5 Labs
In this chapter you will find the lab materials/activities. Slides will be linked in this chapter, but can be found on Moodle. Each lab focuses on supporting you with your qualitative project. As part of this project, you will complete two summative assessments: one as a group (30%) and one as an individual (50%).
The Labs will be on the following topics:
- Week 1: What is qualitative research?
- Week 2: Group work, Developing Research Questions
- Week 3: Ethics
- Week 4: Developing a focus group schedule
- Week 5: Running a focus group
- Week 7: Data processing and reflection
- Week 8: Evaluation in the Introduction and Discussion
- Week 9: Analysis (coding)
- Week 10: Analysis (themes)
5.1 Week 1 Lab 1: What is qualitative research?
In Lab 1, we will introduce you to qualitative research, and consider the differences between qualitative and quantitative. You will work together in groups to complete two activities.
5.1.1 Lab 1 Activity 1: Differences between qualitative and quantitative studies
Look at the table below, then discuss the questions underneath in your groups.
| Quantitative | Qualitative |
|---|---|
| Numbers used as data | Words (written/spoken) and images used as data. |
| Seeks to identify relationships between variables to explain or predict with the aim of generalising findings to a wider population | Seeks to understand and interpret more local meanings. Recognises data as gathered in a context. Sometimes produces knowledge that contributes to more general understandings |
| Generates “shallow” but broad data: not a lot fo complex detail obtained from each participant but lots of participants take part to generate statistical power | Generates narrow but rich data - “thick descriptions” - detailed and complex accounts from each participant, not many participants |
| Seeks consensus, norms or general patterns, often aims to reduce diversity of responses to an average response | Tends to seek patterns but accommodates and explores difference and divergence within the data |
| Tends to be theory-testing and deductive | Tends to be theory generating and inductive (working up from the data) |
| Values detachment and impartiality (objectivity) | Values personal involvement and partiality (subjectivity, reflexivity) |
| Has a fixed method (harder to change focus when data collection has begun) | Method is less fixed (can accommodate a shift in focus in the same study) |
| Can be completed quickly | Tends to take longer to complete because it is interpretative and there is no formula |
- What might a ‘typical’ quantitative study look like? What kind of data might be collected? What would be the aim of the study? What might your sample look like?
- What might a ‘typical’ qualitative study look like? What kind of data might be collected? What would be the aim of the study? What might your sample look like?
- What type of research question might be best answered with a quantitative design?
- What type of research question might be best answered with a qualitative design?
5.1.2 Lab 1 Activity 2: Qualitative or quantitative?
Choose whether a quantitative or qualitative design is most appropriate for each of the following studies. Why did you choose each option?
- Angela is conducting a study exploring the experience of people currently experience mental ill health. She is interested in a) better understanding what people with mental ill health experience day-to-day, and b) exploring the support mechanisms that are in place.
- Ali is conducting a study where he is measuring whether the amount of sleep that children get is related to their cognitive performance in class. He asks the children to wear a sleep tracker to bed, so he can see when they are sleeping and when they are awake.
- Sally is conducting a study where she is interested in the effects of violence on TV on children.
- Charlie is conducting a study where they want to better understand motivations for smoking among teenagers.
- Elaine is conducting a study exploring whether the amount of studying done in preparation for an exam predicts exam performance.
5.2 Week 2 Lab 2: Groupwork and RQs
In Lab 2, you will form into the groups that you will be in for the rest of the semester. You will be able to find your group in the spreadsheet at the bottom of the Week 2 Moodle (please note the spreadsheet will only become available once it has been released at the start of Week 2). In these groups, you will a) design, run and transcribe a focus group with a group in your lab as your participants, b) participate in another group’s focus group, and c) write a qualitative group proposal.
In today’s lab, there will be some time spent getting to know each other, then we will ask you to develop a group agreement (see below). You should also discuss the different topics that you can choose for your project (see Chapter 6.3 in this book), seeing whether any stand out as preferred options among the group.
5.2.1 Lab 2 Activity 1: Group Agreements and Task Allocation
We appreciate that group work can be challenging and we want to support you to have an enjoyable and educational group work experience. To that end, we would like each group to create a group agreement that all members sign. The purpose of this is for the group to come together and establish common ground and rules that each of the group members is committed to.
After you have all introduced yourselves, download the group agreement template. Then look at the list of potential items to include. These are provided within the template document itself, as well as in Chapter 6.2.1. As a group, discuss which items you want to include in addition to the standard ones provided, and if there are any you would like to edit or add outside of this list.
After this, you should allocate tasks for the group proposal among the members of the group. A starter list of tasks is provided in the template as well as in Chapter 6.2.2. The task allocation must be uploaded in the same document as the signed group agreement.
Work on a collaborative document on OneDrive to create your group work agreement and allocation of tasks for the group proposal. Once the group is happy with their agreement, each group member should sign it and submit it to Moodle individually (Formative Assessment Section). You can either all sign the same document and upload a copy each, or you can sign separately and upload the copy that only you have signed. Each person should submit their signed group agreement and task allocation before their lab in Week 3.
