Qualitative research methods have become increasingly important in recent years. They are used especially in communication science, but meanwhile also in psychology, educational science or sociology. Due to the increased resonance, the present work deals more closely with the topic of qualitative research. The focus here is primarily on the area of guided interviews and qualitative content analysis according to Mayring.
For this purpose, the following procedure is followed: Under point 2 the Qualitative Research is presented in the overview and is distinguished from the Quantitative Research. Subsequently, the qualitative approach is considered more specifically and the meaning of the qualitative research for the organization development is worked out. Point 3 of the work deals with the topic of the guideline interview as instrument of the qualitative data collection. For this the concept of the interview is explained first and guide interviews as special form with their advantages and disadvantages are represented. In addition to the presentation of typical characteristics, instructions for the preparation and execution of the interview are given.
For the evaluation of the collected data the approach according to Mayring is presented in section 4. For this purpose, the term Qualitative Content Analysis is defined and its characteristics and objectives are elaborated. Furthermore, typical techniques of Qualitative Content Analysis are presented. The point 5 refers - referring to the presented Qualitative Content Analysis - again explicitly to the quality criteria. For this purpose first the meaning of the classical quality criteria objectivity, reliability and validity are seized and afterwards supplementing special content-analytical quality criteria are pointed out. The thesis concludes with a summary and a critical appraisal of the topic.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction to the topic and structure of the work
2. Qualitative research at a glance
2.1 Qualitative versus quantitative research
2.2 Importance of qualitative research in organisational development
3. The guideline interview as a means of qualitative data collection
3.1 Interviews at a glance
3.2 The guided interview at a glance
3.3 Creation and conduct of guideline interviews
4. Qualitative content analysis according to Mayring
4.1 Qualitative content analysis: Concept and objectives
4.2 Techniques of qualitative content analysis
4.3 Special techniques of qualitative content analysis
5. Quality criteria of content analysis
5.1 Classic quality criteria
5.2 Content-analytical quality criteria
6. Summary and critical appraisal
Appendix
Appendix I: Example guided interview
Objectives and Topics
The primary objective of this work is to provide a comprehensive understanding of qualitative research methods, specifically focusing on the application of guideline interviews and qualitative content analysis as defined by Mayring. It addresses how these instruments can be effectively utilized within the context of organizational development to evaluate processes and capture subjective employee experiences.
- Theoretical differentiation between qualitative and quantitative research paradigms.
- Methodological design and implementation of guideline-based interviews.
- Systematic application of Mayring’s qualitative content analysis.
- Assessment of scientific quality criteria for qualitative research methods.
Excerpt from the Book
3.3 Creation and conduct of guideline interviews
In the following, the creation, implementation and follow-up of a guideline interview will be examined in more detail. In order to get an overview of the process, the following figure illustrates the course of a guideline interview from the preparation to the actual execution of the interview to the archiving of the existing data material:
Preparatory phase:
The preparatory phase is divided into an organisational part on the one hand and a content-related part on the other. Organizational considerations include, for example, questions such as: When and where should the interview take place?
Who should be interviewed? For what purpose should the interview take place?
Who moderates and documents? Are the technical requirements met?
(Heteren-Frese/ Kaune, 2010)
The substantive considerations, on the other hand, relate to questions of this kind:
What are the objectives of the interview? What do I want to know? What questions do I have to ask? How can the central research question be broken down? Can the interviewee contribute his own points of view?
Does interview convey the feeling of a test, interrogation, etc.? What demand strategies can I use?
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction to the topic and structure of the work: This chapter outlines the growing importance of qualitative research methods and defines the scope of the work, focusing on guideline interviews and content analysis.
2. Qualitative research at a glance: This section differentiates between qualitative and quantitative research and highlights the relevance of qualitative approaches in organizational development.
3. The guideline interview as a means of qualitative data collection: This chapter introduces the concept of the guideline interview, discusses various interview forms, and details the stages of creation, implementation, and transcription.
4. Qualitative content analysis according to Mayring: This section defines the objectives and systematic techniques of Mayring’s approach to qualitative content analysis, including specific interpretation methods.
5. Quality criteria of content analysis: This chapter evaluates the scientific validity of qualitative research by examining both classic quality criteria and specific content-analytical criteria.
6. Summary and critical appraisal: The concluding chapter synthesizes the findings, reflecting on the strengths and challenges of using qualitative methods in research and practice.
Keywords
Qualitative Research, Guideline Interview, Mayring, Content Analysis, Organizational Development, Scientific Quality Criteria, Reliability, Validity, Data Collection, Subjectivity, Inductive Approach, Interpretation, Evaluation, Research Methodology, Empirical Research.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this publication?
The work focuses on the theoretical and practical application of qualitative research methods, specifically guideline interviews and qualitative content analysis according to Mayring.
What are the central themes discussed in the text?
Key themes include the differences between qualitative and quantitative research, the use of interviews in organizational development, the systematic analysis of text data, and the maintenance of scientific quality standards.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to demonstrate how guideline interviews and Mayring's content analysis can be structured and implemented to provide deep, meaningful insights into research subjects.
Which scientific methods are primarily addressed?
The publication covers semi-structured (guideline) interviews and the qualitative content analysis approach developed by Philipp Mayring.
What is covered in the main section of the work?
The main section details the preparation and conduct of interviews, the categorization and analysis of data, and the application of quality criteria like objectivity and validity.
Which keywords characterize the work?
The work is characterized by terms such as Qualitative Research, Guideline Interview, Mayring, and Content Analysis.
How does the author define a guideline interview?
A guideline interview is described as an open, semi-structured, oral survey conducted with the aid of a guideline that serves as a checklist for the researcher.
What role does the 'preparatory phase' play?
The preparatory phase is critical as it involves both organizational planning and content-related design, ensuring the interview meets the study's research objectives.
Why is Mayring’s approach considered systematic?
It is systematic because it is rule-guided and theory-based, allowing independent third parties to understand and verify the analysis process.
What are the 'special quality criteria' for content analysis?
These include procedure documentation, argumentative interpretation protection, rule-basedness, communicative validation, proximity to the object, and triangulation.
- Quote paper
- Sandra Giereth (Author), 2011, Guided Interview and Qualitative Content Analysis as Instruments of Qualitative Research, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1168285
