定性研究方法总论

An Overview on Qualitative Research Methods

该文试图高度概括和总结社会科学研究中定性研究的主要方面以及定性研究与公共行政学的关系。该文回顾了定性研究方法的兴起与发展 ,定义了定性研究方法并探讨了定性研究方法的主要特征。作者认为 ,定性研究与定量研究应该看做是社会科学中两个互补的研究方法 ,而不应该将它们对立起来。文章探讨了定性研究的主要战略和研究问题的类型并简要介绍了定性研究中资料收集与分析技术。最后 ,介绍了评价定性研究的标准。

This article attempts to summarize the main aspects of qualitative research and its relationship with the discipline of public administration.The paper examines the emergence and development of qualitative research within the domain of social science,defines the concept of qualitative research and its prominent features.The authors argue that qualitative research methods and quantitative research methods should be treated as complementary methods instead of contradictory methods in the pursuit of social science.The paper explores the main strategies and research types and questions as well as introduces techniques of data collection and analysis in qualitative research methods.Last,the article offers the criteria to judge the soundness of qualitative research.