Once the deadline has passed, we will be in touch with any groups where any members have not uploaded a group agreement and task allocation for the group proposal.
5.2.2 Lab 2 Activity 2: Research Questions
In your groups, have a look at the Topic Guide. There are three topics to choose from: Green Spaces, Belonging and Mental Health.
As part of the group allocation, you will have been asked what topic you preferred. Are you all in agreement? Either way, have a look over the topics together. You might know immediately what you’d like to focus on, or might need to discuss all of them in your group.
Once you’ve chosen a topic (you might not manage this in the lab, which is fine!), have a think about possible research questions. You will need to have a finalised RQ for your group proposal, which is submitted in Week 5.
5.3 Week 3 Lab 3: Ethics
In Lab 3, we will cover ethics and you will complete two activities within your groups.
5.3.1 Information required for the lab activities
Research Question (this is also relevant for our FG questions)
This might look like: In qualitative research, we often ask about someone’s lived experience, or their motivations, or a belief they have. This is quite different to quantitative research.
Why might this be an issue: Qualitative research tends to be on topics where we ask people to be vulnerable and open themselves up to us as researchers. If we don’t frame this correctly, our interview schedule might contain questions that are inappropriate.
Data Collection
This might look like: Data collection is much less likely to be anonymous, as typically in-person or online focus groups or interviews are held. Samples are small, and participants may already be known to the researcher.
Why might this be an issue: There are possible issues of confidentiality, anonymity (these will be discussed further down) and bias. Our preconceptions might affect the way we frame the questions, how we interact with participants in the focus group, and how we interpret the data.
Recording a focus group or interview
This might look like: The majority of the time, focus groups and interviews are recorded (either audio + video or audio only). This means that the ‘raw’ data - as it were - is identifiable. In contrast, data for quant studies are often collected anonymously.
Why might this be an issue: Data should always be kept safe and secure. However, with qualitative data, there is a real risk that individual people could be identified from a recording of them. This means that dealing with the recordings in a safe and secure way are of utmost importance, and that participants cannot be identified from transcripts.
Anonymity
This might look like: In quantitative research, we tend to report summary statistics from groups, and therefore it’d be quite unusual to be able to identify a single participant from the data. With qualitative, it’s a bit different. We collect people’s words and experiences.
Why might this be an issue: It is easier to identify someone from the words they use, and the situations and circumstances they describe.
Confidentiality
This might look like: In a focus group or interview, people might be very open with us, and tell us things about their life, and the lives of others.
Why might this be an issue: We have a duty of care to keep anything that comes out in a focus group/interview confidential (unless they disclose a crime or someone is judged to be at risk). It’s also vital that the rest of the focus group members keep the information confidential too.
5.3.2 Lab 3 Activity 1: Mitatigation of the issues
Consider the issues in the section above. In your groups, discuss each one in turn, thinking about the various steps that could be taken to reduce or remove these issues.
The issues that should be discussed are:
- Research Question
- Data Collection
- Recording a focus group or interview
- Anonymity
- Confidentiality
5.3.3 Lab 3 Activity 2: Fictional focus group example
Angela and John have run a focus group study to explore the experiences of UK university staff members during the pandemic. Below you will find their focus group schedule (the questions that they asked in the focus group), some correspondence they had about the study, and an excerpt of their data for the final write-up they are about to submit to a journal.
In your groups, try to identify what ethical issues there are, and how they could have been mitigated.
5.4 Week 4 Lab 4: Developing Focus Group questions
In Lab 4, we will work on developing questions for your focus group. We have made a bank of questions available to you. You can find these in Chapter 7.2 of this book. Please select any questions that you would like to use and then adapt them to suit your research question.
If you have developed a research question that means you need different focus group questions to those in the question bank,then you may need to make up some new questions to go into your focus group schedule.
If you develop new questions that have not been adapted from the bank of questions provided, please ensure you do the following:
- Questions must be developed using the guidance provided to you in this lab and the information provided in Chapter 7.3 of this book.
- You must attend your tutor’s office hours and ask for feedback on your questions.
If, however, you only use questions from the bank that is supplied or make minor tweaks, you are not required to formally discuss these with your tutor (although you are welcome to do so if you have specific questions that you want to ask).
5.4.1 Lab 4 Activity 1: Research Questions
Please have your Research Question ready for your tutor, and discuss it with them as they come round the groups. Do you have any other questions about the group proposal that you want to ask? Please work on the other two activities until your tutor makes it to your group.
5.4.2 Lab 4 Activity 2: Appropriateness of questions
Look at the following focus group questions. For each, decide whether a) they are appropriate and b) whether they should be adapted or not, If you think they should be, how would you change them?
5.4.3 Lab 4 Activity 3: Rewording questions
Have a look at these poorly written fictional focus group questions. The research question is there to help you (you do not need to re-word this).
