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What is Qualitive Research and which are its characteristics?

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Qualitative research is a type of research that explores and provides deeper insights into real-world problems. Instead of collecting numerical data points or intervene or introduce treatments just like in quantitative research, qualitative research helps generate hypotheses as well as further investigate and understand quantitative data. Qualitative research gathers participants' experiences, perceptions, and behavior. It answers the hows and whys instead of how many or how much. It could be structured as a stand-alone study, purely relying on qualitative data or it could be part of mixed-methods research that combines qualitative and quantitative data. This review introduces the readers to some basic concepts, definitions, terminology, and application of qualitative research.

Characteristics Of Qualitative Research

Reality is socially constructed

Qualitative research aims to understand how participants make meaning of their experiences – individually or in social contexts. It assumes there is no objective reality and that the social world is interpreted (Yilmaz, 2013).

The primacy of subject matter

The primary aim of qualitative research is to understand the perspectives, experiences, and beliefs of individuals who have experienced the phenomenon selected for research rather than the average experiences of groups of people (Minichiello, 1990).

Variables are complex, interwoven, and difficult to measure

Factors such as experiences, behaviors, and attitudes are complex and interwoven, so they cannot be reduced to isolated variables, making them difficult to measure quantitatively.

However, a qualitative approach enables participants to describe what, why, or how they were thinking/ feeling during a phenomenon being studied (Yilmaz, 2013).

Emic (insider’s point of view)

The phenomenon being studied is centered on the participants’ point of view (Minichiello, 1990).

Emic is used to describe how participants interact, communicate, and behave in the context of the research setting (Scarduzio, 2017).

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Qualitative research is a methodological approach used in social sciences, humanities, and other fields to understand and interpret phenomena through subjective means. It focuses on exploring, understanding, and interpreting the complexities of human experiences, behaviors, and interactions. Qualitative research emphasizes words, meanings, and interpretations.

Characteristics of qualitative research include:

1. In-depth understanding: Qualitative research aims to provide a comprehensive and detailed understanding of the subject matter under investigation.

2. Subjectivity: It recognizes that reality is subjective and seeks to understand phenomena from the perspectives of the participants involved.

3. Flexibility: Qualitative research methods are flexible, allowing researchers to adapt their approach as they delve deeper into the subject matter.

4. Contextualization: It emphasizes the importance of understanding the context in which phenomena occur, including social, cultural, and historical factors.

5. Rich data collection: Qualitative researchers employ various methods such as interviews, observations, and document analysis to gather rich and nuanced data.

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Qualitative research involves collecting and analyzing non-numerical data (e.g., text, video, or audio) to understand concepts, opinions, or experiences. It can be used to gather in-depth insights into a problem or generate new ideas for research.

characteristics

·      Real-world Setting: The real-world setting is the first characteristic of qualitative research. In qualitative research methods like observation method, ethnographic research, focus group, one-to-one interviews, the behavior of the participants of study is observed, and the conclusion is drawn based on their answers and their behavior.

·      Different Research methods: Each qualitative research method has different significance and is used for different scenarios and research situations. Sometimes, researchers make the use of more than one qualitative research method to obtain the accurate output.

Participants meanings: The role of a participant is also very important. During the whole research process, the focus of a researcher is to understand and determine the meaning that a participant brings to the research rather than the definition given or thought by the researcher based on the literature reviews.

Flexible:Qualitative research is flexible. It can change at any stage of the research and based on the change, the course of research might also get changed.

Holistic Account: The purpose of conducting qualitative research is to paint the larger picture. While doing qualitative research, the researcher focuses on different perspectives and determine various factors involved in the research.

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Quality research refers to the systematic investigation, study, or inquiry into a particular topic or question using rigorous and reliable methodologies. Its characteristics include:

1. Validity: Ensuring that the research accurately measures what it intends to measure.

2. Reliability: Consistency and reproducibility of results over time and across different researchers.

3. Objectivity: Minimizing bias and ensuring that findings are based on evidence rather than personal beliefs or preferences.

4. Transparency: Clearly documenting research methods, data collection processes, and analysis techniques for others to verify and replicate the study.

5. Generalizability: The extent to which findings can be applied to other populations or contexts beyond the study sample.

6. Ethical considerations: Conducting research in an ethical manner, respecting the rights and well-being of participants.

7. Relevance: Addressing meaningful questions or issues within the field of study.

8. Peer review: Subjecting research findings to evaluation by other experts in the field to ensure quality and credibility.

9. Innovation: Advancing knowledge by introducing new ideas, methods, or perspectives.

10. Clarity: Communicating findings in a clear and understandable manner to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.

