Part 1: Qualitative Research
I analyzed article Doing Radio, Making Friends, and Having Fun: Exploring the Motivations of Independent Audio Podcasters by K. Markamn (New Media & Society, 2012 vol. 14 no. 4 547-565 (impact factor 1, 39). Research paper analyzed the profiles of podcasters: why did they choose to produce podcast, what kind of people make audio records, what kind of satisfaction is made, what are the minus of podcasting, according to podcasters.
1. In order to describe the profile of podcasters exploratory qualitative method was applied. Scholar carried out a qualitative, web-based questionnaire which contained opened and closed questions. Questionnaire was based on four research questions: who are the podcasters, why they started and still keeping podcasting, what their motives, what are the pros and cons of producing podcasts. (Markman, 2011, p. 551). The answers were categorized into 6 groups and described in terms of content, personal and interpersonal motives. Researcher in order to reach the target group implied two sampling techniques: snowball sampling and purposive sampling it means that questionnaires were announced in the main podcasting websites and groups willing to get the answers and spread the questionnaire. Nevertheless, the sampling methods did not bring statistically significant data. It was the lack of answers and therefore the collection of data was conducted the second time. It is one drawback of qualitative methods, especially when the research is based on interviews with people, there is a risk not to collect statistically significant data. Another drawback of this qualitative method is biased and narrowed exploratory since the research concentrated on one podcasters group settled in the North America. The benefit of this research could be described as novel research because podcasting as a phenomenon is barely investigated
2. I learnt about sampling techniques and its limitations. This research paper gave me an example how to code and categorize answers. It is important to note that scholar did quantitative research calculate the percentage of activity, what features of podcasting are used. Bus these data were used only as background to go deeper exploring the profile of podcasters. Analyzing this paper, I learnt how to use quantitative data to carry out qualitative research. Also, I learnt how to draw conclusions linking and comparing with literature review and in that way enhance validity of results.
3. One of methodological problem of chosen research paper might be the piloting of questionnaires. There is no information how the scholar tested and revised the questions and as it was learnt a week ago, piloting is the compulsory beginning of every research. Moreover, scholar pointed out that it is worth doing a content analysis of podcasting because now the profiles of podcasters are described from their own personal perspective and what content is produced is not taken into account while content analysis is one of qualitative research field. Finally, as the author of research paper acknowledged the sampling methods have to be adjusted in order to get valid data and avoid situations when data collecting process has to be repeated.
Part 2: Case Study
1. A case study is one of research ways based on examination of variables with particular circumstances. Case study is grounded by various data (qualitative, quantitative, questionnaires, interviews) which usually are combined in order to describe or test the phenomena, or formulate new theory (Eisenhardt, 1989, p. 534). The process of case study is similar to other researches strategies. Firstly, research question is raised, constructs are defined, but it is very important to narrow down the research field avoiding consideration and influence of existing theories “<…> because preordained theoretical perspectives or prepositions may bias and limit the findings.” As a result, solid case studies build novel theories or at least refine the current ones. Data are collected analyzing and sampling cases. “The case selection is typically a system of action rather than an individual or group of individuals. Case studies tend to be selective, focusing on one or two issues that are fundamental to understanding the system being examined.” (Tellis, 1997). It is common that interpretation of data brings new themes and adjustments which can and must be made during the research (Eisenhardt, 1989, p. 539). Case studies require interpretation of data from various perspectives but in order to not be lost it is recommended to categorize data and then find differences and similarities. Case analyzes confirm or deny the hypothesis and relationships but in order to get grounded validation, constructs should be accurately defined and measured. Finally, as in all researches conclusions have to be compared with literature that is the point why literature review is summarized in the beginning of research paper.
2. I analyzed the research paper Emergency Knowledge Management and Social Media technologies: A Case Study of the 2010 Haitian Earthquake by Daves Yates and Scott Paquette (International Journal of Information Management, 2011, Vol. 31(1), p. 6-13, impact factor: 1.55). The case study analyzed social media power controlling knowledge management during Haiti earthquake crisis. According to the authors, it is the first study that “examines the role of social media applications and technologies used by organizations responding to disasters” (Yates, Paquette, 2010, p. 2). The case analysis was based on action research. Scholars were collecting data directly observing Air Force Crisis Action Team actions.
Regarding weakness of research paper, the definitions of observing constructs are not clear. Authors clarified which organization and when was observed but the research object i.e. social media is not determined. The same could be said about research questions. Scholars did not clearly stated research questions. Usually, questions are pointed out separately one by one. In this research paper question researches are formulated as the patterns of observations (Yates, Paquette, 2010, p. 2). Case studies based on multiple data collection but the chosen research paper did not explain how exactly the observation was conducted what methodology was applied and what kind of evidences support conclusions. Talking about conclusions, authors did not make any comparison of their findings with literature and previous studies. Finally, a solid case study confirms or improve the theory but in the chosen research paper conclusions were drawn evaluating the advantages of social media technologies in Air Force Crisis Action Team, but it is hard to understand if researches formulated or revised any theory, not only summarized the observations of particular case. On the other hand, this research paper is a good example how to categorize data through particular framework. Scholars used 3T framework in order to categorize observations and look at data from different perspectives (i. e. syntactic, semantic, pragmatic).
Additional literature:
Tellis, W. Application of a Case Study Methodology (1997) The Qualitative Report, 3 (3) [On-line serial], 3(3). Available: http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR3-3/tellis2.html
Snowball Sampling In Explorable.com. Available: https://explorable.com/snowball-sampling
Purposive Sampling, In The SAGE Dictionary of Social Research Methods. Available: http://srmo.sagepub.com/view/the-sage-dictionary-of-social-research-methods/n162.xml
References:
Eisenhardt, K. M. (1989). Building Theories from Case Study Research. Academy of Management Review, 14(4), 532-550.
Yates, D., Paquette, S. (2011). Emergency Knowledge Management and Social Media technologies: A Case Study of the 2010 Haitian Earthquake International Journal of Information Management, Vol. 31(1), p. 6-13.
Markamn, K. M. (2012). Doing Radio, Making Friends, and Having Fun: Exploring the Motivations of Independent Audio Podcasters New Media & Society vol. 14 no. 4 547-565
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