Qualitative Research

If I want to do a study on Hikikomori, it will be very much as a qualitative research at the moment. The issue is too new, too naive, and too little research or reports had been done. Even if there is any, it is commonly contain only one voice, and heavily influenced by the authors perspective and background.

Hikikomori is a phenomenon of youth that isolated themselves for more than six months. Now, issues aroused with this phenomenon: First, is this a typical Japanese phenomenon? Second, is this only a problem of youth? Third, is there any other definitions for Hikikomori? Forth, are there any stages towards Hikikomori? Fifth, how do we identify one Hikikomori? Sixth, what are the symptoms, what are they doing? Seventh, what is the background to it? Eighth, what is/are the trigger factor/factors? Ninth, what is the impact to the society? Tenth, what are these people experiencing is it what others in the society experiencing as well?

When we count and think carefully about this questions, we can go on for more and more. Exploring is the key!

In qualitative research, there are certain things that we need to look at. First, the developed theory may serve several important functions within a discipline. Question now is which discipline is directly involved or concern with this issue? Psychiatric? Social Workers? Clinical Psychologist? Schools? Somehow, I think church needs to get into this! If what the report had been true in Japan, one percent of the population were shutting themselves up in a room, that is a tremendous figure! One million, at least. It is ridiculous if the church is just going to sit there, and do nothing of it!

In Hong Kong, a similar report had made a projection of Hikikomori in Hong Kong increased from 6,000 to 18,000 within six months. We need to be very careful in this area. Same questions needed to be ask, and validity of the claim needed to be carefully examined. Isolation as a total social withdrawal demonstrated a "sick" society, it might not be the person who is doing this is sick, but it could be a action of complaining through living as a hermit.

"What is happening here?" is a question.

The findings should open a window into the worlds of others, providing empathic understanding of the world. The theory thus enables the readers to make sense of otherwise incomprehensible situations and behaviors. How groups of people live? how people cope with their daily lives?

The theory should be used in quantitative research later, as a conceptual framework, a provide explanation for other unexpected quantitative results.


Reference: Qualitative Research Methods for Health Professionals, Second Edition. Janice M. Morse, Peggy Anne Field. Chapman & Hall, 1995.