What is Qualitative Research – Theory

Introduction

Why do I need theory? What is the point of having a theory? More immediately, where do I get one from? These questions are the ones many researchers new to the qualitative space struggle with the most. Fundamentally, why are qualitative researchers asked to ‘choose a theory?’ Let’s explore these questions in order.

Why Do I Need a Theory?

First, the why.

Essentially, qualitative researchers hold that all research is underpinned and driven by some understanding of how the world works, what constitutes knowledge and how we can acquire knowledge. These are ontological and epistemological questions. Ontology encompasses concerns on what is real, what exists and doesn’t. The answers here influence what a researcher thinks it is possible to research. Epistemology is more about the how we know things, how we get knowledge. Every individual has a (usually unstated) position on this, sometimes called a worldview, and is part what we might call our personal philosophy. The difference for qualitative researchers is that they are asked to make it explicit.

What Does Theory Do?

Second, what is the point of the theory in research, what do I do with it?

The theory is more than decorative. It impacts on the research question and what questions can be asked. It influences the methodology and methods – some working better with, for example, a social constructionist approach. What approaches are valid for my study? It influences your strategy for data analysis – how you understand and interpret your data and results. Finally, on the status of the conclusions to your research. Theoretical perspective will may make explicit ontological and epistemological claims or, at the very least, imply perspectives on these questions. A choice here is a choice in the underlying assumptions.

The choice you make here has far reaching implications for your wider project. Theory is the lens you view your analysis through. It is for this reason that it is made explicit: a reader needs to know the perspective you have taken.

Where Do I Find a Theory for My Research?

Third, for something so important, where does this theory come from?

There are several possible sources. Your supervisor is a good starting point. Given their experience in your general field, they be able to suggest a broad theoretical framework or author for you to start with. They will be able to guide you on what might be typical for the type of research you are doing.

Your options may be narrowed by what are common approaches in your discipline. As you read journal articles, books, and reviews, you will see the names and theories appear again and again. These are clues to follow up on. Do the ideas of this or that author have importance for my project? Here is a theory used by researchers in my area, might it be relevant to my project?

Another option might come from a particular theory used in a journal article that seems to ‘fit’ the goals of your research project. Maybe this paper had similar goals to your research, or it explored a similar population, or it might be the particular combination between the theory, the methodology and methods that seems appropriate to you. Might it be useful or might you adapt it to suit your project?

Think about your research question. Consider what it is asking and how you might go about answering it. Are there approaches that will work better with your topic? What data might you need to answer it and is implied by the types of data you want to collect? Questions like these will help you narrow the field and sometimes point you in a useful direction.

Conclusion

The theory you select is a window or lens through which you view your research project. What are appropriate questions? What methodology works here? How do I analyse and interpret the data and what conclusions should I draw from the process? We all understand the world in particular ways and so in qualitative research we ask you to state what that perspective is.

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