Qualitative Research Methods
Qualitative research methods are designed to collect data from real people through qualitative means, i.e., interviewing. Data is considered relevant only if its analysis can be verified by other sources and it can be associated with the subject of interest. Such methods differ from quantitative research in the sense that qualitative research depends on the voluntary participation of the subjects. Unlike quantitative methods, qualitative data is qualitative because it originates from the qualitative aspects of the subjects’ lives and experiences, rather than being derived from a limited number of quantitative points (such as surveys or questionnaires). Qualitative methods are thus often more revealing than quantitative ones, as they tend to provide answers that go beyond the simple yes/no answer.
Common methods used in qualitative research methods include qualitative research methodology, ethnographic research, story telling, grounded theory, and action research. They all share many similarities, however, each highlights different objectives and perspectives on the matter at hand. How does it differ from other types of research? The key difference is that qualitative research methods allow the researcher to draw conclusions based on the actual qualitative characteristics of the subject’s experience. For example, an in-depth interview with a small group of individuals may yield different results than interviewing 10 people one at a time in order to gain statistically significant results.
One of the major strengths of qualitative research methods lies in the ability to draw reliable inferences and generalizations from the available data. This is especially important when attempting to generalize findings from a small and qualitative sample. Another advantage relates to the fact that data collection can occur in an infinite variety of different environments, allowing for various types of interaction among the subject and the researcher as well. Also, unlike quantitative methods, qualitative data analysis relies on the participant’s own description of his or her own experience rather than the use of some pre-determined questionnaires or polls. As you can see, both of these major advantages make quantitative analysis quite risky, while the reliability of qualitative data analysis makes it a truly appealing field to many different kinds of scientists, students, and professionals in all disciplines.
