Qualitative Research is a type of research that can be called as “exploratory” research because it is exploratory in nature and the results are descriptive rather than predictive. In this type of research, the researcher explores a process or a phenomenon to comprehend the underlying reasons, opinions, and motivations beneath it and then writes a research paper describing the situation.
Because human behavior is one of the entities that cannot be measured quantitatively and by numbers, this type of research is mostly used in social science to divulge the rationale leading to specific behaviors and perceptions of a human.
Methods used in qualitative research:
There are different methods for conducting qualitative research, the main ones are listed below:
- Individual interviews: Interview is the verbal conversation between two people with the aim of gathering relevant information for the purpose of study [1]. In this type of data collection, some questions are prepared before, and they are asked from target audience individually.
- Focus groups: A focus group method is something like an interview but in a broader range. In this method, not just one individual but a group of people involved in a group discussion on a particular topic which is guided, monitored and recorded by a researcher.
- Observations: Observation is a kind of systematic data collection approach. Researchers use all of their senses to scrutinize people in natural situations [2]. There are two types of observations used in qualitative data collection: Participant and non-participant. In participant kind of observation, the researcher watches the subjects, events, situation or activities, with the individuals’ knowledge, from inside by taking an active part in the situation under scrutiny. He or she gets involved in various activities of the group, interacts with the other members, acquires the way of life of the observed group, and studies their behavior or other activities not as an outsider but by becoming a member of that group. This approach is sometimes criticized on the grounds that the very fact of their being observed may lead people to behave differently. Non- participant kind of observation is the situation when the observer observes the group passively from a distance without participating in the group activities. Here he does not try to affect them or participate in the group activities [3]. This kind of observation is mostly done by audio or video recording.
- Action Research: In this method, the researcher actively participates in a change situation, while simultaneously undertaking a research. In action research, the researchers as designers and stakeholders, work with others to propose a new course of action to help their community improve their strategies, practices, and knowledge of the environments within which they practice [4].
Qualitative research which is conducted at the real world in the actual context of the issues is of great importance because it allows the researchers to go beyond the numbers and helps in understanding the issues from the affected individuals’ perspectives. So, a deeper understanding of the reasons, feelings, opinions, and motivations of participants is achieved.
REFERENCES:
- https://www.slideshare.net/VinayKumar49/interview-method-in-research
- http://www.qualres.org/HomeObse-3594.html
- http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/social-research/data-collection/participant observation-and-non-participant-observation/64510
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_research