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Qualitative research. Is a process of naturalistic inquiry that seeks an in-depth understanding of social phenomena within their natural setting. It focuses on the "why" rather than the "what" of social phenomena and relies on the direct experiences of human beings as meaning-making agents in their every day lives.

Some characteristics of qualitative research are:

Human understanding and interpretation.

Active, powerful, and forceful.

Multiple research approaches and methods.

Specificity to generalization.

Contextualization.

Diversified data in real-life situations.

Abounds with words and visuals.

Internal analysis.

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Qualitative research is a methodological approach used different areas to explore and understand phenomena in depth.

Qualitative research is the opposite of quantitative research.

Key characteristics of qualitative research include:

1. Open-ended Data Collection: Qualitative researchers collect data through methods such as interviews, focus groups, participant observation, and document analysis. These methods allow for rich, detailed descriptions of experiences, behaviors, and perspectives.

2. Inductive Approach: Qualitative research typically employs an inductive approach, where theories and hypotheses emerge from the data itself rather than being tested against pre-existing hypotheses.

3. Rich Description and Context: Qualitative researchers aim to provide rich, detailed descriptions of the phenomena under study, often paying attention to the social, cultural, and historical context in which they occur.

4. Subjective Interpretation: Researchers acknowledge their own subjectivity and biases, as well as those of the participants, and often engage in reflexive practices to critically examine their role in the research process.

5. Qualitative Data Analysis: Data analysis in qualitative research involves techniques such as thematic analysis, content analysis, and narrative analysis. Researchers identify patterns, themes, and relationships within the data to generate insights and interpretations.

6. Flexibility and Iteration: Qualitative research is often flexible and iterative, allowing researchers to adjust their approach based on emerging findings or new insights.

7. Holistic Understanding: seeks to provide a holistic understanding of the phenomena under study, capturing the complexity and diversity of human experiences and perspectives.

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Qualitative research aims to discover the meaning and understanding of phenomena that cannot be decomposed into measurable elements. It is based on naturalistic, interpretive and humanistic notions.

This research method seeks to discover, explore, identify, or describe subjective human experiences using non-statistical methods and develops themes from the stories of study participants.

Uses open-ended exploratory questions and observations to look for patterns of meaning in collected data (e.g., observation, verbal/written narrative data, photographs, etc.) and uses inductive thinking (from specific observations to more general rules) to interpret meaning .

Characteristics of Qualitative Research

*Holistic account: Qualitative research seeks to develop a complex picture of the problem or issue under study by identifying the many factors involved.

*Reflexivity: Researchers reflect on their role in the study and how their culture, personal background and experiences may affect data interpretation.

*Emergent design: The research process is emergent-some phases of the process may shift or change once data collection begins.

*Emergens Natural setting: Qualitative researchers typically gather data at the e location where participants encounter the phenomenon under investigation.

*Natural setting: Qualitative researchers typically gather data at the e location where participants encounter the phenomenon under investigation.

*Researcher as key instrument Researchers collect data themselves by examining documents, observing behaviour or interviewing participants.

*Multiple sources of data: Multiple forms of data such such as interviews, observations, documents, and audio- visual information are gathered.

*Inductive and deductive data analysis: Patterns categories themes are built inductively. Evidence from the data to support each theme are obtained deductively.

*Participants meaning: Participants' meaning of the problem or issue is the focus of the research. your desired text here.

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Qualitative Research: meaning and characteristics

Qualitative research is a methodological approach used in social sciences and various other fields to explore and understand phenomena through detailed examination and interpretation of non-numerical data.

Characteristics of qualitative research include:

1- Subjectivity: Qualitative research acknowledges the subjective nature of human experiences and perspectives.

2- Flexibility: Qualitative research methods are flexible and adaptable to the context and research questions.

3- Inductive reasoning: Qualitative research typically employs inductive reasoning, where theories and hypotheses emerge from the data rather than being imposed on it from the outset.

4- Rich, descriptive data: Qualitative research generates rich, descriptive data that provide detailed insights into the experiences, attitudes, and behaviors of participants.

5- Qualitative methods: Qualitative research encompasses a range of methods, including interviews, focus groups, participant observation, ethnography, content analysis, and case studies.

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Qualitative research involves collecting and analyzing non-numerical data (e.g., text, video, or audio) to understand concepts, opinions, or experiences. It can be used to gather in-depth insights into a problem or generate new ideas for research.

Some characteristics are: Real-world Setting: The real-world setting is the first characteristic of qualitative research. In qualitative research methods like observation method, ethnographic research, focus group, one-to-one interviews, the behavior of the participants of study is observed, and the conclusion is drawn based on their answers and their behavior.

