words
rather than
numbers.
Can take a
variety of
forms
field notes, text,
audio and video
recording of
naturally
occurring events
major form of data used
in cultural studies like
childhood studies
historians rely heavily on it
link to historical approach
CONS
1) audio and visual
only provide a
glimpse of what is
within shot, there
is always more
going on
2) video can
significantly alter
peoples behaviour
3) Participants may lie
Margaret Mead in Samoa
4) It is up to the
researcher to decide
what is relevant when
transcribing notes etc.
Their perception or role
they impose upon
themselves as
researcher will
influence this
5) Focus is on
small number
of participants
unlike
quantitative
conclusions may
be generalised. A
process of
inference is in
place - from
sample to
population
HELEN kAVAPULA -
childhood
punishment in
Tongo (bk 1 p195)
PROS
1) not limited to
rigidly defined
variables
2) free to
explore new
areas of
research
3) provides in
depth
examination
4) Can examine
indepth questions not
possible to answer
with quantitative
research
Qualitative researchers regard quantitative
research as in a appropriate for researching
social phenomenon. Only a qualitative approach
can overcome the difficulttlies adult researchers
face in trying to understand childhood
QUANTITATIVE DATA
takes on form of numbers
used to indicate frequency
of an event as well as
degree to which objects
posess an attribute
child mortality rates are an example (bk 4)
EXPERIMENTAL:
control is
exerted by
researcher over
the variables
PIAGET
SURVEY: for
example
questionnaires
pros
1) allows for
braoder area of
study
2) using standards
means that results
can be compared
with other studies
which allows for
greater accuracey
3) personal bias
can be avoided
cons
1) research often
carried out in
unnatural enviro
which can impact
results obtained
2) collect a much
narrower dataset
3)standardised
questions can lead to
false representation
of subject as it illicts
answers to very
specific thhings,
discounting
everything else
results are limited as they
provide numerical data
rather than bio data
what is role
of research to
document or
evaluate. link
to role of
researcher in
chap 6 bk 4
Difficulties researching children
There are limits on the adult
researchers ability to fully
understand the cultural influences
which affect children's lives
Barriers to understanding Owain Jones 2001 (bk 1 p297)
there is a danger
that adults will
assume having
been a child they
understand all
childhood life
experiences. They
forget that each
experience is
personal
can forget the
differences gender, class,
age, ethnicity, locale
make to the childhood
experience
adopting a documentary stance
does not mean adopting a
cultural relativist view point