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Keywords

qualitative research, ministry, research questions, thick description, reflexivity, narrative, phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, case study

Abstract

Qualitative research is collecting, analyzing, and interpreting subjective data to answer an important research question. It can be contrasted with quantitative research, which focuses on collecting numerical (relatively objective) data to test specific hypotheses. It is an attractive form of research in church contexts because it does not require training in statistics and can be conducted in almost all ministry settings. It is especially appropriate for topics that are under-researched, poorly understood, or involve concepts that are difficult to measure. Common problems associated with church-based qualitative research include overly broad research questions, weak descriptions of what has been observed, shallow analysis, and biased interpretation. Qualitative studies that are the most useful will include the collection of high-quality data (typically from interviews) that reaches saturation, thick descriptions, and reflexivity and transparency about the researcher’s biases and values. Five forms of qualitative studies are described: narrative, phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, and case study. All forms of qualitative research can generate important insights and practical applications for ministry settings if they are based on high-quality data and analyzed in depth.

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