Researcher Plays an important role, Different Research methods, Complex reasoning.

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Qualitative research is a research method that involves collecting and analyzing non-numerical data (such as text, video, or audio) to understand concepts, opinions, or experiences. It is used to gain a deep understanding of a problem or to generate new ideas for research. It is often used in the humanities and social sciences, such as anthropology, sociology, education, health sciences and history.

Some common qualitative research approaches include:

Grounded Theory: Development of theories from collected data.
Ethnography: Immersion in groups or organizations to understand their cultures.
Action Research: Collaborative linking theory with practice to promote social change.
Phenomenological Research: Description and interpretation of the lived experiences of the participants.
Narrative Inquiry: Examining how stories are told to understand how participants perceive and make sense of their experiences.
Characteristics:  Social Construction of Reality: Qualitative research assumes that reality is interpreted by individuals and that there is no single objective reality.
Focus on Context: Focuses on the social, cultural and historical context that influences people's experiences.
In-Depth Data Collection: Use interviews, observations, and other qualitative methods to collect detailed, context-rich data.
Interpretive Analysis: Seeks to identify patterns, themes and relationships in the data, often through an inductive process that goes from the particular to the general.
Subjectivity and Multiple Perspectives: Recognizes the subjectivity of the researcher and participants and accepts that there may be multiple interpretations of the data.
Flexibility and Iterative Design: Allows you to adjust methods and approaches based on the data collected and insights gained.
Exploratory and Descriptive: Instead of testing specific hypotheses, it seeks to understand and make sense of complex phenomena.
Not Generalizable: It does not seek to generalize the findings to a broader population as quantitative research does.

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What is qualitative research and which are its characcteristics?

Qualitative research involves collecting and analyzing non-numerical data (e.g., text, video, or audio) to understand concepts, opinions, or experiences.

Characteristics:

Reality is socially constructed.

The primacy of subject matter.

Variables are complex, interwoven, and difficult to measure.

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Qualitative research it focuses on interpreting the meanings, patterns, and contexts of human experiences, behaviors, and interactions.

Characteristics:

It can be exploratory.

It contributes to theory development by generating new insights, concepts, and frameworks.

It often begins with a broad question or topic and aims to explore it in-depth, allowing for emergent insights and discoveries.

Researchers acknowledge their role in shaping the research process and interpretations, recognizing that multiple perspectives may exist.

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Qualitative research is concerned with cases rather than variables, and understanding differences rather than calculating the mean of responses.⁴ In-depth interviews, focus groups, case studies, and open-ended questions are often employed to find these answers. A qualitative study is concerned with the point of view of the individual under study.

Reality is socially constructed

Qualitative research aims to understand how participants make meaning of their experiences – individually or in social contexts. It assumes there is no objective reality and that the social world is interpreted (Yilmaz, 2013).

The primacy of subject matter

The primary aim of qualitative research is to understand the perspectives, experiences, and beliefs of individuals who have experienced the phenomenon selected for research rather than the average experiences of groups of people (Minichiello, 1990).

Variables are complex, interwoven, and difficult to measure

Factors such as experiences, behaviors, and attitudes are complex and interwoven, so they cannot be reduced to isolated variables, making them difficult to measure quantitatively.

However, a qualitative approach enables participants to describe what, why, or how they were thinking/ feeling during a phenomenon being studied (Yilmaz, 2013).

Emic (insider’s point of view)

The phenomenon being studied is centered on the participants’ point of view (Minichiello, 1990).

Emic is used to describe how participants interact, communicate, and behave in the context of the research setting (Scarduzio, 2017).

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Qualitative research is an approach to scientific inquiry that aims to gather in-depth understanding of human behavior and the reasons that govern such behavior. The qualitative method investigates the why and how of decision making, not just what, where, when. It delves into the exploration of meanings, concepts, definitions, characteristics, metaphors, symbols and descriptions of things.

Characteristics of qualitative research:

Holistic

Natural setting

Detailed analysis

Researcher as key instrument

Data collection

Ethnography

Observations

Flexibility

Flexible research design

Inductive reasoning

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Qualitative research involves collecting and analyzing non-numerical data (e.g., text, video, or audio) to understand concepts, opinions, or experiences. It can be used to gather in-depth insights into a problem or generate new ideas for research.

Qualitative research is the opposite of quantitative research, which involves collecting and analyzing numerical data for statistical analysis.

Qualitative research is commonly used in the humanities and social sciences, in subjects such as anthropology, sociology, education, health sciences, history, etc.

