In 2023, Research Design Review published four compilations of articles that appeared in the 2011-2022 time period. Each of these compilations focus on some aspect of a quality approach to qualitative research design.
In the compilation “Is It Good Research? Quality Design in Qualitative Research: Quality Approaches That Embrace Diversity & Inclusion,” the articles emphasize the idea that rigorous research strategies pertaining to sampling, data collection, and analysis transcend the paradigm, positivist-non-positivist debates. And in fact, prioritize inclusion and fairness while exploring the complexity of human realities.
The compilation titled “Beyond Paradigm & Method” highlights paradigm and method neutrality. That is, the idea that quality principles of design are fundamental and necessary — e.g., as a step towards inclusion and giving participants a “fair voice” — regardless of the researcher’s philosophical orientation or qualitative method.
The focus in “Qualitative Content Analysis: 6 Articles on the Definition & Quality Design Considerations” is on the primary qualitative content analysis method, i.e., the analysis of content derived from existing, naturally occurring repository of information (for example corporate or historical documents, media content, and diaries).
The fourth compilation published in 2023 is “Learning to Find Meaning in Qualitative Research: 6 Articles.” The articles selected for this short compilation are narrowly focused on deriving meaning by determining the sense and the context of participants’ lived experiences as defined by participants. To any qualitative researcher, this seems obvious. And yet, as discussed in these articles, finding meaning is often missed due to erroneous assumptions, absence of required skills, or failure to invest the necessary time with participants.