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Basic Qualitative Research Stages
The qualitative research contributing to this work was conducted according to the
checklist below.
• Defining the problem;
• Reviewing existent literature and research in the field;
• Investigating researcher’s personal and professional relationship with the field;
• Problems in the field related to the public domain.
Although every stage of the qualitative method can be affected by research problems, such factors contribute to the clearer identification of the research problem.
Once the research problem is identified, the problem should be assessed in terms of
“significance” and “feasibility” (Şimşek and Yıldırım 2003:35) The positivist
approach is based on quantitative research and takes as a rule that nature and the
universe are governed by a series of laws independent of human interference.
According to this approach, it is the duty of a researcher working with quantitative
methods to view events not resulting from human interference as neutral. In other
words, according to the quantitative research method, the objectivity of the
researcher in the process of producing knowledge is considered as the basis of scientific study. Due to the nature of qualitative research, the researcher has the potential to directly or indirectly influence the subject in any way, as the researcher is
tasked with closely observing events and phenomena and exhibits a participatory
attitude, contrary to the quantitative method (www.eytepe.com 2016). The method,
when used best, is effective in explaining the context of the environment and limitations of studies. However, the qualitative method should not be considered as an
alternative to quantitative methods (www.eytepe.com 2016).
In the present study, data processing and analysis assisted the researcher in scaling down the mass of information that was collected into manageable and interpretable pieces of information. The researcher attempted to employ the five-stage
qualitative analysis process defined as follows:
Stage 1—Data reduction: The first stage of the analysis process was comprised of
streamlining and filtering out data that were non-usable and non-interpretable.
Data reduction is based on a fine balance of losing valuable information and losing track of analysis in a large mass of collected data. This problem was avoided
in the present research study by means of a systematic categorization and coding
of the available data.
Stage 2—Categorization: Throughout the categorization process, consistent regularities, indigenous typologies, and salient categories in the interviews, media
content, and relevant sections of institutional reports were identified. Consistent
regularities refer to the most frequent concerns surfaced in the statements of the
foreign policymakers and analysts interviewed. Indigenous typologies refer to
the common patterns that emerged in the explanations made by various groups,
such as party members, military officers, and think thank analysts. Salient categories refer to the predominant themes that most frequently emerged in the
Basic Qualitative Research Stages
Basic Qualitative Research Stages
The qualitative research contributing to this work was conducted according to the
checklist below.
• Defining the problem;
• Reviewing existent literature and research in the field;
• Investigating researcher’s personal and professional relationship with the field;
• Problems in the field related to the public domain.
Although every stage of the qualitative method can be affected by research problems, such factors contribute to the clearer identification of the research problem.
Once the research problem is identified, the problem should be assessed in terms of
“significance” and “feasibility” (Şimşek and Yıldırım 2003:35) The positivist
approach is based on quantitative research and takes as a rule that nature and the
universe are governed by a series of laws independent of human interference.
According to this approach, it is the duty of a researcher working with quantitative
methods to view events not resulting from human interference as neutral. In other
words, according to the quantitative research method, the objectivity of the
researcher in the process of producing knowledge is considered as the basis of scientific study. Due to the nature of qualitative research, the researcher has the potential to directly or indirectly influence the subject in any way, as the researcher is
tasked with closely observing events and phenomena and exhibits a participatory
attitude, contrary to the quantitative method (www.eytepe.com 2016). The method,
when used best, is effective in explaining the context of the environment and limitations of studies. However, the qualitative method should not be considered as an
alternative to quantitative methods (www.eytepe.com 2016).
In the present study, data processing and analysis assisted the researcher in scaling down the mass of information that was collected into manageable and interpretable pieces of information. The researcher attempted to employ the five-stage
qualitative analysis process defined as follows:
Stage 1—Data reduction: The first stage of the analysis process was comprised of
streamlining and filtering out data that were non-usable and non-interpretable.
Data reduction is based on a fine balance of losing valuable information and losing track of analysis in a large mass of collected data. This problem was avoided
in the present research study by means of a systematic categorization and coding
of the available data.
Stage 2—Categorization: Throughout the categorization process, consistent regularities, indigenous typologies, and salient categories in the interviews, media
content, and relevant sections of institutional reports were identified. Consistent
regularities refer to the most frequent concerns surfaced in the statements of the
foreign policymakers and analysts interviewed. Indigenous typologies refer to
the common patterns that emerged in the explanations made by various groups,
such as party members, military officers, and think thank analysts. Salient categories refer to the predominant themes that most frequently emerged in the
Basic Qualitative Research Stages