Characteristics of a qualitative research :

Qualitative research is an approach to research that focuses on understanding the subjective experiences, perspectives, and meanings of individuals and groups. Some of the key characteristics of qualitative research include:

Emphasis on context

Qualitative research focuses on the context in which people experience and interpret events, rather than just the events themselves. This means that researchers seek to understand the social, cultural, and historical factors that shape people's experiences.

Data collection through interviews, observations, and other qualitative methods

Qualitative researchers typically collect data through methods such as interviews, observations, focus groups, and other techniques that allow for detailed exploration of people's experiences and perspectives.

In-depth analysis

Qualitative research involves a detailed and in-depth analysis of data, with a focus on identifying themes, patterns, and relationships that emerge from the data.

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Qualititative Research

emphasizes exloring the depth and complexity of human behaviour, attitudes,interactions rather than quantifiable measurements. This Research method relies on methods such as interviews,observations,and analysis of textual or visual data to gather rich and detailed insights.

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Qualitative research is based on collecting , analysing, and interpreting data by observing what People do and say.

Qualitative research refers to the meaning, concepts, definitions, characteristics, symbols, and descriptions of things.

Characteristics:

-The research has the opportunity of collecting data directly from the participants through direct encounters with individuals.

-Data are used to develop theories that help us to understand the social world.

-The sampling seeks to demonstrate what is found through random selection of subjects.

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Qualitative research is a type of research that aims to gather and analyse non-numerical data in order to gain an understanding of individuals' social reality, including understanding their attitudes, beliefs, and motivation.

Characteristics:

1. In-Depth Understanding: Qualitative research aims to gain an in-depth understanding of the research subject, including the underlying meanings, motivations, and contexts.

2. Subjective and Contextual: It acknowledges the importance of subjectivity and context in research. Researchers seek to understand the perspectives and experiences of participants.

3. Open-Ended Data Collection: Qualitative research uses open-ended data collection methods such as interviews, observations, and open-ended surveys to gather rich and detailed information.

4. Small Sample Sizes: Qualitative research often involves smaller, purposefully selected samples to explore specific aspects of a research question in depth.

5. Flexible Research Design: The research design is flexible and adaptive, allowing for the emergence of themes and patterns as data is collected and analyzed.

6. Data Interpretation: Qualitative research involves the interpretation of data through thematic analysis, content analysis, or narrative analysis. Researchers identify patterns, themes, and variations.

7. Rich and Descriptive Data: Qualitative data is rich and descriptive, consisting of textual or visual information that captures the complexities of human experiences.

8. Open-Ended Questions: Qualitative research uses open-ended questions that encourage participants to express themselves freely and in their own words.

9. Contextual and Holistic: It seeks to explore the research subject within its broader context, considering social, cultural, and environmental factors.

10. Emergent Theory and Hypotheses: Qualitative research can lead to the development of emergent theories and hypotheses based on the data. Researchers may identify new concepts and ideas during the study.

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Qualitative research is used in social sciences, humanities, and other fields to gather and analyze non-numerical data.

Characteristics:

Recognize their own perspectives and biases may influence the research process and findings.

They acknowledge subjectivity and aim for transparency in interpreting data.

Researchers explore how various factors intersect and influence the phenomenon under study.

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Qualitative research looks for interpret the meaning, experiences and real life situations of people. this look to evaluate non numerical data such as images, behavior and how the person face the new knowledge

Some characteristics are that it looks for natural settings to evaluate, they collect the data in real life situations or practical situations

Another characteristic is that it evaluates the whole perspective and not just something specific in a text or in a piece of information.

Another characteristic is that researchers have to evalluate the data thinking about the other person perspective and feelings about the situation.

Finally, The last characteristic of this situation is the adaptability and flexibility at the time to research and collect the data. if you want to change an information or question you can do it.

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Challenges of conducting qualitative research

While qualitative research offers valuable insights and understanding of human experiences, it also presents some challenges that researchers must navigate. Acknowledging and addressing these challenges can help ensure the rigor, credibility, and relevance of qualitative research. In this section, we will discuss some common challenges that researchers may encounter when conducting qualitative research and offer suggestions on how to overcome them.

Subjectivity and bias

One of the primary challenges in qualitative research is managing subjectivity and potential biases that may arise from the researcher's personal beliefs, values, and experiences. Since qualitative research relies on the researcher's interpretation of the data, there is a risk that the researcher's subjectivity may influence the findings.

Researchers can minimize the impact of subjectivity and bias by maintaining reflexivity, or ongoing self-awareness and critical reflection on their role, assumptions, and influences in the research process. This may involve keeping a reflexive journal, engaging in peer debriefing, and discussing potential biases with research participants during member checking.

