A Practical Guide to Qualitative Research: A Teaching Manual

Description

This teaching manual is a practical guide that intends to promote education in terms of qualitative research at educational institutions and individual levels. It provides teachers, tutors, lecturers and students with activities that can improve engagement with practical qualitative research activities. There are three main approaches of conducting research, namely: qualitative research, quantitative research and triangulation (mixed approach). Qualitative research approach is concerned with assessment of views, opinions, feelings, values, norms, attitudes, opinions and behaviours. Qualitative research involves collecting and analysing non-numerical data like texts, video and audio to understand the information collected.

The manual guides the intended audience (teachers, tutors, lecturers and students) to solve problems in an organized way. It guides a reader on how to identify research ideas, research topics and research titles. It also educates a reader on how to critically review existing literature on a study to reveal contributions, weaknesses and gaps. Furthermore, the reader is shown how to collect data (interviews, focus group discussion, observation and analysis of documents) and how to analyse data (content analysis, thematic analysis and quick impressionist view). Moreover, the reader is shown how the findings can be presented and discussed. Similarly, a researcher is shown ways of writing a final summary, conclusions and recommendations.

Dr. Jonathan Kasenene Shishiwa is a Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Accountancy Arusha in Tanzania. He holds a PhD in Communication Studies from Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya and Master of Education Degree in Educational Management and Administration from Abo Akademi University in Finland. Besides, he holds a Bachelor of Education Degree in English and Education from the University of Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania and a Diploma in Education in English Language and History from Marangu Teachers College, Moshi, Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Dr. Shishiwa has been teaching in higher institutions of education since 2002. In addition, he has engaged in administrative work in various posts including; Academic Officer cum Admission Officer, Head of Department of Research and Publications, Campus Manager (Institute of Accountancy Arusha, Mwanza Campus), Director of Undergraduate Studies and Director of Postgraduate Studies. Currently, the author is the Chief Editor of the Editorial Board of the Accountancy and Business Review Journal of the Institute of Accountancy in Arusha, Tanzania. His academic interests include Educational Communication, Communication Studies and Qualitative Research. Dr. Jonathan Kasenene Shishiwa has published widely in both national and international journals as well as attended conferences.