Methodology for CIS: qualitative methods summary
Key concepts
Summary chapter 1 - 5 + 7
J. Beuving and G. de Vries (2015). Doing qualitative research: the craft of naturalistic inquiry.
Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press (also (digitally) available in the University of Groningen
Library)
Linking article
Burke, R. L., & Veliz-Reyes, A. (2023). Socio-spatial relationships in design of residential care
homes for people living with dementia diagnoses: a grounded theory approach. Architectural
Science Review, 66(5), 391-405. https://doi.org/10.1080/00038628.2021.1941749
Week 1
Naturalistic inquiry
Studying people in everyday circumstances by ordinary means
Arc of naturalistic inquiry
The overall process of doing naturalistic inquiry. The road towards reflexive understanding
, Empirical cycle (spiral)
A repeating cycle of research steps: observing, thinking, testing and evaluating.
Reflexive understanding
The researcher’s capacity to reflect on their own role, perspective and influence on the research
Iterative
Repeating steps and improving your research while you are doing it.
Qualitative research
Research that focuses on understanding meanings, experiences and behaviour
Linking article & week 1
Socio-spatial relationships in design of residential care homes for people living with dementia
diagnoses: a grounded theory approach
● The article is a clear example of naturalistic inquiry because it studies residents in the
real-life environment.
● The study is qualitative because it focuses on residents’ experiences and meanings
instead of numerical data.
● The research is iterative because the data collection and analysis happen at the same
time and continuously influence each other.
● The researchers show reflexivity by adapting their methods and responding to
participants during the research process.
● The article shows the arc of naturalistic inquiry by moving from observations to the
development of a theoretical model.
● The study follows a spiral-like empirical cycle, where insights develop gradually through
repeated analysis.
Naturalistic inquiry allows unexpected insights because it studies real-life situations without strict
assumptions. In this research, the conclusion is that care homes are often designed based on
medical and functional needs but this does not match the lived experiences of residents.
Week 2
Interpretivism
The idea that you need to understand how people see and experience the world to study their
behaviour. Qualitative research, “why do people do this?”
Key concepts
Summary chapter 1 - 5 + 7
J. Beuving and G. de Vries (2015). Doing qualitative research: the craft of naturalistic inquiry.
Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press (also (digitally) available in the University of Groningen
Library)
Linking article
Burke, R. L., & Veliz-Reyes, A. (2023). Socio-spatial relationships in design of residential care
homes for people living with dementia diagnoses: a grounded theory approach. Architectural
Science Review, 66(5), 391-405. https://doi.org/10.1080/00038628.2021.1941749
Week 1
Naturalistic inquiry
Studying people in everyday circumstances by ordinary means
Arc of naturalistic inquiry
The overall process of doing naturalistic inquiry. The road towards reflexive understanding
, Empirical cycle (spiral)
A repeating cycle of research steps: observing, thinking, testing and evaluating.
Reflexive understanding
The researcher’s capacity to reflect on their own role, perspective and influence on the research
Iterative
Repeating steps and improving your research while you are doing it.
Qualitative research
Research that focuses on understanding meanings, experiences and behaviour
Linking article & week 1
Socio-spatial relationships in design of residential care homes for people living with dementia
diagnoses: a grounded theory approach
● The article is a clear example of naturalistic inquiry because it studies residents in the
real-life environment.
● The study is qualitative because it focuses on residents’ experiences and meanings
instead of numerical data.
● The research is iterative because the data collection and analysis happen at the same
time and continuously influence each other.
● The researchers show reflexivity by adapting their methods and responding to
participants during the research process.
● The article shows the arc of naturalistic inquiry by moving from observations to the
development of a theoretical model.
● The study follows a spiral-like empirical cycle, where insights develop gradually through
repeated analysis.
Naturalistic inquiry allows unexpected insights because it studies real-life situations without strict
assumptions. In this research, the conclusion is that care homes are often designed based on
medical and functional needs but this does not match the lived experiences of residents.
Week 2
Interpretivism
The idea that you need to understand how people see and experience the world to study their
behaviour. Qualitative research, “why do people do this?”