Data collection and quality

Collecting high-quality data in qualitative research can be challenging, particularly when dealing with sensitive topics, hard-to-reach populations, or complex social phenomena. Ensuring the trustworthiness of qualitative data collection is essential to producing credible and meaningful findings.

Researchers can enhance data quality by employing various strategies, such as purposive or theoretical sampling, triangulation of data sources, methods or researchers, and establishing rapport and trust with research participants.

Data analysis and interpretation

The analysis and interpretation of qualitative data can be a complex, time-consuming, and sometimes overwhelming process. Researchers must make sense of large amounts of diverse and unstructured data, while also ensuring the rigor, transparency, and consistency of their analysis.

Researchers can facilitate data analysis and interpretation by adopting systematic and well-established approaches, such as thematic analysis, grounded theory, or content analysis. Utilizing qualitative data analysis software, like ATLAS.ti, can also help manage and analyze data more efficiently and rigorously.

Ethical considerations

Qualitative research often involves exploring sensitive issues or working with vulnerable populations, which raises various ethical considerations, such as privacy, confidentiality, informed consent, and potential harm to participants.

Researchers should be familiar with the ethical guidelines and requirements of their discipline, institution, or funding agency, and should obtain ethical approval from relevant review boards or committees before conducting the research. Researchers should also maintain open communication with participants, respect their autonomy and dignity, and protect their well-being throughout the research process.

Generalizability and transferability

Qualitative research typically focuses on in-depth exploration of specific cases or contexts, which may limit the generalizability or transferability of the findings to other settings or populations. However, the goal of qualitative research is not to produce statistically generalizable results but rather to provide a rich, contextualized, and nuanced understanding of the phenomena under study.

Researchers can enhance the transferability of their findings by providing rich descriptions of the research context, participants, and methods, and by discussing the potential applicability or relevance of the findings to other settings or populations. Readers can then assess the transferability of the findings based on the similarity of their own context to the one described in the research.

By addressing these challenges and adopting rigorous and transparent research practices, qualitative researchers can contribute valuable and meaningful insights that advance knowledge, inform policies, and improve practices in various fields and contexts.

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Qualitative research analyzes non-numerical data (text, video, etc) ► Learn all about the methods, types and examples!

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Qualitative research is a type of research that aims to gather and analyse non-numerical (descriptive) data in order to gain an understanding of individuals' social reality, including understanding their attitudes, beliefs, and motivation. This type of research typically involves in-depth interviews, focus groups, or observations in order to collect data that is rich in detail and context. Qualitative research is often used to explore complex phenomena or to gain insight into people's experiences and perspectives on a particular topic. It is particularly useful when researchers want to understand the meaning that people attach to their experiences or when they want to uncover the underlying reasons for people's behavior.

Characteristics Of Qualitative Research

Reality is socially constructed

Qualitative research aims to understand how participants make meaning of their experiences – individually or in social contexts. It assumes there is no objective reality and that the social world is interpreted (Yilmaz, 2013).

The primacy of subject matter

The primary aim of qualitative research is to understand the perspectives, experiences, and beliefs of individuals who have experienced the phenomenon selected for research rather than the average experiences of groups of people (Minichiello, 1990).

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Qualitative Research is a scientific method relies on data collected from interviews, observations and written texts. Is focused on understanding experiences and perception.

Characteristics of Qualitative Research:

1. Natural environment (natural setting). Qualitative researchers collect field data at the locations where participants experience the problem or issue to be studied.

2. Researcher as a key instrument (researcher as key instrument). Qualitative researchers generally collect their own research data through participant observation, documentation, or direct interviews with participants.

3. Multiple sources of data. Qualitative researchers generally choose to collect the required data from various sources such as interviews, documentation, and observations, rather than relying only on one source data.

4. Inductive data analysis. Qualitative researchers build categories, patterns and themes from the ground up (inductive) or from separate data into a complete conclusion.

5. The meaning of the participants (participant’s meaning). In the entire research process, the researcher must focus on studying the meaning obtained from the participants about the issue or research problem, not the meaning conveyed by other authors or researchers in certain literatures.

6. Design that develops (emergent design). Qualitative researchers argue that qualitative research is always evolving and dynamic.

7. Theoretical perspective (theoritical lens). Qualitative researchers often use certain perspectives in conducting research such as ethnography, cultural concepts, gender differences, race and others.

8. Interpretive. Qualitative researchers make an interpretation of what they see, hear and what they understand.

9. A holistic account. Qualitative researchers usually try to make a complex picture of a research issue or problem. Researchers describe the perspectives and factors associated with the problem as a whole.

