9.2 Research Methods – Qualitative
Research Methods – Qualitative Research
Qualitative research is a research method used to understand people’s beliefs, experiences, attitudes, behaviour, and interactions. It generates non-numerical data” (Pathak, Jena, & Kalra, 2013, p. 1). Qualitative research is not looking for cause and effect. Instead, it looks at meaning, perspectives and motivations. It is looking for the WHY. It typically has a small sample and uses focus groups, interviews, observation, historical documents, etc. The data it collects are “words” while Quantitative research collects “numbers”. Several methodologies have been developed for qualitative research.
Reading
For more information on Qualitative Research, see Synthesis of Qualitative Research or Qualitative Research Methods Overview for more information.
Pathak, V., Jena, B., & Kalra, S. (2013). Qualitative research. Perspectives in Clinical Research, 4(3), 192-194. https://doi.org/10.4103/2229-3485.115389.
The focus of this topic is qualitative research methodologies. You will be introduced to:
- Interviews
- Focus groups.