The roles of bias, Context, and the researcher in Qualitative Research - Assignment Example

The roles of bias, Context, and the researcher in Qualitative Research The roles of bias, Context, and the researcher in Qualitative Research Introduction Ensuring the integrity of the research data is one of the primary priorities of every researcher. Consequently as a researcher carries out a qualitative research undertaking, it is important to understand the potential impacts of external factors such as environment, context, personal bias as well as the role of the researcher on the integrity of the research data. For example, in a qualitative research, bias often the reliability, validity of the findings by distorting the truth or skewing the collected qualitative data. On the other hand, the researcher is also considered an important instrument in a qualitative research and some of the roles of a researcher include gathering data as well as interacting and collaborating with the participants in the research (Brown, 1996). This paper describes the results of my personal observation of a photograph in correlation to the roles of context, bias and the research during a qualitative research study. Description of the results The results of my observation suggested that the photo requires a qualitative analysis to capture all the required qualitative data and any non-numerical information that a company can use in performance analysis. The use of qualitative data to support businesses in decision-making provides a business with the detailed picture of the performance of individuals. The use of qualitative research by Health Plus creates openness in the organization (Creswell, 1994). The use of qualitative data in the organization analysis encourages acquiring timely feedback on the ranks through facilitating the right behaviors, feelings and attitudes. The use of qualitative analysis by individuals facilitates the ability to provide just judgments. In making analysis, the use of qualitative data provides the company with sound judgment, unlike quantitative, which makes use of figures in making analysis. The use of qualitative data enables the business to find new ways of making changes in sectors that experience weak performances (Lancashire, 2009). Qualitative analysis comes in various ways including in-depth interviews, observation and written documents such reports and books. In this regard, the development of information retrieved from written literature comes as an important role in making the organization set the pace in the right direction (Abcarian, Klotz, & Cohen, 2009). The role of bias in a qualitative research In a qualitative research, the issue of bias is an important concern that demands special attention from both the researcher and the participants. Although researcher bias and subjectivity is often considered inevitable in any qualitative research there are a number of ways through which the researchers can effectively handle this important issue and some of these ways include self discovery by the researchers. According to many experienced researchers and experts, self discovery is one of one of the most essential ways of overcoming the research biases, blind spots as well as the cognitive limitations of the researchers. The result of my observation of the photograph has taught me that it is critically important for researchers to openly engage in honest discussions regarding research subjectivity and bias. The issue of biasness and subjectivity in qualitative research continue to be a major aspect in development of qualitative research. Though the principles of research require one to be objective and exercise value neutrality in evaluation of various research works, in qualitative research it has been found that subjectivity and understanding of one self plays a big role in understanding the world issues that forms important knowledge in qualitative research. It has also been found that in qualitative research bias helps in determination of the topic of interest and design of the research methodologies and interpretation of findings. (Merriam,1998). Bias plays a role in understanding human experience and behavior that helps in determining the context and interpretation of qualitative research. Role of the researcher in a qualitative research The researcher is considered to be the key instrument in a qualitative research of the some of the important roles of a researcher includes gathering data as well as interacting and collaborating with the participants in the research. For example it is often the responsibility of the researcher to identify and mediate data rather than through machines or inventories. For example, one of the important things I have learnt from the results of my observation is that for a researcher to fulfill this important role of mediating data, the consumers of the research as well as the participants need to know the identity of the researcher. In this regard, some of the information that should be clarified includes markers such as the gender, ethnicity, color and social-economic status of both the participants and the researcher. A researcher plays a very important role in qualitative research either as a reader, interviewer or observer as this status end up affecting the data. It is the role of the researcher to ensure that there is validity of the information gathered and in the analysis of the same information so that the research remains scientific. (Bogdan and Biklen, 1992).Depending on the purpose of the study the researcher might need to identify the cultural orientation to facilitate collection of the required information. In qualitative research, the researcher becomes part of the study and finds reasons as to why things happen the way they do. There fore the researcher becomes the center point of understanding several issues that to some extend it would require him or her to identify with the study group and learn their behavior so as to gather important information. The decision made by the researcher at any stage of the research has a role of guiding the way samples are selected, how interviews will be done and seeking meaning to relate various concepts for the general outcome of qualitative data. Lastly, depending on the aim of the research study as well as the population under investigation, it may also be important for the researchers and the participants to identify themselves culturally and linguistically. Giving the details regarding the experience of the researchers with the target population is also an important way of understanding the potential impact of the role of the researcher. Role of context in qualitative research Context plays a major role as a guide of the study to be undertaken. It guides the methodology and interpretation of the findings of the qualitative research. Context helps to understand the underlying principles and theories to be used in development of the study. This in essence assures validity and reliability of the gathered information that is relevant in determining the issue to be addressed (Denzin and Lincoln, 1994). Qualitative research has been used in the current world to determine and find solutions to the current world. As these researches become more scientific there it has required various approaches and understanding of various concepts to ensure that the required information is free from biasness, objective enough. Qualitative research is more critical as these approaches require the researcher to play a critical role in ensuring that the context of the given study is critically analyzed and is direct to the point. The context of the research in terms of the physical context, participants and proper description of participants can give insight of their life and situation and hence meaning to the research. Such contextual consideration has an importance of ensuring that qualitative research data is concise and more meaningful. According to Cochran-Smith, et al.(1999), the knowledge of context is vital in order to understand the activities, relationships and comprehension of the same as this will guide on the kind and quality of data to be collected that is useful to the research. Lastly, although qualitative research is more meaningful it requires careful consideration of methodologies. Depending on the purpose of study various approaches can be used in qualitative study. The concepts of biasness, context and researcher have to be taken into consideration in order to bring out relevant and valid information. Conclusion In conclusion, the results of my observation of the photograph has taught me a number of important lessons regarding the role of bias, researcher and the context on the validity and accuracy of the findings. Since ensuring the integrity of the research data is one of the primary priorities of every researcher, it is critically important for researchers to openly engage in honest discussions regarding the research as well as give their identities to help mitigate some of these challenges. References Abcarian, R., Klotz, M., Cohen, S. (2009). Literature: The Human Experience: Reading and Writing. New York: Bedford/St. Martins. Benz, C. & Newman, I. (1998). in their book The Qualitative-Quantitative Research Methodology: Exploring the Interactive Continuum. Bogdan, R., Biklen, S. (1992). Eight common questions about qualitative research. 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Social relativism: A postmodernist epistemology for educational administration. In S. J. Maxcy (Ed.), Postmodern school leadership: Meeting the crisis in educational administration (pp. 17-46). Westport, CT: Praeger. Read More