At other times prior theory or broader theoretical frameworks play a significant role in framing a qualitative study guiding data collection and or analysis alternatively several theoretical concepts might be used selectively to make sense of findings rather than using the findings to test the theory as in quantitative research. Theory and concepts in qualitative research a theory of methodology in a study of directed change mills geoffrey e the importance of theory in qualitative work is discussed through an examination of the search for theory that arose in relation to a case study of educational change in an american school district. Types of qualitative research qualitative research is a systematic subjective approach used to describe life experiences and give them meaning there are five major types or design under this qualitative research phenomenology ethnography case study research grounded theory and historical research. Theory and concepts in qualitative research perspectives from the field theory and concepts in qualitative research perspectives from the field flinders david j mills geoffrey e 9780807732892 amazoncom books skip to main content