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Roberto Enrique Miranda Acosta ID: 4-802-177 

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Roberto Enrique Miranda Acosta ID: 4-802-177 

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What is Qualitative Research?

Qualitative research is a research method used to explore and understand people’s thoughts, feelings, experiences, and social behaviors. It focuses on collecting non-numerical data such as words, images, and observations to gain deeper insights into a specific topic.

Characteristics of Qualitative Research

1. Exploratory and Descriptive

• It seeks to understand “how” and “why” things happen rather than just “what” happens.

2. Subjective Interpretation

• Researchers interpret and analyze data based on participants’ perspectives and experiences.

3. Data Collection Methods

• Uses methods like interviews, focus groups, observations, and document analysis.

4. Non-Numerical Data

• Information is collected in the form of words, images, videos, or texts rather than statistics.

5. Flexible and Adaptive

• The research process can change as new insights emerge during the study.

6. Contextual Understanding

• Emphasizes understanding people’s experiences in their natural environment.

7. Small Sample Size

• Typically involves a smaller group of participants to explore experiences in depth.

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Qualitative research is a method of inquiry that explores and seeks to understand the meanings individuals or groups ascribe to social or human problems. It focuses on gaining in-depth insights into people's experiences, perspectives, and behaviors.

Here are some key characteristics of qualitative research:

Natural Setting:

Qualitative research often takes place in the participants' natural environment, allowing researchers to observe and understand phenomena in their real-world context.

Researcher as Key Instrument:

The researcher plays a crucial role in data collection and analysis. Their interpretations and insights are central to the research process.

Multiple Sources of Data:

Qualitative researchers typically gather data from various sources, including interviews, observations, documents, and audiovisual materials, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the research topic.

Inductive Data Analysis:

Qualitative research often uses an inductive approach, where patterns and themes emerge from the data rather than being predetermined by hypotheses.

Focus on Participants' Meanings:

A central aim of qualitative research is to understand the meanings and perspectives of the participants, giving voice to their experiences.

Emergent Design:

The research design is often flexible and can evolve as the study progresses, allowing researchers to adapt to new insights and discoveries.

Interpretive:

Qualitative research involves interpreting the data to understand the underlying meanings and significance of the findings.

Holistic Account:

Qualitative researchers strive to provide a holistic and comprehensive understanding of the research topic, considering the complexity of the social or human phenomenon.

Reflexivity:

Researchers acknowledge their own biases and perspectives and how they might influence the research process and findings.

In essence, qualitative research aims to provide rich, detailed, and nuanced understandings of complex social phenomena.

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What is Qualitative Research?

Qualitative research is a method of inquiry that explores and aims to understand the meanings individuals or groups ascribe to social or human problems.

Unlike quantitative research, which focuses on numerical data and statistical analysis, qualitative research delves into the "why" and "how" of phenomena.

Are the main characteristics of qualitative research:

Natural Setting:

Qualitative research often takes place in the participants' natural environment. This allows researchers to observe behaviors and gather data in real-world contexts.

Researcher as Key Instrument:

The researcher plays a crucial role in collecting and interpreting data. Their observations, interviews, and interactions are essential tools in the research process.

Multiple Sources of Data:

Qualitative researchers utilize various data sources, such as interviews, observations, documents, and audiovisual materials, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the research topic.

Inductive Data Analysis:

Qualitative research typically employs an inductive approach, where researchers identify patterns and themes from the data rather than testing pre-existing hypotheses.

Focus on Participants' Meanings:

Qualitative research emphasizes understanding the participants' perspectives, experiences, and interpretations of the phenomena being studied.

Emergent Design:

The research design is often flexible and can evolve as the study progresses. Researchers may adjust their methods based on emerging data and insights.

Holistic Perspective:

Qualitative research aims to provide a holistic understanding of the phenomena, considering the complex interplay of factors involved.

Emphasis on words and narratives:

Qualitative research gathers non-numerical data like words, and stories, instead of numbers.

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Qualitative research gathers and analyzes non-numerical data to understand people's experiences, perspectives, and behaviors. It's often used in the social sciences to explore complex phenomena.

Qualitative research is based on interpretation and observation.

