THE CHARACTERISTICS OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH: A STUDY WITH THESES FROM A POSTGRADUATE PROGRAM IN EDUCATION

ABSTRACT: The mode of production of scientific knowledge has become complex, leading to the use of research methodological elements that also investigate subjective issues. This study aims to analyze characteristics of PhD theses that adopted the qualitative approach, defended at a Postgraduate Program in Education (PPGE) of a University of the Northeast Region of Brazil, 2013-2016 quadrennium. The theoretical basis of the work is based on contributions from Evandro Ghedin, Marcos Zanette, Marli André and Maria Amélia Franco. To achieve the proposed objective, a quali-quantitative documentary research was developed, based on the identification and analysis of the categories: theme, method, data collection procedure and data analysis technique, synthesized by grouping data extracted from theses 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 32.0% (n=16) of these explain this approach in their summary. Public policy and teacher education are the most present among themes. 42.0% (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 46.0% (n=23) of the theses, the data analysis technique is specified, mainly content analysis. However, it is considered important that researchers in the field of Education clearly inform all the methodological elements of their theses in their abstracts.