In Missions Research, one can divide research into three broad categories: Literary Research, Quantitative Research, and Qualitative Research. Yes, these could be argued about and they do overlap, but let’s go with it for now. Qualitative Research involves development of new sources and data (unlike literary research) and deals with statements and concepts rather than numbers (unlike quantitative research).
There are different types of qualitative research. Arguably, the “Big 5” are Biography, Phenomenology, Case Study, Ethnography, and Grounded Theory. In my mind, the most valuable research in Missions are Ethnography and Grounded Theory (although popular, I see Case Study as being more useful for teaching than for actual research.
Ethnographic Research involves the description and analysis (qualitatively) of a culture, sub-culture, or micro-culture.
<div style=”width:425px” id=”__ss_10665845″> <strong style=”display:block;margin:12px 0 4px”><a href=”http://www.slideshare.net/bmunson3/ethnographic-research-how-to” title=”Ethnographic research: How To” target=”_blank”>Ethnographic research: How To</a></strong> <div style=”padding:5px 0 12px”> View more <a href=”http://www.slideshare.net/” target=”_blank”>presentations</a> from <a href=”http://www.slideshare.net/bmunson3″ target=”_blank”>Bob Munson</a> </div> </div>
The above describes in simple terms how to do ethnographic research, particularly within the Philippine context (although not limited to the Philippines).
I do not agree. Look at:
http://www.google.com/search?q=Grounded+Theory+Research+Study
– Dusti
Not exactly sure if this is a genuine disagreement. Since I said that grounded theory is one of two types of qualitative research that is especially appropriate for missions research, not sure what would be disagreed with anyway. My dissertation was a grounded theory theory analysis of medical mission work within the Philippine context. I found the method of analysis very helpful in gaining insight in the phenomenon.
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