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How Can a Family Resemblances Approach Help to Typify Qualitative Research? Exploring the Complexity of Simplicity

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  • Stephen Buetow

Abstract

The term qualitative research still gives meaning to a diverse array of approaches. Attributes typical of these approaches are easily oversimplified. Recognition that qualitative research requires no essential set of predefining attributes can minimize this problem. This article suggests how to typify qualitative research outputs on the basis of overlapping similarities in the uses of this research. It discusses these similarities within and across five domains of qualitative research—philosophy and theory, purpose, approach to reasoning, data collection, and use of numbers. Across these domains, qualitative research is typified as research that, without taking a unified stance on epistemological issues, can produce rich data by selecting and engaging purposefully with small samples, and analyzing these data using iterative processes of induction, abduction, and deduction. Within this network of family resemblances, no attributes of qualitative research are individually necessary or sufficient. Together, they attend simply to the complexity of coinciding attributes of this research.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen Buetow, 2014. "How Can a Family Resemblances Approach Help to Typify Qualitative Research? Exploring the Complexity of Simplicity," SAGE Open, , vol. 4(4), pages 21582440145, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:sagope:v:4:y:2014:i:4:p:2158244014556604
    DOI: 10.1177/2158244014556604
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    1. Joanna Sale & Lynne Lohfeld & Kevin Brazil, 2002. "Revisiting the Quantitative-Qualitative Debate: Implications for Mixed-Methods Research," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 36(1), pages 43-53, February.
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