not go away. The `five moments' are consecutive but also simultaneous. · Theories of ontology (what is the form and nature of social reality and, thus, what can be known) and epistemology (what is the nature of the relationship between the knower and would-be knower and what can be known) are central to understanding the forms of knowledge that are produced through qualitative approaches. I would add the following imperatives, drawn from Mason (1996) · Qualitative research should be conducted systematically and rigorously. This means that, like all social researchers, qualitative researchers have to use key principles of research design such as linking the research questions to the methodological approaches, considering issues of analysis and data collection as integrated and being clear about the purposes of the research. · Qualitative research should be conducted in a flexible and contextual way. This means that qualitative researchers make decisions on the basis of their research design and in terms of the changing contexts and situations in which the research takes place. One of the strengths of qualitative approaches is that this flexibility can enhance the research leaded to unanticipated, but significant, issues. · Qualitative research should be conducted through critical, enquiry. This means that the researcher should be constantly asking questions about her or his role in the research process. · Qualitative research should produce social explanations to intellectual puzzles. This means being explicit about the logics that have produced these explanations (eg. sampling, selection of events for analysis, researcher's role and so on).
not go away. The `five moments' are consecutive but also simultaneous. · Theories of ontology (what is the form and nature of social reality and, thus, what can be known) and epistemology (what is the nature of the relationship between the knower and would-be knower and what can be known) are central to understanding the forms of knowledge that are produced through qualitative approaches. I would add the following imperatives, drawn from Mason (1996) · Qualitative research should be conducted systematically and rigorously. This means that, like all social researchers, qualitative researchers have to use key principles of research design such as linking the research questions to the methodological approaches, considering issues of analysis and data collection as integrated and being clear about the purposes of the research. · Qualitative research should be conducted in a flexible and contextual way. This means that qualitative researchers make decisions on the basis of their research design and in terms of the changing contexts and situations in which the research takes place. One of the strengths of qualitative approaches is that this flexibility can enhance the research leaded to unanticipated, but significant, issues. · Qualitative research should be conducted through critical, enquiry. This means that the researcher should be constantly asking questions about her or his role in the research process. · Qualitative research should produce social explanations to intellectual puzzles. This means being explicit about the logics that have produced these explanations (eg. sampling, selection of events for analysis, researcher's role and so on).
an_introduction_to_qualitative_research.docx