CHARACTERISTICS OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

STUDY IN THESES OF A GRADUATE PROGRAM IN EDUCATION

Abstract

The mode of production of scientific knowledge has become complex, leading to the use of methodological elements of research that also investigate subjective issues. This study aims to analyze characteristics of doctoral theses that adopted the qualitative approach, defended in The Postgraduate Program in Education (PPGE) of a University of the Northeast Region of Brazil, 2013-2016 quadrennium. To accomplish this objective, a quali-quantitative type of documentary research was developed, based on the identification and analysis of the categories: thematic, method, data collection procedure and data analysis technique, synthesized by grouping data extracted from thesis abstracts. It was found that, of the amount of 57 theses defended in the period considered, 87.7% (n=50) used a qualitative approach, although only 32% (n=16) of these explain this approach in their summary. Public policy and teacher training are the most present among themes. 42% (n=21) of the theses clearly indicate the research method, with emphasis on documentary research. There are multiple data collection procedures in them, especially interview and document collection. In 46% (n=23) of them, there is the specification of the data analysis technique, mainly content analysis. However, it is considered important that researchers in the area of Education clearly inform all the methodological elements of their theses in their abstracts.