- Try to re-write these questions to improve them, thinking about the clarity and the quality of data they would give you
- Write your own question to add to the revised questions above, thinking about the guidance you’ve been given about developing good questions
5.5 Week 5 Lab 5: Running a Focus Group
In this week’s lab, we will cover some key things that you will need to know in order to run a focus group. We also have some activities for you to do in groups.
5.5.1 Lab 5 Activity 1: Allocation of tasks
Look at the list of focus group tasks in the Group project: Preparation chapter of this book (Chapter 6.2.3).
Allocate tasks between your group members (write this down and make sure everybody has a copy of it). If you are missing group members, make sure to catch up with them to discuss task allocation.
5.5.2 Lab 5 Activity 2: How would you manage these situations?
In your groups, discuss the following scenarios. What might you do if these happen when you run your focus groups? What might you try to help the situation?
Note down some suggestions among the group about how you might manage these situations and we will discuss as a class.
5.6 Week 7 Lab 6: Data processing and reflection
5.6.1 Lab 6 Activity 1: Pseudonymise the transcript
Take a look at the short excerpt below. In your group, try to remove any identifiers from it, thinking about whether you would choose to redact or replace the information.
Did you agree on all the points? If not, why not? Remember that there is no one ‘correct’ answer; it’s not unusual to have different opinions about how you should approach it!
5.6.2 Lab 6 Activity 2: Reflection on RM1
Feedback is most useful when it is reflected on and incorporated into subsequent assessments. For this reason, we ask you to complete an activity where you reflect on the feedback you received in RM1, thinking about what you want to focus on for your RM2 report.
- Complete this document, reflecting on the RM1 feedback you received, and considering what you might focus on improving for your RM2 report.
- You will need your RM1 registered report feedback (both Stage 1 and Stage 2) and the Qualitative report AIS to complete this activity
5.7 Week 8 Lab 7: Evaluation in the Introduction and Discussion
We often ask for students to demonstrate evaluation in their writing, i.e. going beyond paraphrasing and descriptive writing. Essentially, we are looking for you to develop critical, evidence-based arguments that demonstrate your thinking.
In today’s lab, we are going to focus on how you might incorporate evaluation into your introduction and discussion. This will not only support you for the RM2 report, but also any other submissions you have (including your dissertation).
5.7.1 Lab 7: Activity 1: Evaluation in Introductions
The purpose of your introduction is to provide a rationale for your study and answer the WHY question; why is your study worth doing? You want to sell your idea to the reader, using existing literature to show how you are building on the evidence that is there.
In Activity 1, read the following extracts from an introduction section. As a group, identify two aspects of evaluation that could be improved for this study.
5.7.2 Lab 7 Activity 2: Evaluation in Discussions
The purpose of your discussion is to summarise your results, contextualising them and situating them within the broader research context. As part of this process, it is important to consider the implications of your work, as well as the limitations and possible future directions. Discussions should be rooted in the evidence base, rather than based on personal opinion.
In Activity 2, read the following extracts from a discussion section. As a group, identify two aspects of evaluation that could be improved for this study.
5.8 Week 9 Lab 8: Analysis (coding)
In this week’s lab, we are going to focus on coding (i.e. step 2 of Thematic Analysis). We have one activity to support you in the coding stage of your data analysis.
5.8.1 Lab 8 Activity 1: Coding
- Read over this transcript, becoming familiar with it. Take some initial notes.
- In your groups, code the data together. Note down anything that seems important and that you think encapsulates the data. Do you all agree on the codes or are there differences of opinion (remember it’s okay if you don’t all agree!)?
- Post the codes that your group has chosen on mentimeter
5.8.1.1 Transcript
5.9 Week 10 Lab 9: Analysis (themes)
In today’s lab (which is our last one in RM2), we have two activities to support you with developing themes using Thematic analysis. If there is time, you will also have the opportunity to get started on your analysis in Activity 3.
5.9.1 Lab 9 Activity 1: Theme Names
Naming and refining your themes (stage 5) is an important step in communicating your analysis to your reader.
Below, we have some theme names that are based on a Zombie Apocalypse transcript.
As a group, discuss these theme names. Do you think they are good/poor? Are you able to tell what type of data might be captured under each theme?
- Theme 1: Apocalypse confidence
- Theme 2: Survival
- Theme 3: The importance of media
- Theme 4: Zombie preparedness planning
- Subtheme 1: Negative aspects of planning
- Subtheme 2: Positive aspects of planning
5.9.2 Lab 9 Activity 2: Going deeper in your analysis
One of the characteristics of a strong analysis section is that the writer demonstrates an ability to go beyond paraphrasing/summarising. This activity is designed to help you understand what might be involved in doing so.
Read the following two extracts from an Analysis section and discuss these questions:
- Which of the two examples is better? Why?
- What have the authors done that makes the analysis better?