Cathy Gibbons - Quirkos Qualitative Research Blog

Gatekeepers; not so scary after-all

In our collective conscious gate-keepers have a scary image. They don’t just let people in and out of places, they may control who gets in (and out). Gatekeepers to watch out for and tips for handling

Free qualitative research course anytime, anywhere…

We have created a course to help you learn qualitative research step-by-step by carefully selecting from our large collection of Quirkos blogs, webpages, and videos. The theme is ‘Doing Qualitative Research’ and you can take the course right now for free. The benefits of the Quirkos curated course: Doing Qualitative

unstructured interview; interviews; research conversation; narrative; rapport;

Unstructured interviews: Less like ‘a chat’ and more like a research conversation

At its most simple, if you are simply using the unstructured interview as tool with minimal reference to epistemological positions, an unstructured interview is an opportunity for your participants to talk and determine the direction of that talk, and for you to listen.

Star Trek

How Star Trek helps me when I “... boldly go where no one has gone before"

Star Trek can remind me of the small ways in which dominant cultural norms prevail in human encounters and relationships: the level at which qualitative research data is gathered in practice. Here's how.

analysis

Delphi interviews: Are structured interviews a fading fashion or still a relevant method in qualitative research?

I hadn’t heard of Delphi for many years, so I wondered what it can offer today’s researchers.

Research interviews

In-depth interviews in qualitative research: Not 'just a chat'

In-depth interview, that's just a chat', you might say. Well, no, it's not, and here's why, and when to use it.

analysis

Analysing Qualitative Research with Quirkos: interactive workshops

Hundreds of codes, grouped into descriptive themes; what are you going to do with all those codes? Come to our workshop and find out...

Research interviews

How can I get them to talk? Talking naturally in qualitative research interviews

I once did some auto-ethnography in nightclubs. I didn't have difficulty getting people to share their stories with me even though we had to take turns shouting into each other's ear. So what is going on, what's getting in the way of talking and sharing?

analysis

What’s in the Black-Box of the Quirkos Qualitative Researcher Journeys Project?

When learning about qualitative research methodology, novice researchers want to see and use practical examples of how research was undertaken that go beyond the kind of overview found in research outputs

Handling interviews in other people’s homes

Previous blogs focused on safety aspects of researching in the field [https://www.quirkos.com/blog/post/practical-advice-for-your-safety/], and one aspect of this is doing qualitative interviews in someone's home. Even though changing COVID rates and restrictions may make this more challenging, there are multiple reasons you might consider a

process

Examples of qualitative research data

Qualitative data can be in many more formats, so it's useful to see some examples of what qualitative data can look like, and to use for practice while you learn analysis and before you collect your own data

Conversation Analysis

Conversation analysis. What is it and when should I use it?

Conversation Analysis is used to understand the meanings of real language and how people really speak.

Research interviews

What do I need to do and know before a qualitative research interview?

When I’m helping researchers prepare to conduct research interviews for the first time, there is a variety of attitudes. Some start with under-estimating the complexity of research interviews. Others are almost paralysed by the fear of the “what if”s. Most experience the more usual mild anxiety...

Research management

What will your future-self thank you for?

I've been reading a friend's motivational posts and she asks the question, “What will your future-self thank you for?” So that made me wonder, as a researcher, what kinds of things will your future-self thank you for?

Field safety

Practical advice for your safety in the field

So, you’ve arranged some interviews; you’ve had some professional email exchanges and perhaps a pleasant introductory call. Now you’re in the meeting place, the door has closed. You’ve planned for this and you have strategies to keep you safe, haven’t you?

Ethics

Lone researchers - balancing safety against the reproduction of vulnerability

As a researcher and someone who advises researchers I have an ethical responsibility to warn you about the threats to your safety. But I also have a responsibility not to make my perceptions about my vulnerability into perception of your vulnerability.

What can wild swimming teach us about qualitative research? Traps for the unwary and moments of magic.

Open Water Swimming can be scary, uncovering all sorts of emotions, exposing you to a totally different view of the world, and making you conscious of yourself and the 'self' in context. Can qualitative researchers learn anything from it?