QUALITATIVE

QUALITATIVE

1. HISTORY

   • has been around for about a century in the Social Sciences field

2. CHARACTERISTICS

   • Emergent research design
   • works in a wide range of data
   • takes place in a natural setting
   • data can be interpreted through insider perspective
   • small samples of participants
   • research outcome depends on researcher's interpretation

3. WEAKNESSES

   • too complex
   • lacks methodological rigour
   • time-consuming
   • how to make sure that the results weren't influenced by the researcher's biases

4. STRENGTHS

   • Exploratory nature
   • making sense of complex situations
   • can answer 'why'
   • can broaden our understanding
   • suitable for longitudinal research
   • flexible when things go wrong
   • rich in research report