becoming a qualitative researcher a narrative strongaccountstrong of.pdfVIP

ISSN 2277-0844, Volume 3, Issue 1, pp 10-20, January, 2014. Online Journal of Social Sciences Research ©2014 Online Research Journals Full Length Research Article Available Online at /JSS Becoming a Qualitative Researcher: A Narrative Account of Conducting My First Qualitative Study Involving In-depth Life History Interviews Dr. Molefe Coper Joseph Centre of African Studies, University of Edinburgh, Chrystal Macmillan Building, 15a George Square, Edinburgh, UK. E- mail: mjoseph@ed.ac.uk; Tel.: +441316515076. Received 9 December, 2013 Accepted 15 January, 2014 Despite a wide range of literature on research methodology, first time researchers encounter practical and methodological challenges. This paper provides insights to first time researchers interested in qualitative research. The paper discusses how as a first time qualitative researcher I managed to work within a challenging context to explore livelihoods situation of low -income young women in urban Botswana. Data collection was based on a combination of methods involving in-depth life history interviews, standardized open ended questionnaires, observations, photo elicitation, and a variety of documents. Data analysis and reporting of the findings were based on thematic narrative approach. Although the study did not give priority to any of the methods used, in -depth life history interviews w