Choosing a Qualitative Research Paradigm for Social Sciences: A Literature Review for Educational Researchers

Social science research is directed by qualitative research to gain insights into the context of participants’ lived experiences through examining the complex social and cultural process and interactions, that capture the in-depth understanding rather than breath. Human and social science researchers commonly use four qualitative designs which are phenomenological studies (that understand lived experiences), grounded theory (that develop theories based on data) ethnographies (that study cultures and communities), and case studies (that examine complex phenomena in their natural settings). The qualitative approach is immersed in the interpretative paradigm which views the world subjectively. The research design is a case study. The data is collected through the following instruments, interviews, document analysis, observations, and audio-visual materials. To avoid physical and psychological harm to participants’ human dignity, ethical considerations such as confidentiality, anonymity, consent, and privacy are observed in the study. Qualitative data collected is content and thematically analyzed, and for trustworthiness and rigor of data credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability are considered in the research. Triangulation is the use of multiple data sources or methods to validate findings, integrate member checking that involves participants in verifying findings, and prolonged engagement with participants to keep detailed records of research processes and decisions. The strengths of qualitative research are probing humanistic issues to provide a nuanced understanding of a social phenomenon that allows for the adaption of new findings as they emerge to amplify the voices and experiences of participants. It has challenges or criticisms based on subjectivity, as the researcher bias can influence the interpretation of findings, and data collection and analysis can be a lengthy process thus the findings may not be easily generalized to a larger population.