Qualitative Research: Investigating Social and Human Phenomena Using Non-Numerical Data

Qualitative

describing a quality without the use of numbers (visual, auditory, hepatic), subjective and often comparative in nature, inexpensive.

Qualitative research is a method of investigating social and human phenomena using non-numerical data. This type of research is concerned with exploring and understanding individuals’ experiences, perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors. Qualitative research is typically conducted through in-depth interviews, focus groups, observation, and analysis of documents and other artifacts.

Qualitative research is often used when the research question involves exploring complex social phenomena that cannot be measured with quantitative methods. This type of research tends to be more exploratory and aims to understand how people make sense of their world. By using open-ended questions and allowing participants to share their experiences and perspectives in their own words, qualitative research can provide in-depth insights that quantitative methods cannot.

One of the strengths of qualitative research is that it allows for flexibility and adaptation throughout the research process. Researchers can adjust their research methods and questions based on the data they collect, which can lead to new and unexpected insights. Additionally, qualitative research can be used to generate hypotheses that can be tested with quantitative methods.

However, a potential limitation of qualitative research is the potential for researcher bias and subjectivity. Researchers must be aware of their own biases and take steps to minimize their influence on the research. Additionally, qualitative research can be time-consuming and require extensive data analysis, which can limit the sample size and generalizability of the findings.

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