilizations and become one with them through the power of good
research. I feel that there is a lot learn when you can observe from within and
also from the outside looking in. I can definitely see myself conducting
quantitative research sometime soon to further my leadership skills.
