qualitative analysis for hypothesis generation and testing
i have a question about qualitative analysis methods. colleagues and i are studying different approaches to privacy within computer science. we want to analyze how they differ based on their implicit and explicit assumptions as well as their objectives. based on previous research, we already have some hypotheses about privacy research within computer science. in part of our study we want to use qualitative methods to inquire whether our hypotheses hold. we also plan to do content analysis to elicit further themes which may not be captured with our hypotheses. i am wondering if there are papers/books on qualitative analysis methods that could help us frame and design our study? it is not usual or accepted within my subfield of computer science to use qualitative methods, so all recommendations and tips are very welcome. thank you, s.
I think you're right in that a more qualitative approach is good for the sort of exploratory research it sounds like you're doing. In general you probably want to move away from conceptualizing this as "hypothesis testing" and more toward thinking of it as exploring research questions. Qualitative inquiry is usually less good at saying "this is definitively true or false" and much better at giving you a picture of lived experience is within your focus, either through artifacts or speaking with/observing people directly. Instead of framing your question as "[x] statement" and proving it true or false, you instead as "How do the implicit and explicit assumptions of users affect their approach to privacy?" and run with the ball from there. http://www.amazon.com/Qualitative-Inquiry-Research-Design-Traditions/dp/0761... -- this was among the first qualitative research texts I ever used and I thought it was really valuable. http://www.amazon.com/Qualitative-Communication-Research-Methods-Lindlof/dp/... is another possibility, if this is an update to the book I'm thinking of (the cover used to have a picture of pebbles on it, I think?) Sorry, just got up and my recall's not the best. Hope this was of some help to you. On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 4:05 AM, Seda Guerses <sguerses@esat.kuleuven.be>wrote:
i have a question about qualitative analysis methods. colleagues and i are studying different approaches to privacy within computer science. we want to analyze how they differ based on their implicit and explicit assumptions as well as their objectives. based on previous research, we already have some hypotheses about privacy research within computer science. in part of our study we want to use qualitative methods to inquire whether our hypotheses hold. we also plan to do content analysis to elicit further themes which may not be captured with our hypotheses. i am wondering if there are papers/books on qualitative analysis methods that could help us frame and design our study? it is not usual or accepted within my subfield of computer science to use qualitative methods, so all recommendations and tips are very welcome. thank you, s.
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-- Todd Harper Postdoctoral Researcher, Singapore-MIT GAMBIT Game Lab -- http://gambit.mit.edu laevantine@gmail.com
http://www.screencast.com/t/gTJ2DsPQv5 In this Screencast I talk about the methods we developed over 10 years and with the support of $4m in NSF funding for interdisciplinary teams involving computer science, political science, education, statistics and sociology. In particular, see slides 6 & 7 in the presentation. I would also point to a 3-part series of blog posts on the "QDAP Method": http://blog.texifter.com/index.php/2011/05/10/coding-text-using-the-qdap-met... http://blog.texifter.com/index.php/2011/05/14/coding-text-part-two/ http://blog.texifter.com/index.php/2011/05/17/coding-text-part-three/ Much of this QDAP work is still firmly tied to the foundational free, open source, Web-based application known as the Coding Analysis Toolkit (CAT), where more than 2,500 users have uploaded over 7,500 datasets to code text, measure inter-rater-reliability, and adjudicate the validity of coder choices.: http://cat.ucsur.pitt.edu/ CAT was originally a utility for users of ATLAS.ti who wanted to measure inter-rater-reliability and it grew organically into a free toolkit used by many graduate students around the world to develop, refine and test human annotation schemes. On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 4:05 AM, Seda Guerses <sguerses@esat.kuleuven.be>wrote:
i have a question about qualitative analysis methods. colleagues and i are studying different approaches to privacy within computer science. we want to analyze how they differ based on their implicit and explicit assumptions as well as their objectives. based on previous research, we already have some hypotheses about privacy research within computer science. in part of our study we want to use qualitative methods to inquire whether our hypotheses hold. we also plan to do content analysis to elicit further themes which may not be captured with our hypotheses. i am wondering if there are papers/books on qualitative analysis methods that could help us frame and design our study? it is not usual or accepted within my subfield of computer science to use qualitative methods, so all recommendations and tips are very welcome. thank you, s.
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-- Stuart Shulman President & CEO Texifter, LLC <http://www.texifter.com/> Have you tried DiscoverText? http://discovertext.com *Featuring the Facebook Graph & Twitter APIs*
The Department of Communication Arts at the University of Wisconsin-Madison seeks applicants for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor in Media and Cultural Studies, to begin in August 2012. Candidates will be expected to conduct research, develop and teach courses, and supervise graduate students in the critical, intersectional analysis of identity and representation in contemporary media, including race, ethnicity, gender, and/or sexuality. Those whose work demonstrates a transnational/global/diasporic focus and an ability to combine methodological approaches are especially encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will teach a large undergraduate lecture course in addition to other specialist courses to both undergraduate and graduate students. Ph.D. in a related field and evidence of scholarly excellence and teaching ability are required. See also http://commarts.wisc.edu. Please submit a CV and a letter detailing interests and capabilities, and arrange to have sent three letters of reference, to Professor Jonathan Gray, Media, Identity, and Representation Search, Department of Communication Arts, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 821 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706. Electronic applications will not be accepted. The deadline to assure full consideration is December 14, 2011. EOE/AA. Employment may require a criminal background check. Unless confidentiality is requested in writing, information regarding the applicants must be released upon request. Finalists cannot be guaranteed confidentiality. The Department of Communication Arts is committed to building a culturally diverse intellectual community and strongly encourages applications from women, ethnic minorities, and other underrepresented groups. Questions about the search may be directed to Professor Jonathan Gray at jagray3@wisc.edu
participants (4)
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Jonathan Gray -
Seda Guerses -
Stuart Shulman -
Todd Harper