Characteristics of qualitative research

Interviews: Researchers interact with users to gather information about their experiences and opinions

Focus groups: Structured interviews with groups of people to identify ideas or market wants

Observation: Researchers observe participants' behavior in natural situations

Content analysis: Researchers reduce large amounts of unstructured content to identify themes and important aspects

Narrative analysis: Researchers analyze people's stories about their lives and experiences

Reflexivity: Researchers critically reflect on their role in the research proces

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Qualitative research is a method of inquiry that seeks to understand human experiences, behaviors, and social phenomena through non-numerical data. It emphasizes the exploration of meaning and context rather than measurement and quantification. This research method uses techniques like interviews, focus groups, and observations to gather rich, descriptive data. The focus is on understanding the underlying motivations, emotions, and perceptions of individuals or groups within their natural settings. Qualitative research is flexible, allowing the study to adapt as new insights emerge. The data analysis process is often interpretive, identifying themes and patterns to develop a deeper understanding of the subject. It is exploratory in nature, often used to investigate complex or under-researched issues. By focusing on context and individual experiences, qualitative research offers insights that can generate hypotheses or inform further study, providing a comprehensive understanding of the studied phenomenon.

The main characteristics of qualitative research are:

1. Non-Numerical Data: It focuses on collecting descriptive data, such as words, images, or observations, rather than numerical data.

2. Exploratory: Qualitative research seeks to explore and understand phenomena in-depth, often in contexts where little is known or the subject is complex.

3. Subjective Interpretation: It aims to understand people’s perspectives, emotions, and experiences, relying on the researcher’s interpretation of the data.

4. Flexible and Adaptive: The research design can evolve as new insights emerge during the study, allowing for adjustments in methods and questions.

5. Context-Specific: It emphasizes the context in which the phenomenon occurs, recognizing that meanings and experiences can vary across different settings and individuals.

6. In-depth Analysis: It provides detailed, nuanced understandings through methods like interviews, focus groups, and observations.

7. Thematic Analysis: Data is analyzed by identifying patterns, themes, or categories within the collected information.

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What is Qualitive Research and which are its characteristics?

Qualitative research is a method of inquiry used in social sciences, humanities, and other fields to explore and understand human experiences, behaviors, and interactions. Unlike quantitative research, which focuses on numerical data and statistical analysis, qualitative research emphasizes subjective meanings, interpretations, and in-depth understanding of a phenomenon.

Characteristics of Qualitative Research

1. Naturalistic Inquiry

Conducted in real-world settings, where participants are studied in their natural environments.

No manipulation of variables; researchers observe and interpret naturally occurring behaviors.

2. Subjectivity & Interpretation

Focuses on participants’ perspectives, emotions, and experiences rather than objective measurements.

Researchers interpret meanings rather than test hypotheses.

3. Holistic Perspective

Seeks to understand a phenomenon in its entirety, considering multiple influencing factors.

Looks at the context and relationships between different aspects of a situation.

4. Use of Non-Numerical Data

Data is collected in forms such as interviews, observations, open-ended surveys, and textual analysis.

Common data sources include field notes, audio/video recordings, and documents.

5. Inductive Approach

Develops theories rather than testing existing ones.

Researchers analyze data and derive patterns, themes, and meanings from the ground up.

6. Flexibility & Adaptability

Research design is often open-ended and evolves as new insights emerge.

Allows for changes in data collection methods based on findings.

7. Small, Purposeful Samples

Uses non-random sampling techniques such as purposive or snowball sampling.

Participants are selected based on their relevance to the research topic.

8. Emphasis on Meaning & Context

Looks at how people interpret and give meaning to their experiences.

Considers the cultural, social, and historical context of the study.

9. In-Depth Data Collection

Data collection methods focus on rich, detailed descriptions rather than broad generalizations.

Interviews and observations can last for long periods to capture deeper insights.

10. Researcher as Key Instrument

The researcher plays a central role in data collection, interpretation, and analysis.

Personal biases and subjectivity are acknowledged and managed through reflexivity.

Common Features of Qualitative Research

- Exploratory & Descriptive – Aims to explore new concepts and describe experiences.
- Non-Statistical Analysis – Uses themes, narratives, and patterns rather than numbers.
- Open-Ended Inquiry – Questions and discussions are not strictly structured.
- Rich & Deep Data – Focuses on detail rather than generalization.
- Ethnographic & Case Study Approaches Often used for studying groups or individuals in context.

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Qualitative research is an approach for exploring and understanding the meaning individuals or groups ascribe to a social or human problem” (Creswell, 2014, p. 32).

“Qualitative research is interested in how people interpret their experiences, how they construct their worlds, and what meaning they attribute to their experiences” (Merriam, 2009, p. 13).

Qualitative research is a type of research that involves the study of people's beliefs, experiences, attitudes, behaviors, and interactions. Compared to using numbers and statistics, as is the case in quantitative methods, qualitative research collects and analyzes non-numerical data: words, descriptions, and observations to investigate and explain comprehensively. Focus on answers to questions such as "why" and "how," as opposed to "how many" or "how much."

Characteristics:

Focus on Meaning: It seeks to understand how people make sense of their world and experiences.

