What are the best practices for conducting qualitative educational research?

Here are some immediate thoughts I have on this subject: 1) Ensure that you have solid, meaningful, feasible, and relevant research questions that have ideally been co-designed with your research team and community members related to your research topic. 2) Choose one or more relevant theoretical lenses that can help to frame, guide and support the research that you will undertake. 3) Choose a methodology (methodologies) and methods (techniques) that will enable you to get answers to the questions you are asking. Finally, consider each of these three aspects of your qualitative research to be being held together by an invisible string so that there is coherence and logic in your research design.

Conducting qualitative educational research effectively requires adherence to several best practices. Begin by clearly defining research objectives and questions to guide the study. Select appropriate qualitative methods such as interviews, observations, or focus groups, ensuring alignment with research goals. Employ rigorous data collection techniques, including triangulation and member checking, to enhance validity and reliability. Maintain reflexivity throughout the research process, acknowledging and managing biases. Analyze data systematically using coding and thematic analysis to identify patterns and themes.

Sometimes, interesting names or new tools may bias our choice of methodology in our research: We all want to bring novelty and show that we are at the top of our field. But the first step is to look into your research question. Once we have a crystal-clear research question, we are halfway through choosing an appropriate method to answer that question.

Become familiar with the target population and understand how they see your question. In research that involves patients or specific target groups, don't hesitate to involve them from the beginning of the planning stage of your study and keep them onboard, informed, engaged and involved in the process from beginning to end.

Be flexible, but don't forget principles and never sacrifice standards for practicality. There are points where staying within those definitions may seem hard and unnecessary, but experience shows that, in the end, standards help us and the community together.

There have been instances in the past where I found myself grappling with the challenge of maintaining objectivity. As educators, our own experiences and beliefs often color the interpretation of data. However, through consistent reflection, we can recognize these biases and actively question their influence on our analysis. For instance, one might frame questions subtly steering participants toward responses that align with our assumptions. Reflective practice allows one to realize these biases and revisit the approach, refine questioning techniques, and adopt more neutral stances in future inquiries.

Ask the opinion of the public and see how your findings are seen by people beyond your immediate circle. Stay within the limits of science and be cautious how the public and others may interpret your message.