Design Strategy: How to Choose a Qualitative Research Design
By Dr. Linda Bloomberg, joined by Dr. Janet Boberg and hosted by Janet Salmons, Ph.D., Research Community Manager for Sage Methodspace
Research design is essentially a series of decision points.
This presentation is the first of a series about qualitative research strategy from Linda Bloomberg:
Q2: Data Collection Strategy: How to Choose What Data to Collect from Whom
Each choice made at the design stage defines and clarifies the study’s direction. In qualitative research, methodologies provide a philosophical lens through with the researcher views the problem being investigated. Two researchers could start with the same problem, even the same question, and conduct it in a completely different way depending on the methodological choice. How do you decide which methodology fits your study?
Linda Bloomberg and Janet Boberg explain the importance of a strategic approach that stresses alignment with the purpose of the study. They walk through this decision-making process and demonstrate how each choice lays the groundwork for the next.
Linda Bloomberg, author of "Completing Your Qualitative Dissertation A Road Map From Beginning to End," discusses qualitative design decisions with Janet Boberg in this Methodspace interview.
Use the code COMMUNITY3 for a 20% discount when you order her book, valid worldwide until March 31, 2024.
Linda Dale Bloomberg EdD., is a former adjunct faculty and dissertation advisor in the department of adult learning and leadership at Teachers College, Columbia University, and currently develops curriculum for qualitative research in graduate online programs for National University, serving as faculty coach, dissertation chair, and doctoral subject matter expert. She also serves as consultant to various research, higher education, and nonprofit advisory boards including The Future Talent Council, and is founder of Bloomberg Associates and ILIAD (Institute for Learning Innovations and Adult Development) and cofounder of Columbia University’s Global Learning and Leadership Institute. As senior researcher for the South African Human Sciences Research Council and National Institute for Personnel Research, Dr. Bloomberg’s work focused on change management; diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; and enhanced workplace learning. She is the author of multiple publications in the fields of qualitative research, organizational evaluation, leadership development, ensuring equitable student success, adult learning, and distance education, and is a contributor to The SAGE Encyclopedia of Educational Research, Measurement, and Evaluation (2018). Her two most recent books include the 5th edition of Completing your qualitative dissertation: A road map from beginning to end (2023) from Sage; and Designing and delivering effective online instruction: How to engage adult learners (2021). Teachers College Press, Columbia University. This publication was nominated for the 2021 and 2022 Division of Distance Learning (DDL) for the Association of Educational Communications and Technology (AECT), one of the premier international organizations for instructional design and ed-tech. Dr. Bloomberg presents regularly at national and international professional conferences on topics related to diversity initiatives in higher education, adult learning, qualitative research, and dissertation instruction. She holds master’s degrees in counseling psychology, organizational psychology, and education, and is credentialed with the International Coaching Federation (ICF). In 2006, she received her doctorate in adult education and organizational learning from the AEGIS program Columbia University that was established by Jack Mezirow, founder of Transformative Learning theory.
Janet Boberg, Ed.D. has been a part-time faculty member at several universities including Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, National University, and Northcentral University and teaches courses in certified public management, counseling, evaluation, research, and statistics.
More Methodspace Posts About Research Design
Learn about connecting the unit of analysis with the qualitative methodology.