Non-Numerical Data: It uses words, images, or objects (e.g., interviews, photos, or videos) instead of numbers.

Small Sample Sizes: It often studies a smaller group of people in depth rather than a large group.

Flexible and Open-Ended: The research process is adaptable, and questions can change as the study progresses.

Context Matters: It emphasizes the importance of the setting or environment in understanding behavior or experiences.

Researcher’s Role: The researcher is often directly involved, interacting with participants and interpreting their responses.

Inductive Approach: It builds theories or patterns from the data rather than testing pre-existing hypotheses.

Rich Descriptions: It provides detailed, in-depth insights into the topic being studied.

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Qualitative research involves digging deep into people’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Instead of focusing on numbers or statistics, it’s more about understanding the “why” and “how” behind things. In qualitative research you're not looking to measure things, you’re trying to make sense of real-life situations from the point of view of the people living them.

Some key characteristics are:

1. Uses interviews, observations, and open conversations.

2. Explores how people feel, think, and interpret their world.

3. It looks at experiences within real-life settings.

4. There’s no strict format; it can adapt to new ideas.

5. Results come in the form of themes or stories, not numbers.

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Qualitative Research : meaning and characteristics..

Qualitative research is a way of studying things by looking at people's thoughts, feelings, and experiences. It uses methods like interviews or observations to gather detailed information, rather than relying on numbers or statistics.

Characteristics:

1. Focus on Understanding: It aims to explore and understand people's experiences, feelings, and behaviors in depth.

2. Contextual: It considers the context or setting in which the study takes place to better understand the findings.

3. Descriptive: It provides detailed descriptions rather than generalizations or statistical conclusions.

4. Interpretive: Researchers interpret and make sense of the data to find patterns, themes, or meanings.

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QUALITATIVE RESEARCH: is an approach used to explore and understand human experiences, behaviors, and social phenomena. It focuses on collecting non-numerical data through methods such as interviews, observations, and textual analysis to gain deep insights into a subject.

CHARACTERISTICS:

1.Exploratory and Interpretative : It seeks to understand meanings, perceptions, and experiences rather than testing hypotheses.

2. Naturalistic Approach : Data is collected in real-world settings rather than controlled environments.

3. Subjectivity and Flexibility :Researchers interpret data based on participants’ perspectives, allowing for changes in research direction as needed.

4. Use of Non-Numerical Data :Data comes from interviews, observations, open-ended surveys, and textual analysis instead of numerical measurements.

5. Inductive Reasoning : The research develops theories and patterns from the data rather than starting with a predefined hypothesis.

6. Emphasis on Context : Findings are deeply connected to the specific social, cultural, or historical contexts of participants.

7. Holistic Perspective : It considers multiple aspects of a phenomenon instead of isolating variables.

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Qualitative research is a method of inquiry that focuses on understanding the meaning individuals or groups ascribe to social or human problems.

Here are some characteristics of qualitative research:

1. Data Collection Methods: Various methods such as interviews, focus groups, observations, and open-ended survey questions are used to gather data.

2. Small Samples: Typically involves smaller sample sizes compared to quantitative research, focusing on the depth of understanding rather than breadth.

3. Thematic Analysis: Data analysis often involves identifying themes, patterns, and insights rather than using statistical analysis.

4. Participant Perspectives: Emphasizes the importance of participant perspectives, often involving close interaction between researchers and subjects.

5. Interpretive Nature: Researchers actively interpret the data, acknowledging their own biases and perspectives, and how these may influence findings.

6. Non-linear: The research process may not follow a strict linear path, as new insights can lead to revisiting earlier phases of the research.

7. Holistic Approach: It considers the whole context of the study subjects, leading to a comprehensive understanding of the issues at hand.

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Qualitative research is a methodological approach that focuses on understanding the complexities of human experiences and social phenomena. Unlike quantitative research, which emphasizes numerical data and statistical analysis, qualitative research delves into the "why" and "how" behind behaviors and attitudes. Key characteristics include its emphasis on natural settings, where researchers observe phenomena in their real-world context. The researcher themselves acts as a primary instrument, gathering data through methods like interviews, observations, and document analysis. This allows for rich, detailed descriptions and a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

Furthermore, qualitative research is characterized by its flexible and emergent design. The research process is often iterative, with data collection and analysis occurring simultaneously, allowing researchers to adapt their approach as new insights emerge. It prioritizes the perspectives and meanings of participants, aiming to capture their lived experiences and interpretations. This often results in the development of themes and patterns, rather than statistical generalizations. The goal is to provide a holistic and nuanced understanding, acknowledging the complexity and context-dependency of social realities.