“It Requires Interest, Time, Patience and Struggle”: Novice Researchers’ Perspectives on and Experiences of the Qualitative Research Journey

Mahmut Kalman

doi:10.17583/qre.2019.4483

Abstract

This study aimed at exploring novice researchers’ experiences of and perspectives on the qualitative research journey and determining the difficulties tackled and strategies developed while conducting qualitative research. The study was an interview-based qualitative case study involving nine graduate students in education as the participants. The data were collected between 2017 and 2019 at a state university located in Southeastern Turkey. The content-analyzed data revealed several findings about the research topic, indicating that the novice researchers considered the qualitative research journey as daunting and overwhelming, but pleasurable and satisfying. Despite scholarly development and lessons learned in the process, the researchers confronted with several difficulties concerning data collection, analysis and interpretation, recruitment and developing rapport, representation of findings, and the research process as a whole. They developed personal and external support strategies during the research journey. The metaphorical perceptions portrayed the elusive and distinctive nature of qualitative research.

Highlights

This study aimed at exploring novice researchers’ experiences of and perspectives on the qualitative research journey and determining the difficulties tackled and strategies developed while conducting qualitative research
The study attempted to reveal the emotional dimensions of conducting qualitative research and portray the qualitative journey with ups and downs based on hands-on experiences of a group of novice researchers conducting qualitative research for the first time
The novice researchers articulated the distinctive features of qualitative research by elaborating general considerations about the whole process of conducting a qualitative study or a qualitative strand

Summary

Introduction

This study aimed at exploring novice researchers’ experiences of and perspectives on the qualitative research journey and determining the difficulties tackled and strategies developed while conducting qualitative research. Despite scholarly development and lessons learned in the process, the researchers confronted with several difficulties concerning data collection, analysis and interpretation, recruitment and developing rapport, representation of findings, and the research process as a whole. They developed personal and external support strategies during the research journey. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo explorar las experiencias y perspectivas de los investigadores novatos sobre el viaje con la investigación cualitativa y determinar las dificultades abordadas y las estrategias desarrolladas durante la realización de la investigación cualitativa. The study attempted to reveal the emotional dimensions of conducting qualitative research and portray the qualitative journey with ups and downs based on hands-on experiences of a group of novice researchers conducting qualitative research for the first time

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Conclusion