Wiki Page, STEM | 12K | Research 1 | Practical Research 1: 2.4 Qualitative Research Design

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2021-09-24T13:47:00+08:00

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN

Qualitative research design is an inquiry based on information derived from the understanding the behavior of people and institutions, their values, rituals, symbols, beliefs, emotions, presented in the form of words directly obtained from the person studied.

Strengths | Weaknesses
Complement and refine quantitative data | Findings usually cannot be generalized to the study population or community
Provide more detailed information to explain complex issues | More difficult to analyze; don’t fit neatly in standard categories
Multiple methods for gathering data on sensitive subjects | Data collection is usually time-consuming

Importance of Qualitative Research

Qualitative research unveils an individual’s perception, feelings, and attitudes about a particular topic. It also stimulates people’s interdependence or interpersonal relationships. How the decision to apply qualitative research in a particular direction is made is often controlled by contrasting and sometimes conflicting forces:

1. Concerned with opinions, feelings, and experiences.

2. Describes social phenomena as they occur naturally - no attempt is made to manipulate the situation - just understand and describe.

3. Understanding is sought by taking a holistic perspective/approach, rather than looking at a set of variables.

4. Qualitative research data is used to help us to develop concepts and theories that help us to understand the social world.

5. Qualitative data is collected through direct encounters i.e. through interviews or observation.