Qualitative research deals with qualitative data i.e. data that represent various behaviors, feelings, beliefs, opinions or experiences of peoples. Since these things are abstract which can’t be precisely measured with any standard unit of measurement, so we can’t convert them in quantitative data. And therefore, we can’t use quantitative research for them. Qualitative Research generally answers those research questions which start with the question words like ‘how’, ‘why’ and ‘in what manner’ rather than how much, how many or how often. It studys people or group of people in their natural settings. Its methodology is different from that of quantitative or experimental research in a sense that it doesn’t need manipulation of variables or situation. Therefore, it is more elastic than quantitative research which needs controlled experimental environment. Qualitative research is holistic in nature, because it studies its subjects from various perspectives rather than on the basis of some simplified variables of interest. It is mainly used in the field of social sciences, sciences which deals with the human behaviors or actions in daily life. The process of data collection in this type of research is very laborious and time consuming as it collects data through direct interviews or observation of the subjects. Since human behaviors are interpretive and not learned responses to outside stimuli, therefore it is very difficult for the qualitative researcher to draw 100% accurate conclusion from them. Some people also criticize qualitative research for its small sample size and way of sampling. They say that since it uses small samples for data collection therefore, its results can’t be generalized for the entire population. But I think, this criticism is not applicable on qualitative research, because qualitative research collects data from specific persons or group of persons present in the population, therefore, its findings need not generalization for the whole population.
You might also be interested in:
Basic Research
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You might also be interested in:
Basic Research
Applied Research
Action Research
Quantitative Research
Descriptive Research
Experimental Research
Ethnographic Research
Historical Research
