A Biography- The study of an individual and her or his experiences as told to the researcher or found in documents and archival material.

Types of biographical research:

ü       Biographical study

ü       Autobiography

ü       Life history

ü       Oral history

ü       Classical biography vs. Interpretive biography

Example:  The story of the retarded man's story as told through the use of the bus system as a metaphor.

A Phenomenological Study-  Describes the meaning of the lived experiences for several individuals about a concept or the phenomenon.

Four themes are discernible:

ü       A return to the traditional tasks of philosophy

ü       A philosophy without presuppositions

ü       The intentionality of consciousness

ü       The refusal of the subject-object dichotomy

Ethnomethodology- how individuals consciously develop meaning out of social interactions (people interacting with others)

Example:  The study investigating characteristics of "caring interaction" between nurse and patient.

A Grounded Theory Study-  To generate or discover a theory that relates to a particular situation (This situation is one in which individuals interact, take actions, or engage in a process in response to a phenomenon.

The centerpiece of grounded theory research is the development or generation of a theory closely related to the context of the phenomenon being studied.

Constant comparative-  process of taking information from data collection and comparing it to emerging categories.

Example:  the study about the survival and coping strategies of eleven women to childhood sexual abuse.

An Ethnography-  Description and interpretation of a cultural or social group or system.

The researcher examines the group's observable and learned patterns of behavior, customs, and ways of life.

The ethnographer begins the study by looking at people in interaction in ordinary settings and by attempting to discern pervasive patterns such as life cycles, events, and cultural themes.

Fieldwork Issues:

ü       Gatekeepers

ü       Key informants

ü       Reciprocity

ü       Reactivity

ü       Deception

Example:  Study examining the process for choosing a new elementary school principal.

A Case Study-  An exploration of a "bounded system" or a case (or multiple cases) over time through detailed, in-depth data collection involving multiple sources of information rich in context.

Bounded system-  bounded by time and place.

Multiple sources of information:

ü       Observations

ü       Interviews

ü       Audio-visual material

ü       Documents

ü       Reports

Example:  The study which described campus reaction to an incident in which a student attempted to fire a gun at his classmates.