“It Requires Interest, Time, Patience and Struggle”: Novice Researchers’ Perspectives on and Experiences of the Qualitative Research Journey
Keywords:
Downloads
Abstract
This study aimed at exploring novice researchers’ experiences of and perspectives on the qualitative research journey and determining the difficulties tackled and strategies developed while conducting qualitative research. The study was an interview-based qualitative case study involving nine graduate students in education as the participants. The data were collected between 2017 and 2019 at a state university located in Southeastern Turkey. The content-analyzed data revealed several findings about the research topic, indicating that the novice researchers considered the qualitative research journey as daunting and overwhelming, but pleasurable and satisfying. Despite scholarly development and lessons learned in the process, the researchers confronted with several difficulties concerning data collection, analysis and interpretation, recruitment and developing rapport, representation of findings, and the research process as a whole. They developed personal and external support strategies during the research journey. The metaphorical perceptions portrayed the elusive and distinctive nature of qualitative research.
Downloads
References
Aspers, P., & Corte, U. (2019). What is qualitative in qualitative research. Qualitative Sociology, 42(2), 139-160.
Google Scholar CrossrefBowen, G. A. (2005). Preparing a qualitative research-based dissertation: Lessons learned. The Qualitative Report, 10(2), 208-222.
Google Scholar CrossrefBradley, J. (1993). Methodological issues and practices in qualitative research. The Library Quarterly, 63(4), 431-449.
Google Scholar CrossrefButler-Kisber, L. (2018). Qualitative inquiry: Thematic, narrative and arts-based perspectives. (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Google Scholar CrossrefCarpenter, J. (2008). Metaphors in qualitative research: Shedding light or casting shadows?. Research in Nursing & Health, 31(3), 274-282.
Google Scholar CrossrefÇepni, S., Ormancı, Ü., & Özen Uyar, R. (2018). Doktora öğrencilerinin nitel araştırma yapmaya yönelik kaygıları. Kastamonu Education Journal, 26(3), 875-886.
Google Scholar CrossrefChenail, R. J. (2011). Ten steps for conceptualizing and conducting qualitative research studies in a pragmatically curious manner. The Qualitative Report, 16(6), 1713-1730.
Google Scholar CrossrefCooper, R., Fleischer, A., & Cotton, F. A. (2012). Building connections: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of qualitative research: Students’ learning experiences. The Qualitative Report, 17(T&L Art. 1), 1-16.
Google Scholar CrossrefCreswell, J. W. (2007). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five traditions. (2nd ed). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Google Scholar CrossrefDickson-Swift, V., James, E. L., Kippen, S., & Liamputtong, P. (2007). Doing sensitive research: What challenges do qualitative researchers face?. Qualitative Research, 7(3), 327-353.
Google Scholar CrossrefDrisko, J. W. (1997). Strengthening qualitative studies and reports: Standards to promote academic integrity. Journal of Social Work Education, 33(1), 185-197.
Google Scholar CrossrefDrisko, J. W. (2005). Writing up qualitative research. Families in Society, 86(4), 589-593.
Google Scholar CrossrefErsoy, A. (2015). Doktora öğrencilerinin ilk nitel araştırma deneyimlerinin günlükler aracılığıyla incelenmesi. Pegem Eğitim ve Öğretim Dergisi, 5(5), 549-568.
Google Scholar CrossrefExter, M. E., & Ashby, I. (2019). Using cognitive apprenticeship to enculturate new students into a qualitative research method. The Qualitative Report, 24(4), 873-886.
Google Scholar CrossrefFossey, E., Harvey, C., McDermott, F., & Davidson, L. (2002). Understanding and evaluating qualitative research. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 36(6), 717-732.
Google Scholar CrossrefGaudet, S., & Robert, D. A. (2018). Journey through qualitative research: From design to reporting. London: Sage.
Google Scholar CrossrefHancock, B., Ockleford, E., & Windridge, K. (2009). An introduction to qualitative research. The NIHR RDS for the East Midlands / The NIHR RDS for Yorkshire and the Humber.
Google Scholar CrossrefHancock, D. R., & Algozzine, B. (2006). Doing case study research: A practical guide for beginning researchers. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
Google Scholar CrossrefHein, S. F. (2004). "I don't like ambiguity": An exploration of students' experiences during a qualitative methods course. Alberta Journal of Educational Research, 50(1), 22-38.
Google Scholar CrossrefHunt, M. R. (2010). “Active waiting”: Habits and the practice of conducting qualitative research. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 9(1), 69-76.
Google Scholar CrossrefKalpokaite, N., & Radivojevic, I. (2019). Demystifying qualitative data analysis for novice qualitative researchers. The Qualitative Report, 24(13), 44-57.
Google Scholar CrossrefKapoulas, A., & Mitic, M. (2012). Understanding challenges of qualitative research: Rhetorical issues and reality traps. Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, 15(4), 354-368.
Google Scholar CrossrefKarataş, Z. (2017). Sosyal bilim araştırmalarında paradigma değişimi: Nitel yaklaşımın yükselişi. Türkiye Sosyal Hizmet Araştırmaları Dergisi, 1(1), 68-86.
Google Scholar CrossrefKoro-Ljungberg, M. (2001). Metaphors as a way to explore qualitative data. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 14(3), 367-379.
