According to Margaret Slater qualitative research is a methodology used in the social sciences to understand ‘the behaviour patterns of, and interaction between human beings, or between human beings and systems.’(1)  Slater explains a researcher uses qualitative methods such as ‘depth interviews and group discussions’(2) to ‘discover’ key ‘insights’ into ‘the detailed structure and nature of what is happening, and above all in why.’(3)  Jane Ritchie considers the ‘contribution qualitative methods can make is in enlightening policy makers about the lives and experiences of those for whom policy is formulated.’(4)  In order to do this Alan Bryman says the researcher conducts an ‘investigation of social reality’ from ‘the perspective of the people who are being studied.’(5)

This is essential because as Gorman and Clayton explain, ‘the meaning we attach to reality is socially constructed’ and ‘then expressed in language by the person.’(6)  A qualitative researcher Gorman and Clayton imply, is interested in comprehending ‘the meaning that people create’ in work places and then attempts ‘to describe and interpret that meaning.’(6)  Gorman and Clayton consequently, illustrate how qualitative research studies the ‘process’ of ‘how ideas become actions’ and ‘the reactions to those actions.’(7)  This knowledge empowers information managers with a framework to propose changes and to appreciate how best to implement them. Gorman and Clayton state issues such as ‘staff morale’(8) and understanding how staff adversely affect training schemes can be investigated using the qualitative approach(7) because these problems centre around how we behave with each other and with diverse information ‘systems.’(1)

Foot notes

1. Slater et al, 1990, p.108
2. Slater et al, 1990, p. 111
3. Slater et al, 1990, p. 110
4. Slater et al, 1990, pp. 111-12
5. Bryman, 1988, p.61
6. Gorman et al, 2005, p.5
7. Gorman et al, 2005, p. 6
8. Gorman et al, 2005, p. 14

References

Bryman, A. (1988) Quantity and quality in social research, London: Unwin Hyman.

Gorman, G. E., Clayton, P., Shep, S. J., Clayton, A., (2005) Qualitative research for the information professional: A practical handbook, Second edition, London: Facet Publishing.

Slater, M. (1990) Qualitative Research, in Research Methods in Library and Information Studies, Slater, M. (ed), London: Library Association, pp.107-127.

Bibliography

Cape, B., (2004) Gathering opinion and initiating debate: the success of the Delphi Method in purely qualitative research, Library and Information Research, Vol. 28, pp. 35-44. Accessed via CILIP website (3 October 2007)

Goodman, C. (1987) The Delphi technique: a critique, Journal of Advanced Nursing, Vol. 12, pp. 729-734.

See also: Electronic Resources for Research Methods