Qualitative Research

Reading Summary

This excerpt highlights the differences between qualitative and quantitative research methods concerning media. The author claims that quantitative research is factual and concrete, doesn’t go much further than the surface level. There’s a question and an answer concerning one main idea. Qualitative research is conceptual and focuses on the bigger picture. It’s insightful and “showcases a variety of meanings and truths”(Brennen, 3). When it comes to qualitative research, language is the basis of understanding people and ideas. It’s how humans interact and is important in trying to understand our “social realities”.

Outside example

This concept of qualitative research and text analysis reminded me of text to film adaptations. Many books written are later produced into films and usually the author of the novel differs from the film director. It is up to the director to adapt the text to movement and action and bring the book to life. Often viewers say that the original text is better than the film. This is due to additions or changes made by the director to try and convey the same feelings/ emotion the author did through text. 

Reading Connection

I believe translating text to film is an example of the qualitative research method because of the interpretive process. The director must decide what he/she feels when analyzing the text of the novel and dictates what they believe the author to have meant through their words. As a reader, many different feelings are experienced depending on how they perceive the language of the text. Not all readers will feel the same about the development of the book. This exemplifies qualitative research and the variety of translations and ideas that result from it. Specifically with a focus on the importance of language and text analysis.