Overview of Qualitative Methods

Qualitative research is fundamentally distinct from its quantitative counterpart. While quantitative research methods rely upon the conversion of observable phenomena into numeric data, qualitative analyses do not necessitate such a transformation of data points. Qualitative analysis offers a discriminating researcher a very nuanced approach to examining many specific social phenomena and is enjoying a resurgence among researchers.

After reading Chapters 7 and 9 of Creswell’s Research Design, identify the key tenets of qualitative methods used in criminal justice research.

• What do you see as the most critical aspects of qualitative research methods?
• How do these key tenets of qualitative research assist us when evaluating criminal justice data?
• How do these key tenets contribute to successfully interpreting published research findings?
• How would you apply these tenets to answer a criminal justice research question?

Guided Response: Review your colleagues’ posts, and substantively respond to at least three of your peers by Day 7. (200 word minimum). You should discuss at least three of the following basic characteristics of qualitative research: natural setting, researcher as key instrument, multiple sources of data, inductive and deductive analysis, participants’ meaning, emergent design, reflexivity, or holistic account. Each of your responses should be at least 200 words in length. Continue to monitor the discussion forum until 5:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) on Day 7, and respond with robust dialogue to anyone who replies to your initial post