Google Scholar CrossrefKoro-Ljungberg, M., Cavalleri, D., Covert, H., & Bustam, T. (2012). Documents of learning: Graduate students’ experiences of tensions when studying qualitative data analysis approaches. Reflective Practice, 13(2), 195-207.
Google Scholar CrossrefKuby, C. R., & Christ, R. C. (2018). Productive aporias and inten(t/s)ionalities of paradigming: Spacetimematterings in an introductory qualitative research course. Qualitative Inquiry, 24(4), 293-304.
Google Scholar CrossrefLuck, L., Jackson, D., & Usher, K. (2006). Case study: A bridge across the paradigms. Nursing Inquiry, 13(2), 103-109.
Google Scholar CrossrefMalterud, K. (2001). Qualitative research: Standards, challenges, and guidelines. The Lancet, 358(9280), 483-488.
Google Scholar CrossrefMcCaslin, M., & Wilson Scott, K. (2003). The five question method for framing a qualitative research study. The Qualitative Report, 8(3), 447-461.
Google Scholar CrossrefMertens, E., Heylighen, A., Declercq, A., Hannes, K., Truyen, F., Denier, Y., & Dierckx de Casterlé, B. (2017). QualiBuddy: An online tool to improve research skills in qualitative data analysis. Qualitative Research Journal, 17(4), 306-318.
Google Scholar CrossrefMiles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: An expanded sourcebook. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Google Scholar CrossrefPatton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods. (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, California: Sage.
Google Scholar CrossrefPeredaryenko, M. S., & Krauss, S. E. (2013). Calibrating the human instrument: Understanding the interviewing experience of novice qualitative researchers. The Qualitative Report, 18(85), 1-17.
Google Scholar CrossrefPlano Clark, V. L., & J. W. Creswell. (2015). Understanding research: A consumer’s guide. (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
Google Scholar CrossrefRaddon, M. B., Raby, R., & Sharpe, E. (2009). The challenges of teaching qualitative coding: Can a learning object help?. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 21(3), 336-347.
Google Scholar CrossrefRimando, M., Brace, A. M., Namageyo-Funa, A., Parr, T. L., Sealy, D., Davis, T. L., Martinez, L. M., & Christiana, R. W. (2015). Data collection challenges and recommendations for early career researchers. The Qualitative Report, 20(12), 2025-2036.
Google Scholar CrossrefRobinson, O. C. (2014). Sampling in interview-based qualitative research: A theoretical and practical guide. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 11(1), 25-41.
Google Scholar CrossrefSaban, A. (2007). Lisansüstü öğrencilerin nitel araştırma metodolojisine ilişkin algıları. Selçuk Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 1(17), 469-485.
Google Scholar CrossrefSaldaña, J. (2011). Fundamentals of qualitative research. Madison Avenue, NY: Oxford University Press.
Google Scholar CrossrefSandelowski, M. (1995). Qualitative analysis: What it is and how to begin. Research in Nursing & Health, 18(4), 371-375.
Google Scholar CrossrefSandelowski, M. (1998). Writing a good read: Strategies for re‐presenting qualitative data. Research in Nursing & Health, 21(4), 375-382.
Google Scholar CrossrefSandelowski, M., & Barroso, J. (2002). Finding the findings in qualitative studies. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 34(3), 213-219.
Google Scholar CrossrefShah, J., Shah, A., & Pietrobon, R. (2009). Scientific writing of novice researchers: What difficulties and encouragements do they encounter?. Academic Medicine: Journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges, 84(4), 511-516.
Google Scholar CrossrefSkukauskaite, A., Noske, P., & Gonzales, M. (2018). Designing for discomfort: Preparing scholars for journeys through qualitative research. International Review of Qualitative Research, 11(3), 334-349.
Google Scholar CrossrefStake, R. E. (1995). The art of case study research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Google Scholar CrossrefTsai, K. C. (2013). A journey to the qualitative wonderland: Lessons learned for novice researchers. Anadolu Journal of Educational Sciences International, 3(1), 95-102.
Google Scholar CrossrefTwining, P., Heller, R.S., Nussbaum, M., & Tsai, C.C. (2017). Some guidance on conducting and reporting qualitative studies. Computers & Education, 106, A1-A9.
Google Scholar CrossrefVanWynsberghe, R., & Khan, S. (2007). Redefining case study. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 6(2), 80-94.
Google Scholar CrossrefWaite, D. (2014). Teaching the unteachable: Some issues of qualitative research pedagogy. Qualitative Inquiry, 20(3), 267-281.
Google Scholar CrossrefWolgemuth, J. R. (2016). Driving the paradigm: (Failing to teach) Methodological ambiguity, fluidity, and resistance in qualitative research. Qualitative Inquiry, 22(6), 518-525.
Google Scholar CrossrefYılmaz, K. (2013). Comparison of quantitative and qualitative research traditions: Epistemological, theoretical, and methodological differences. European Journal of Education, 48(2), 311-325.
Google Scholar CrossrefDownloads
Published
Almetric
Dimensions
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
All articles are published under Creative Commons copyright (CC BY). Authors hold the copyright and retain publishing rights without restrictions, but authors allow anyone to download, reuse, reprint, modify, distribute, and/or copy articles as the original source is cited.
