This states the purpose for which the investigation or research is to be conducted

What are the main types of qualitative approaches to research?

While there are many different investigations that can be done, a study with a qualitative approach generally can be described with the characteristics of one of the following three types:

Historical research describes past events, problems, issues and facts.  Data are gathered from written or oral descriptions of past events, artifacts, etc.  It describes “what was” in an attempt to recreate the past.  It is different from a report in that it involves interpretation of events and its influence on the present.  It answers the question: “What was the situation?” 

Examples of Historical Research:

• A study of the factors leading to the historical development and growth of cooperative learning
• A study of the effects of the historical decisions of the United States Supreme Court on American prisons
• A study of the evolution of print journalism in the United States through a study of collections of newspapers
• A study of the historical trends in public laws by looking recorded at a local courthouse

Ethnographic research develops in-depth analytical descriptions of current systems, processes, and phenomena and/or understandings of the shared beliefs and practices of a particular group or culture.  This type of design collects extensive narrative data (non-numerical data) based on many variables over an extended period of time in a natural setting within a specific context. The background, development, current conditions, and environmental interaction of one or more individuals, groups, communities, businesses or institutions is observed, recorded, and analyzed for patterns in relation to internal and external influences.  It is a complete description of present phenomena.

One specific form of ethnographic research is called a case study.  It is a detailed examination of a single group, individual, situation, or site. 

A meta-analysis is another specific form.  It is a statistical method which accumulates experimental and correlational results across independent studies.  It is an analysis of analyses.

Examples of Ethnographic Research:

• A case study of parental involvement at a specific magnet school
• A multi-case study of children of drug addicts who excel despite early childhoods in poor environments
• The study of the nature of problems teachers encounter when they begin to use a constructivist approach to instruction after having taught using a very traditional approach for ten years
• A psychological case study with extensive notes based on observations of and interviews with immigrant workers
• A study of primate behavior in the wild measuring the amount of time an animal engaged in a specific behavior

Narrative research focuses on studying a single person and gathering data through the collection of stories that are used to construct a narrative about the individual’s experience and the meanings he/she attributes to them.

Examples of Narrative Research:

• A study of the experiences of an autistic student who has moved from a self-contained program to an inclusion setting
• A study of the experiences of a high school track star who has been moved on to a championship-winning university track team

The IRB must review all studies that meet the federal definition of human subjects research, regardless of sponsorship. To determine whether a study is considered human subjects research, the IRB or ORC must first determine:

1. Does the study meet the federal definition of “research”?
2. Does the study include “human subjects”?

If the answer is yes to both of these questions, the study is considered “human subjects research” and IRB review is required.

Research Defined

The federal regulations (45 CFR 46.102) define research as “a systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.”

Systematic Investigation

A “systematic investigation” is typically a predetermined method for studying a specific topic, answering a specific question(s), testing a specific hypothesis(es) or developing theory. Examples of systematic investigations include:

• surveys and questionnaires
• interviews and focus groups
• observational studies
• analysis of existing data or biological specimens
• evaluations of social or educational programs
• medical chart review studies
• group comparison studies
• interventional research

Gray Areas

Case Studies

Case studies prepared and disseminated for educational purposes are not systematic investigations and therefore not considered research. If a researcher is unable to prepare the case study report without disclosing information that would make it possible to identify the individual, they must obtain permission from the individual before using the individual’s data.

Student Class Projects

Some student research projects conducted as part of course requirements may also need IRB review if it falls under the federal definition of research.

• Does My Class Assignment Require IRB Approval
• Instructor’s Guide to Class Assignments

Pilot Study

A pilot study is a preliminary investigation of the feasibility of a study, usually intended to help the investigator refine data collection procedures and instruments or prepare a better, more precise research design. These pilot studies are not considered to contribute to generalizable knowledge and therefore would not be defined as research and would not require IRB review.

Data collected from a pilot study cannot be used as research data.

Procedures that are not considered to be pilot study and do not need to be reviewed by the IRB include, but may not be limited to, the following:

• Training programs designed to teach proven methods that will be used during the conduct  of research (i.e., blood drawing training, interview techniques training);

• Refining data collection procedures or preparation of an instrument, such as a survey. For instance, “How could this survey question be misunderstood?”, or “In what order should survey instruments be distributed?” This type of study development does not contribute to generalizable knowledge, and therefore is not considered research and does not require IRB review.

Human Subjects Defined

The DHHS federal regulations (45 CFR 46.102) define a human subject as “a living individual about whom an investigator (whether professional or student) conducting research obtains (1) data through intervention or interaction with the individual, or (2) identifiable private information.”

The definition of a human subject focuses on what information or material is obtained from people. If you will obtain either data through interaction or intervention or identifiable private information, the research involves human subjects.

Intervention

An intervention includes both physical procedures by which data are gathered (for example, venipuncture) and manipulations of the subject or the subject’s environment that are performed for research purposes.

Interaction

Interaction includes communication or interpersonal contact between investigator and subject. Examples include surveys, interviews, observations, physical measurements, specimen collection (blood, DNA), etc.

Projects that focus on information-gathering where questions focus on existing policies, practices or procedures, (e.g., canvassing about inter-library loan policies or rising journal costs), rather than individuals or their opinions about those policies, do not constitute human subjects research.

Identifiable Private Information

Private information includes information about behavior that occurs in a context in which an individual can reasonably expect that no observation or recording is taking place, and information which has been provided for specific purposes by an individual and which the individual can reasonably expect will not be made public (for example, a medical record). Private information must be individually identifiable (i.e., the identity of the subject is or may readily be ascertained by the investigator or associated with the information) in order for obtaining the information to constitute research involving human subjects.

Determination Assistance

Assistance is available from in sorting through the regulatory requirements and definitions and project details.

What is the purpose of conducting a research?

What are the 4 purposes of research?

What states the main objective of the research?